Psychological Evaluations in Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning Insight
Understand How Your Child Identifies and Expresses Emotions
Psychological evaluations are an important way for us to gain a full picture of your child’s emotional, social, behavioral, and cognitive wellbeing.
When a child faces difficulties in adapting to everyday demands at home, in school, or in social settings, these challenges may stem from a variety of factors, including anxiety, depression, attention and impulse control issues, learning disorders, social communication delays, or significant life events such as parental separation or the loss of a loved one.
Many parents reach out to us because they’re noticing their child is having a harder time than usual—maybe learning is becoming more challenging, emotions feel bigger or more frequent, school feels overwhelming, or friendships and routines are shifting. These changes can be confusing and stressful, both for kids and for the adults who love and care for them. A psychological evaluation can bring clarity, helping you understand what your child is experiencing and what kind of support could make a meaningful difference.
We take a comprehensive, whole-child approach that honors your child’s strengths, cultural background, and lived experiences. Our evaluations go far beyond identifying a diagnosis—they’re designed to give you insight, reassurance, and a compassionate, practical plan to help your child feel understood, supported, and able to thrive in the environments that matter most.
You May Be Wondering
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Psychological evaluations offer insight into how a young person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions are influenced by personality, predisposition, environment, and other factors. It provides in-depth analysis of the child’s psychological characteristics and functioning as well as insight into potential areas where they could benefit from support. All of this may sound like clinical jargon, but the main purpose of assessment is to increase understanding of a young person’s struggles, negative thought patterns, underlying concerns, and a variety of other factors.
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Almost all evaluations I provide to children are started because a pediatrician, educator, or other professionals recommended or referred the parents to me, and psychological evaluations are no different. However, as a parent, you may be better suited than anyone else to observe the potential concerns that indicate a need for psychological evaluation, so it’s important you understand signs that a child could benefit from these evaluations.
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Avoidance of challenging or demanding tasks
Reassurance seeking when faced with novelty
Frequent worrying or excessive fears
Persistent irritability
Behavioral issues at school, at-home, and/or during play
Acting out or having emotional outbursts
Being overwhelmed by feelings and unable to manage or process emotions
Mood swings
Struggling in school
Difficulty developing and sustaining friendships
Having a tough time focusing
How Is Psychological Testing Performed?
We believe the assessment process should always be individualized. That means your child’s testing plan won’t look exactly like another child’s—because tailoring each evaluation helps us gain a complete understanding of your child’s unique strengths and challenges. While the specific assessments, interview questions, and other details may vary from one child to another, we strive to keep the overall process clear, supportive, and easy to navigate.
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You can book a free, no-obligation introductory phone call with Dr. Webb directly on our website, or if you prefer, submit a contact form and we’ll help you schedule a time.
During this brief, 15-minute conversation, we’ll hear about your child, answer any questions you may have, and explore whether a comprehensive evaluation is the right fit for your family.
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We’ll start with a virtual parent intake interview, usually lasting about 60–90 minutes. During this time, we’ll talk with you about your child’s history, your questions and concerns, and what you hope to gain from the evaluation. When it’s helpful, your child can join part of this conversation, so we can hear their perspective too.
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The assessment process takes between 5 and 7 hours. This may seem daunting, but the time is split between two separate appointment days. Breaks are provided and other steps are taken to ensure your child comfortably and effectively completes the comprehensive psychological testing battery.
Depending on the specifics of the situation, we may also provide questionnaires for parents, educators, and other caregivers to complete.
If you’d like support getting your child ready for testing, we can talk you through simple preparation tips, or you can read our recommendations here.
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After your child’s evaluation is complete we carefully evaluate your child’s test results, notes and other materials gathered during interviewing, questionnaires, and medical records when appropriate.
We may reach out to request additional information from parents and other caregivers.
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About a month after your child’s evaluation, we’ll meet with you for a feedback appointment to review findings, diagnoses, and any recommendations. Within 48 hours, you’ll then receive a detailed written report that you can use at home or share with your child’s school if relevant.
For teens and young adults, we may also schedule a brief 30-min individual session to present the findings in a more age appropriate manner and answer any questions your child might have.
Request A Psychological Evaluation for Your Child
Psychological testing can be a valuable resource for children facing challenges like difficult transitions, trauma, or emotional struggles. While the benefits are clear, we understand that scheduling an assessment can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve made it simple and hassle-free. To get started, use our online self-scheduler to view availability and book your free phone consultation today. Prefer to connect directly? Call us at (360) 328-7880 or email hello@webbpsychological.com. We look forward to hearing from you!