Sometimes a student’s learning challenges call for the diagnostic and counseling expertise of Laughlin Center’s psychologists, who work with children, adolescents, and families. Psychology Department staff members specialize in two practice areas: diagnostic evaluation of issues that impact children’s learning, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities, and clinical assessment and treatment of common childhood problems such as low self-esteem, anger, anxiety, and depression. The caring and experienced staff not only helps children and families assess areas of weakness, but identify areas of strength as well.

Psychology Department staff members are certified and/or licensed in their area of specialization by the Commonwealth. They have expertise both in learning issues and in developmental and clinical psychology—a unique perspective that enables them to rely on best practices and focus treatment on the “whole child.”

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY SERVICES: Our personalized therapy services help to promote improved social and emotional adjustment and reduced family conflict. With extensive experience in learning issues and developmental/clinical psychology, our clinicians provide expertise often not available in agencies dealing solely with tutoring or with those focusing primarily on mental health. Some typical concerns that can be addressed include:

•attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

•anxiety and depression

•school, family, and peer relationship problems

•adjustment problems associated with learning disability

•separation and divorce

•parent management issues

Goals in psychotherapy are agreed upon by the therapist and the family, so they are personal and meaningful. Therapists use a variety of techniques to help clients achieve therapeutic goals including play therapy, cognitive therapy, family therapy, and behavior modification, among others. Our psychologists are participating providers with most major insurance plans.

PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: Assessment of children from preschool through adolescence helps to identify issues that contribute to or interfere with success in learning. Laughlin Center offers several types of evaluations to target those issues, help parents understand how their children learn, and offer recommendations for change, including:

 •Psycho-Educational Evaluations, which comprehensively assess children’s learning strengths and weaknesses, and examine intellectual, behavioral, and emotional factors that impact children’s learning. Combined with the academic evaluation, they are an important tool used by parents and educators to make informed decisions about a child’s educational plan and instructional interventions

 

•Early Entry Evaluations, designed to help parents and schools understand children’s readiness for success in kindergarten and first grade. Each evaluation includes tests of cognitive ability, early academic achievement, general knowledge, and developmental skills. A parent meeting and written report follow both the Psycho-Educational Evaluation and Early Entry Evaluation

 

•Intellectual Evaluations, which identify children’s intellectual level only. Intellectual testing is often a component of the admissions process for private schools and one component of admission to the gifted program in public schools

CONSULTATIVE SERVICES: These services aid parents and schools in decision-making and educational planning. An example is a classroom observation, where--at the request of the parent and with the consent of the school personnel--a certified school psychologist visits the child’s classroom and provides a follow-up report.

PRESCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES: Designed especially for preschoolers, these unique services are offered to parents and early childhood teachers, and may include observation of the child and consultation with the teacher(s). Preschool Support Services focus on helping parents and teachers work together to identify concerns and to solve problems. A certified school psychologist schedules the observation and/or consultation on a fee for service basis.

Back to top