One Hour - in-person in Bakersfield, or Virtual
During this first session, our Licensed Educational Psychologist will learn all about what you’d like to accomplish for your child, and will provide recommendations about how to best accomplish your goals. The child’s presence is optional for this first session, as some parents like to discuss problems privately, so that the child doesn’t “hear us talking about him/her”. However, this is your choice. Kids are always welcome here!

1.5 Hours - in-person in Bakersfield, or Virtual
During this exciting live session, our Licensed Educational Psychologist teaches a full lesson to your child, while you observe and begin learning the strategies. 75 minute lesson followed by a 15 minute debrief to answer your questions and solidify your learning for our next session. If you’re thinking “my child will never be able to pay attention for 75 minutes!”, don’t worry, working with attention problems is what we do, and you’ll be thrilled to see how well this unique approach works for your child.

1.5 Hours - in-person in Bakersfield, or Virtual
At this point, most parents are ready to begin practicing the strategies, with the support of our Licensed Educational Psychologist. This session is fully customized to your level of readiness. If you’d like to just watch another session, no problem. If you’d like to “jump in and help when you feel like it”, no problem either! Or, some parents are the Psychologist’s “teaching assistant” for this first go. It’s all up to you, and what you feel ready to do. Remember, our entire goal is to turn you into the Teacher as quickly as possible, if that’s your goal. Some parents prefer to allow the psychologist to continue doing the lessons while they relax and enjoy some free time from the comfort of our office, with Wifi and hot coffee always available.

(Does my child have attention or hyperactivity challenges? How serious are they? Are they affecting his/her learning?)
Due to the nature of attention problems being a natural part of childhood, it can be challenging for a parent to determine whether or not a child’s short attention/high energy are affecting the child’s learning. This is where it’s helpful to have a Licensed Educational Psychologist with the latest diagnostic tools. A full Psychological Assessment investigates the specific details of your child’s short attention/high energy comprehensively, and includes a detailed written report to share with your child’s doctor and school district.

Many parents wish to know: (1) what are my child’s current academic levels? In other words, what grade level is he reading at? What grade level is she writing at? What grade level are his math skills currently at? An Academic Assessment determines exactly that. Many parents also wish to know: (2) how are his levels growing over time? With an Academic Assessment your child receives a comprehensive assessment to determine current academic levels, and his/her growth levels can also be tracked over time to ensure that appropriate growth is occurring (our Achievement Tracker service).

1.5 Hours - in-person in Bakersfield
Sometimes it’s helpful to see additional demonstration lessons by the Licensed Educational Psychologist, while becoming more comfortable with the strategies. Additional practice will help you master the skills as your child’s new highly specialized Teacher.

Typically the school district performing an evaluation and the child’s parents agree, but not always. This is where a Second Opinion and Advocacy can be helpful. A Second Opinion is a full psychological evaluation in all areas of relevance and concern, which includes a detailed written report to share with your child’s school district. Advocacy is when the Licensed Educational Psychologist advocates on your behalf, by attending an IEP meeting, for example. Your advocate will explain your position, the technical details behind why your child should qualify for special services if applicable, and advocate for your child’s best interests.