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ASSESSMENT

 

Cognitive and neuropsychological assessments can be helpful to understand patterns of strengths and weaknesses and to allow for effective treatment planning and can be beneficial for people of all ages who experience a range of issues including:

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  • Learning, numeracy, and literacy difficulties

  • Attention and concentration difficulties

  • Impulsivity and hyperactivity

  • Intelligence and functioning problems 

  • Memory problems

  • Difficulties with organisation and planning

 

Assessments are also beneficial for people experiencing concerns associated with the following conditions:

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  • Neurological disorders: Dementia, Epilepsy 

  • Developmental disorders: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability

  • Psychiatric conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ​

  • Exposure to drugs and alcohol: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Cognitive Impairment 

  • Brain injuries 

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GENERAL COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT

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At Grassroots Psychology a general cognitive assessment also includes assessment of mood and adaptive functioning:

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  • Cognitive/Intelligence Test

  • Adaptive functioning

  • Depression and anxiety screeners

  • Trauma screener

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Further, as part of a general cognitive assessment, a thorough investigation of any potential causes or diagnoses based on the information provided in the referral and during the initial assessment is always conducted. If there is a need to investigate further/conduct additional assessments, then additional testing will be conducted (with consent of the client or third-party funder prior) and billed accordingly.

 

FURTHER ASSESSMENTS

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Others assessments conducted on an as-needs basis include:

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  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Executive functioning; attention, concentration, memory

  • Dementia or brain injury screeners

  • Psychosis 

  • Personality

  • Mental health 

  • Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

  • Functional Behavioural Analysis 

 

GENERAL INFO

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Collateral information is extremely important for all assessments, especially if there may be unfavourable implications for the client based on the findings of the assessment. As a referrer or self-referred client, please include or attach to your referral any collateral information that may be relevant to the assessment such as medical records, legal statements, school reports, previous assessment reports, or a letter of strengths and weaknesses.  

 

Some common factors impacting the assessments processes are:

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  • Whether English is the client’s first language

  • Whether vision and hearing has been recently assessed

  • Previous intervention/management (especially relating to learning disorder assessment)

  • Recent medication changes

  • Recent traumas, life stressors, or change of care placement

 

Please be sure to address these factors in the referral to assist with a valid assessment, and where appropriate, ensure any previous assessments required have been conducted (e.g. vision and hearing assessment).

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**Please be aware that any assessment does not guarantee a diagnosis at the end.**

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THERAPY

*Please note, Jess is not taking any new therapy referrals for 2024 - Short term therapy for behavior issues or parent training may be considered.

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COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY

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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a relatively short term, focused approach to the treatment of many types of emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems. The application of CBT varies according to the problem being addressed, but is essentially a collaborative and individualised program that helps individuals to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and learn or relearn healthier skills and habits. CBT examines all elements that maintain a problem, including our thoughts (cognitions), feelings, behaviour and the environment. In a broad sense, as its name suggests, CBT involves both ‘cognitive therapy’ and ‘behaviour therapy’. Cognitive therapy focuses on an individual’s pattern of thinking while behaviour therapy looks at associated actions. When combined skillfully, these two approaches provide a very powerful method to help overcome a wide range of emotional and behavioural problems in children, adolescents and adults. It focuses on the ‘here and now’ whilst developing an understanding of past styles of thinking and behaviour that have developed over time. It is a structured therapy, which involves a partnership between you and your therapist. Usually you will have a thorough assessment in the first session or two. Each session will involve discussion, explanation and practice of skills and techniques. Often you will be required to practice those techniques in between sessions.

*Taken from the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Website

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INCLUSION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & ANIMALS


Contact with the outside environment and animals may be incorporated into sessions using evidence-based interventions where clinically appropriate to do so. Therapy assisted by animals is where an animal is involved throughout the therapeutic process to assist the treating clinician in working with a client to reach a specific treatment goal. At all times, the clinician is working within their scope of training and at all times offering evidence-based and best practice therapeutic modalities. While there are many benefits to working with an animal and the natural environment in therapy, there are also many risks. Members of Grassroots Psychology do their best to ensure safety of the animals and clients at all times. However, clients who agree to incorporating animals acknowledge the risks and take full responsibility of any physical or emotional injuries that may occur. Participation of animals is not guaranteed.

 

It is important though to advise during your intake if you have any known allergies or phobias of animals before treatment starts in case there is an animal present. It is also very important that you do not bring any of your own animals to your therapy session.

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SUPERVISION​

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Jess is also a board-approved supervisor, and provides professional supervision to provisional psychologists and postgraduate psychology students. Jess can also provide primary supervision for individuals completing their clinical endorsement registrar program.

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