Psychological Testing Services in Calabasas, CA

We provide comprehensive psychological assessments for children, adolescents and adults utilizing neuropsychological tests

Emotional & Psychological Testing in Calabasas, CA

What is Emotional Testing?

Do you or your child have questions about emotional struggles that have never been fully understood? Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional concerns that have never been fully evaluated? 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.

Emotional or psychological testing uses standardized psychological measures to better understand an individual's mental health, emotional functioning, personality, and psychological well-being. An evaluation can help clarify diagnoses, identify patterns of strengths and difficulties, guide treatment recommendations, and provide a more complete understanding of what may be contributing to current concerns.

What Does Testing Include?

Testing begins with a thorough clinical interview and is individualized based on the concerns being evaluated. We may use standardized psychological tests and questionnaires to assess areas such as:

• Anxiety and stress

• Depression and mood

• Trauma-related symptoms

• Personality and emotional functioning

• Behavioral concerns

• Social functioning

• Attention and executive functioning

• Other psychological or emotional concerns

When appropriate, additional psychological, personality, projective, cognitive, or neuropsychological measures may be used to better understand the individual's overall functioning. With permission, information may also be gathered from parents, teachers, therapists, psychiatrists, or other providers to understand functioning across different settings.

How Long Does Testing Take?

The length of an emotional or psychological evaluation depends on the individual's concerns and the areas being evaluated. A comprehensive evaluation may include approximately 5–6 hours of one-on-one testing, typically divided across 1–3 appointments.

In addition to testing, we review relevant records and questionnaires and take time to score, interpret, and integrate the results. With permission, we may also gather information from therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, teachers, or other providers when appropriate.

A feedback appointment is generally scheduled approximately 2–3 weeks after testing is completed to discuss the findings, recommendations, and next steps.

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 individual.

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

Observations: An observation of the child at school 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 individual thinks and functions 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 may examine areas such as:

• Emotional and psychological functioning

• Anxiety, depression, mood, and trauma-related symptoms

• Personality functioning

• Behavioral and social functioning

• Attention and executive functioning

• Cognitive functioning and memory, when appropriate

• Other areas relevant to the individual's concerns

Evaluation and Interpretation: After testing is complete, Dr. Salanga will score, interpret, and integrate the information into a comprehensive written report. The report will include relevant background information, test results and interpretations, diagnostic impressions when appropriate, individualized recommendations, and referrals to other specialists when needed.

Report and Feedback Discussion: After the evaluation and report are completed, Dr. Salanga will meet with the individual and/or parent to review the findings and recommendations and answer any questions. With permission, findings may also be discussed with therapists, physicians, teachers, or other professionals when appropriate. A copy of the final report will be provided after the feedback appointment.