Psychological Testing Services in Calabasas, CA

We provide comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational assessments for children, adolescents and adults utilizing a wide range of psychological and neuropsychological tests

What Is Psychological Testing?

Psychological testing has many names, including psychological assessment, psychoeducational testing, neuropsychological testing, educational testing, and evaluation. While there are differences between these types of assessments, many of these terms are used interchangeably. To learn more about the differences, click here.

A comprehensive psychological assessment is a collaborative process that can help answer questions you may have about yourself or your child. Through testing, we learn about a person's strengths and weaknesses across cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral areas.

We use background information, individualized standardized tests, questionnaires, and observations to understand the full picture and help create a roadmap for moving forward.

At MindWorks Psychological Assessments, evaluations are individualized based on the questions you have about yourself or your child. Our goal is not simply to provide a diagnosis or test scores, but to help you understand what may be going on and provide practical recommendations for moving forward.

What Do We Evaluate?

Comprehensive Evaluations: Not sure exactly what is going on? A comprehensive evaluation looks at multiple areas of functioning to help identify strengths, challenges, and factors that may be contributing to difficulties at school, work, home, or in everyday life.

Not sure exactly what is going on? A comprehensive evaluation looks at multiple areas of functioning to help identify strengths, challenges, and factors that may be contributing to difficulties at school, work, home, or in everyday life.

Learn More About Comprehensive Evaluations

ADHD & Executive Functioning: Do you or your child struggle with paying attention, concentrating, sitting still, staying organized, managing time, completing assignments, or becoming overly focused on certain activities? Difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and executive functioning can affect children and adults in many areas of their lives. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify what may be contributing to these difficulties and provide recommendations for moving forward. Learn more about ADHD Testing.

Learning Disabilities:  Does your child have difficulty with reading or dyslexia, writing or dysgraphia, or math or dyscalculia? Do they struggle to maintain grades or perform well on tests despite working hard? A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation can help identify areas of strength and weakness, determine what may be contributing to academic difficulties, and provide individualized recommendations and accommodations. Learn more about learning disorder testing.

Autism: Are you concerned that you or your child may be showing signs of autism? Concerns may include difficulties with social communication or relationships, sensory differences, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, or difficulty understanding social cues. A comprehensive autism evaluation can help better understand an individual's strengths, differences, and areas where additional support may be helpful. Learn more about testing.

Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE): Do you disagree with an evaluation completed by your child's public school and want an independent assessment? Parents may have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense. MindWorks provides comprehensive psychoeducational IEEs and can help families understand the evaluation process. Learn more about Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs).

Standardized Testing Accommodations: Do you need extra time or other accommodations for standardized exams such as the SAT, ACT, MCAT, GRE, LSAT, or other professional or academic examinations? Psychological testing can provide documentation of ADHD, learning disorders, emotional concerns, or other conditions when appropriate and help support requests for testing accommodations. Learn more about standardized testing accommodations.

Regional Center Assessments: MindWorks Psychological Assessments is an approved California Regional Center service provider for Service Code 056 – Interdisciplinary Assessment. We provide psychological and developmental evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults with prior Regional Center authorization. Learn more about Regional Center Assessments.

Emotional Testing: Do you or your child have questions about emotional struggles that have never been fully understood? Are there concerns about anxiety, depression, trauma, mood, or other emotional difficulties? Are you concerned that your child's emotional difficulties are affecting their social, academic, or everyday functioning? Has therapy stalled? If so, a fresh look at what may be going on can be helpful. Learn more about emotional and psychological testing.

Gifted & Twice-Exceptional (2E) Testing: Do you or your child have questions about emotional struggles that have never been fully understood? Are there concerns about anxiety, depression, trauma, mood, or other emotional difficulties? Are you concerned that your child's emotional difficulties are affecting their social, academic, or everyday functioning? Has therapy stalled? If so, a fresh look at what may be going on can be helpful.Learn more about gifted and 2E testing.

Kindergarten Readiness: Are you concerned that you or your child may be showing signs of autism? Concerns may include difficulties with social communication or relationships, sensory differences, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, or difficulty understanding social cues. A comprehensive autism evaluation can help better understand an individual's strengths, differences, and areas where additional support may be helpful. Learn more about kindergarten readiness testing.

How Long Does Testing Take?

While direct testing may only take a few hours, a comprehensive evaluation involves much more than the testing appointments. With your permission, we may communicate with teachers, therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, and other providers. We also take time to review records, score and interpret testing, and integrate all of the information into a comprehensive report with individualized recommendations.

At MindWorks, we believe in comprehensive evaluations. We rarely assess only one area of functioning because difficulties in one area can sometimes be caused or influenced by challenges in another. For example, attention difficulties may be related to ADHD, anxiety, learning difficulties, or a combination of factors. Looking at the full picture helps us better understand the underlying causes of the difficulties you or your child may be experiencing.

Kindergarten readiness, autism, and gifted testing are exceptions and may involve more focused evaluations.

What Is Included In Each Evaluation?

Initial Intake: After our initial consultation, a comprehensive intake will be conducted with the individual (and parent, if needed) to fully understand the individual’s needs. These initial series of questionnaires will help create the testing battery that will later be used for the series of one-on-one tests. Contact with doctors, teachers, schools, therapists and psychiatrists (with your permission) are also utilized to help understand the “full picture” of the patient.

Full Review: A full review of psychological, educational and past testing records is conducted.

Observations: A school observation may be conducted when appropriate.

One-on-One Tests: The individual will meet one-on-one with a psychologist in person. During the "testing" appointments, we use the testing battery created in intake to administer a variety of questions, puzzles, word games, pictures and drawings, and stories, as well as some school-like tasks, such as reading and math, to investigate how the student thinks and feels in different settings. Many of our sessions may range from one to four hours, with several short breaks, depending on the individual's energy level. Tests will examine one’s:

• General cognitive and mental strengths and weaknesses including a full IQ test.

• Academic skills in reading, writing, math, oral language and fine motor skills.

• ADHD concerns and full executive functioning skills.

• Memory skills.

• Emotional and behavioral concerns

• Autism/neurodevelopmental skills (if requested)

Evaluationand Interpretation: After the testing and evaluation is complete, Dr. Salanga will score, interpret, and integrate the information into a comprehensive written report. The report will include background information, test scores, psychologist interpretations, tailored recommendations to better help the individual, and referrals to any needed specialists.

Report and Feedback Discussion: After testing, evaluation, and reports are complete, the Dr. Salanga will meet one-on-one with the individual and/or parent to discuss the report and answer any questions. This feedback may also be given to other professionals such as the teacher if desired, and many times Dr. Salanga will meet briefly with the child to go over their strengths and weaknesses as well. A copy of the full report will be given after the feedback appointment is complete.