FAQs
Q: If I would like to bring my child to see Dr. Rice for an evaluation or therapy, what will take place?
A: Dr Rice typically meets first with parents to discuss their concerns, to obtain a developmental history and to review relevant documents. A second session involves a playing or talking meeting with your child. This is done in a friendly, informal way that matches your child’s specific developmental needs and comfort level. Finally, Dr. Rice shares her impressions and a collaborative treatment and/or educational plan is developed. Dr. Rice believes that parents, children and teachers are all integral members of the “treatment team” and with parental permission, values input from a variety of sources.
Q: My child is struggling in school. What types of assessment services does Dr. Rice offer?
A: Children who have difficulty with reading, writing or math often dislike or avoid going to school, and feel badly about themselves. They may have a learning disability. Other children may be learning ahead of their classmates and feel held back by their classmates. Dr. Rice offers a comprehensive, specialized approach to assessing children’s learning profiles, strengths and weaknesses, and developing plans for intervention and remediation. Following the evaluation, Dr. Rice provides a thorough and parent- friendly report with many highly effective, proven recommendations.
Q: What is a Psychoeducational Evaluation?
A: A psychoeducational evaluation (also referred to as academic testing, learning disability evaluation, psychological evaluation) is a comprehensive assessment of thinking, learning and behavioral/emotional functions using a set of standardized tests and procedures. A variety of areas are systematically tested, and may include:
• Intelligence
• Problem solving and conceptualization
• Planning and organization
• Attention, memory and learning
• Language
• Academic skills
• Perceptual and motor abilities
• Emotions, behavior and personality
• The evaluation is a time intensive process, which involves hours of testing and a feedback session to discuss the results.
Q: What approaches to therapy are available?
A: The treatment approach is closely tied to the presenting problems, diagnosis, and developmental level of the child or adult. Dr. Rice utilizes psychodynamic, supportive, cognitive-behavioral and social skills approaches in therapy and treats children and adults with a range of difficulties. Anxiety and depression are often treated with cognitive-behavioral approaches that assist individuals with learning to identify and change self-defeating patterns of thinking and behaving. Attention Deficit Disorders are treated with behavior modification based therapy, education about the disorder as well as other approaches. At times, outside referrals for medication consultation and other evaluation are recommended (such as for occupational therapy, speech and language or a neurological exams).
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