No, you do not need a referral to access psychological services. While you may have been directed to Froese Psychological Services by your family physician, pediatrician, psychiatrist, or school, a formal referral is not required.
An assessment is a process that involves gathering standardized and non-standardized information that allows the psychologist to explain what is causing certain difficulties while also identifying strengths that are very important to understand. When completing an assessment with a child, information is gathered through direct ‘testing’ with the individual, but also through forms (standardized and non-standardized) that allow the psychologist to gain insight and understanding. An assessment can identify underlying academic issues, mental health concerns, difficulties related to social/emotional/behavioural functioning, or social/life/adaptive skill issues which can result in formal diagnoses (e.g., Specific Learning Disorder (e.g., Dyslexia), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), etc.). It can also be requested that the assessment not be ‘diagnostic’ and rather relate to gaining a better understanding and providing direction, without diagnostic conclusions.
Once the standardized and non-standardized information has been gathered in the days/weeks prior, the face-to-face portion of the assessment is typically completed in a half-day, although sometimes takes longer and may require multiple sessions. The debrief following the assessment is either completed on the same day, or a later date, while the comprehensive report will follow in a few weeks. This allows the patient (and their caregivers when applicable) to know what the conclusions are, alleviating much of the anxiety that would otherwise be experienced. A typical assessment is completed over a period of 12-15 hours, which includes all of the gathering of information/testing, explanation of results, and report writing.
Yes. If you’ve had an assessment completed, either by FPS or another psychologist, we can complete a review of the report and provide you direction on how to best utilize the information gathered. It is quite common for us to complete a post-assessment consultation anywhere from 6 months to 3 years after an assessment has been completed.
Our fees are consistent with the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) recommended rates, which are $235/hour for individual work, although this can vary depending on the type of work requested.
Yes, we are set up for direct billing and do so whenever possible. We also provide quotes if this is requested. If your insurance provider does not accept direct billing, we provide a receipt for reimbursement. Payment options, such as credit card, debit, and e-transfer are all available.
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