Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations at the Center for Connection go far beyond identifying a diagnosis. Our team of specialized psychologists and neuropsychologists conducts thorough, individualized assessments for children, adolescents, and adults, drawing on clinical interviews, standardized measures, behavioral observations, and multi-informant input. Guided by interpersonal neurobiology, we peel back the layers to understand each person's unique constellation of strengths, challenges, and vulnerabilities. The result is not just a report but a roadmap of specific, prioritized recommendations that help individuals and families move forward with clarity and confidence.
Families gain a clear, plain-language understanding of their child's cognitive and emotional profile. Individuals receive a roadmap of prioritized, actionable recommendations. School accommodations can be pursued with proper documentation. Overlapping concerns are identified and addressed together rather than in isolation. The assessment process itself is designed to feel safe, respectful, and affirming. Post-evaluation consultation supports families in implementing recommendations effectively.
When something feels off, but you can’t quite name what it is, a psychological evaluation can be the beginning of real clarity. For parents who have watched their child struggle in school, struggle with friendships, or struggle to manage their emotions without understanding why, the right evaluation doesn’t just identify a diagnosis. It illuminates a person.
At the Center for Connection, we believe that a comprehensive evaluation should provide so much more than just a diagnostic blueprint. We partner with individuals and families to explore your questions, make meaning of the behaviors and experiences you share, and establish a roadmap of recommendations that will carry you through the months and years to come. What we’re building, together, is a clear picture of each person’s unique constellation of strengths and vulnerabilities.
A psychological or neuropsychological evaluation is a thorough, individualized process. There is no single test that explains a person. Our evaluations draw on multiple sources of information, gathered over time, to develop a full picture of how someone’s brain and inner world are working.
Depending on the referral questions and the individual’s age and needs, the evaluation process typically includes:
Clinical interviews: We begin by listening carefully. Conversations with the individual, parents, and caregivers help us understand the history, the concerns, and the person behind the questions.
Standardized measures: Our psychologists and neuropsychologists administer validated assessment tools that measure cognitive abilities, academic achievement, attention, memory, processing speed, executive functioning, and social-emotional functioning.
Behavioral observations: How someone approaches tasks, handles frustration, engages with the evaluator, and regulates themselves during testing tells us as much as the scores do.
Rating scales and questionnaires: Input from parents, teachers, and other important caregivers helps us understand how the individual functions across different environments.
Record review: Prior school records, previous evaluations, and medical history are incorporated when available.
Feedback session: At the close of the evaluation, we meet with the family (and the individual, when appropriate) to walk through findings, discuss the profile in plain language, and answer every question.
All of our assessments are guided by the framework of interpersonal neurobiology, through which we consider how one’s brain, mind, and relationships interact to shape who they are and how they experience the world. Our specialized team of psychologists and neuropsychologists peel back the layers and look under the surface of behaviors in order to gain a better understanding of what might be going on in each person’s inner world.
We tailor the assessment experience to each individual. This means attending carefully to pacing, personal interests, schedules, and environmental factors. For children who have difficulty separating from caregivers, or who benefit from sensory accommodations, we build that flexibility into how we work. Assessment should not be an experience that confirms a child’s worst feelings about themselves. It should feel, as much as possible, like being genuinely understood.
Our team recognizes that intersectionality matters within the assessment process, and that neurobiological differences are experienced differently by people with varying identities. We invite each client to be fully themselves.
How It Works
Assessment results deepen understanding of a person’s relative strengths and challenges, highlight areas of neurocognitive asynchrony, and guide practical recommendations. The goal is not a label. The goal is a roadmap. Families leave with a clear picture of how their child’s cognitive and neurocognitive profile may be affecting their learning and relationships, including their sense of self, along with specific, prioritized recommendations for next steps.
Those recommendations might include therapeutic supports, school accommodations, specific interventions, or referrals to other specialists. In many cases, the evaluation is the beginning of a longer relationship with our team, as we provide consultation and follow-up support after the assessment is complete.
If you are unsure whether a full evaluation is what you need, a consultative screening can be a helpful first step. We will work with you to determine the right fit.
Our psychologists hold doctoral-level training and specialize in assessment across the lifespan. The assessment team works in close collaboration with our therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, which means the recommendations coming out of an evaluation are informed by the full range of supports available. When follow-up services are needed, families do not need to start over with someone new.
Psychological testing near me is a phrase that often signals someone who has been waiting a long time to get answers. We understand that. Our Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley locations are here to make that next step as accessible as possible, with an assessment team that brings both clinical depth and genuine care to every evaluation.
What to Know
We offer psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults across the lifespan. Our assessment services are available for individuals ages 18 months through adulthood. Concerns that bring families and individuals to us include learning differences, attention difficulties, ADHD, autism, anxiety, emotional distress, giftedness, and twice-exceptional profiles, among others.
To schedule an initial informational consultation with our assessment team, get started below. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
The scientific lens that informs our work is interpersonal neurobiology, an exciting field of research about the neuroscience of change and of healthy, connected relationships.
We know that connected relationships matter and play a role in how our brains and lives change, so that's where we start.
Grounded in interpersonal neurobiology, our approach reflects the latest research on how relationships shape the developing brain.
Clients are matched to a therapist based on areas of specialty, relational fit, and availability, unless otherwise requested.
Learn more about this service at the Center for Connection.
Learn more about this service at the Center for Connection.
Family therapy at CFC addresses the relational dynamics that shape how families communicate, connect, and navigate challenges together. We work...
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