Anxiety & OCD Assessment

We provide psychological testing, and when psycho-educational assessment is required for student admission to a private school, we work with the school on behalf of your family to fulfill the requirement.

Assessment of conditions

We offer help for a range of anxiety disorders and related conditions:

Anxiety about health and medical problems
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder, body image disturbances, and eating disorders
Depression and bipolar disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder
Hoarding
Medical disorders that co-occur with anxiety: Chronic pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia

Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Panic disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Separation anxiety disorder and school refusal
Sensory integration disorders—Sensory sensitivity
Social anxiety disorder and selective mutism
Specific phobias
Tinnitus and misophonia—intolerance of sounds
Trichotillomania (hair pulling) and skin picking

Psychological testing

Psychological testing for children, adolescents, and adults

The Anxiety and OCD Center provides psychological testing to children, adolescents, and adults who seek diagnoses for psychiatric disorders as well as evaluation of learning problems and relative strengths and weaknesses in cognitive functioning. Such assessments help treatment providers, educational institutions, testing boards, and clients develop treatment plans and strategies to compensate for learning needs.

Standardized psychological tests, behavioral observations, and clinical interviews are used to diagnose disorders and to define strengths and weaknesses in cognitive functioning.

We are here to answer any questions you have, please call our office at 484-947-8820 or use our contact form to inquire.

Commonly assessed psychiatric disorders and areas of brain functioning include:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Evaluation of learning problems
Relative strengths and weaknesses in brain functioning
Intellectual functioning
Academic achievement
Language and reading skills
Sensory integration development
Attention and concentration
Learning and memory
Processing speed
Social skills development
Emotional and personality assessment

Psycho-educational testing

Psycho-educational assessment for private school admissions

In cases in which psycho-educational assessment is required for student admission to a private school, the Anxiety and OCD Center works with the school on behalf of the family to fulfill the requirement.

Psycho-educational testing also provides evidence of the need for special accommodations to be made by the school. This helps level the playing field so that a child with a psychiatric disorder functions better and isn’t operating at a disadvantage relative to students without a psychiatric disorder.

In some instances, schools can provide accommodations informally with just a letter from a psychologist. In most cases, however, schools require formal documentation, such as psycho-educational testing assessment, in order to provide accommodations.

keep reading

Free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment is protected under two relevant federal laws: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504 Plan).

IDEA is a special education provision that requires testing by a school psychologist. Once identified as having an impairment or disability usually termed a Social Emotional Disturbance (SED) or Other Health Impairment (OHI), a child is eligible for special education support. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is then developed based on testing results, along with input from teachers, parents, and treating psychologists. Along with the accommodations discussed above, an IEP sets very specific goals for a child to achieve. The goals of the IEP must specify measurable objectives, which are reviewed annually.

If a child does not qualify for an IEP, a 504 plan of accommodations (called a ‘504’) might be implemented. Less formal than an IEP, a 504 is simply a plan of accommodations to be made by the school for the child. A typical 504 does not include specific measurable objectives for a child to achieve.

To implement a 504, a school usually requires a letter documenting a diagnosis from a treating psychologist. Since a 504 does not require formal testing, it can be put into place more quickly than an IEP.

Clinicians at the Anxiety and OCD Center aim to support families in navigating this process and determining what services will be most supportive to students.