Psychological assessment for children and adolescents: what to expect at Newcastle Psychology Services.

If you're reading this, you're probably more than just curious about how psychological assessments for children and adolescents work. Having been through this process myself, I know how confronting and confusing it can be when your child appears to

be struggling, functioning differently, or is showing behaviours you never expected to see — and don't quite know how to make sense of.

Here's how I approach it in my practice.

Step 1: Initial Consultation

We start with a single session — just the parents and me. I'll ask questions about your child's history, the family history, and what's been concerning you. This gives me what I need to recommend the right assessment pathway and provide you with a quote before we go any further. You'll have the opportunity to ask lots of questions, big and small, they're all welcome. You might be feeling anxious or even upset at this stage of the process - which is normal and understandable. After all, by the time I see parents for this session, there have often been years of difficult or unexplained challenges in their child's functioning which can be deeply upsetting and confusing. Alternatively, parents might be feeling blindsided by a recommendation that has come from somewhere else, like a health professional or school.

Step 2: Screening Questionnaires

Depending on what we're investigating, I'll send a series of online questionnaires to people who know your child well — usually parents, extended family and school staff. These cover things like ADHD, Autism, learning difficulties, behaviour, and mental health. They're completed in your own time and returned to me online.

Step 3: Getting to Know Your Child

Before any formal testing begins, I spend at least one session with your child just getting to know them. We do art, play games, have a chat — I do my best to make them feel comfortable and while we're doing that, I'm quietly observing and noting things that are clinically relevant. Most kids have no idea it's part of the process.

Step 4: Diagnostic Interviews (if indicated)

If there is enough evidence to warrant it, or if the screeners flag ADHD or Autism as a possibility, I'll schedule structured diagnostic interviews between myself and the parents to explore these further. Generally speaking, an ADHD interview takes one session, and an Autism interview takes 2-3 sessions. I understand it can be hard to find blocks of time on days when parents are available, so we can look at options like booking multiple sessions on the same day, or Saturday sessions if need be.

Step 5: Cognitive Assessment (if indicated)

Where learning or developmental factors are a concern, a cognitive assessment will be part of the process. This can be the more demanding part for children, involving several sessions of direct testing. To help with this, I run a little rewards program throughout: for every few subtests we get through, your child gets to pick a small prize from my treat box to take home. It makes a surprisingly big difference. Session lengths are flexible depending on your child's age and how long they can stay focused.

Step 6: The Report

Once all the assessment work is done and the screeners are back, I get to work analysing the data and writing a detailed report. This takes around four weeks. The report includes any diagnoses, a clear explanation of the findings, and practical recommendations — and it's yours to share with your child's school, GP, paediatrician, or anyone else who needs it.

What Comes Next?

The end of the assessment process doesn't have to mean the end of the support I can offer.

This can be a crucial time for parents. A diagnosis can bring overwhelming emotions — accepting that your child may be wired differently isn't always something parents see coming. Parenting is hard and confusing enough as it is, and this kind of news can turn everything you expected on its head. I can support you through that — both emotionally, and in helping you adapt your parenting approach and strategies. Sometimes it just means a "pivot" from what you originally imagined parenting would look like. This is something we can work through together, if that's helpful.

I can also continue to support your child directly. If they've enjoyed coming to see me and built some trust through the time we've spent together, I can become a resource for them — someone they can come back to across future months and years as they adapt and navigate the challenges they face.

This sounds expensive!

I totally understand why anyone might be concerned about the cost. Between the session fees, licensed assessment materials, and the time it takes to write a thorough report, the process can add up. Here's how the payment side of things works.

After the first session, you pay for that session and, if possible, for the screening questionnaires so I can get them dispatched promptly. You continue to pay as you go for the behavioural observation sessions with your child. Once we move into the diagnostic interview phase, there are materials fees which can be paid before or at the time of the session — the same applies for the cognitive assessment phase.

The next significant cost is the assessment report, which is quoted based on the estimated time it will take to write. You can pay this as a lump sum, or in instalments in the lead-up to the session where I deliver it to you.

To help you plan, I'll provide a full quote at the end of the first session. We can also stagger the assessment process to give you time to manage costs along the way. I'll do my best to structure the process in a way that works for you.