Complex Psycho-Educational Assessment

Expert Assessments for Complex Psychological Concerns

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), we provide comprehensive psychoeducational assessments for students whose learning or daily functioning may be impacted by multiple, overlapping factors. These in-depth evaluations explore cognitive skills, academic performance, emotional well-being, adaptive functioning, and the combined effects of any diagnoses or life experiences. Our goal is to give individuals and their families and support systems (educators, physicians, and other professionals) a clear, detailed understanding of a student’s profile, helping them develop effective, coordinated support strategies.

Who This Assessment Is For

A thorough psychoeducational assessment like this is especially helpful when a child or youth is facing multiple challenges, making it hard to understand how each part contributes to the person’s whole presentation. Parents or guardians often seek this understanding when they want to understand how different issues might be connected and figure out the best ways to support a child or youth.

You might consider this assessment if:

Your child seems to be struggling with multiple challenges that are difficult to make sense of.
Your child experienced a complicated birth, or has complicated developmental, genetic, familial or educational history
A previous psycho-educational assessment may have helped but there are still unanswered questions
Your child is continuing to struggle despite attempts to support them
The child or youth is struggling in multiple aspects of school and/or daily life
The child or youth has been suspended, asked to leave school, or is not currently attending school

In this specialized assessment we look beyond the test scores. For this in-depth assessment, the psychologist will look at how things like ADHD, learning differences, mental health, or trauma might work together to impact your child’s learning and daily life. The goal is to help create a practical plan that supports your child at school, home, and in the community.

Why a Complex Assessment Matters

When a student’s challenges are shaped by more than one factor, a standard evaluation may not capture the full picture. A complex psychoeducational assessment goes deeper, combining additional testing, interviews, and observations to understand how academic, emotional, behavioral, and developmental influences interact. With this insight, families and schools can make informed decisions that address all areas of need.

For some, that may mean developing an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) that incorporates both learning and emotional supports. For others, it may involve building on a student’s strengths while providing targeted support for specific challenges. The goal is always the same: greater clarity, coordinated strategies, and better opportunities for success at school and beyond. Whether accessed in person at our Calgary office or through our online services across Alberta, these assessments provide a thorough, compassionate pathway to understanding and supporting students.

Areas We Explore Together

In a complex psychoeducational assessment, we take a deeper look at cognitive, learning, and psycho-social factors and how they may be collectively working together to result in a child or youth’s challenges. We look at:

Thinking and problem-solving abilities: how the student reasons through tasks, remembers information, and processes information. These skills can influence learning speed, comprehension, and problem-solving in everyday life.
Learning and academic skills: strengths and gaps in reading, writing, mathematics, and oral language. We may look at whether the child or youth has the foundations needed to succeed in these subject areas and if there are underlying difficulties that are resulting in their academic struggles.
Emotional, social, and behavioural factors: these factors can impact a child or adolescent’s success at home, school, and in other parts of their life. A complex psychoeducational assessment allows for time to further investigate these factors such as multiple mental health challenges, looking more deeply into a person’s history of trauma and its impact on their current functioning, or lifestyle and other factors that seem to be impacting current functioning.
Daily living and adaptive skills: how well the student manages routines, responsibilities, and age-appropriate independence. These insights are particularly valuable when planning for school transitions (e.g., elementary to Junior High or daily transitions like the transition from school to home), or transitioning to adulthood.

What the Process Looks Like

We keep the process simple and supportive so families know what is happening at every stage, and clients feel at ease from start to finish.

Starting with a Conversation

We start by sitting down with you to talk about the child’s story so far. This includes their developmental history, health and family background, school experiences, and any past assessments. These details help us shape a plan that fits the student’s needs and sets the tone for a thorough assessment.

One-on-One Sessions

Most complex assessments involve between three and six sessions with a clinician. These sessions are typically individual sessions with the child/youth and include questions, puzzles, timed tasks, and school-types of activities (e.g., reading, writing, math). The tasks are generally 1–10 minutes each and the clinician will determine the pacing and whether breaks are needed based on how the child/youth is progressing through the tasks. We proceed at a pace that feels comfortable, allowing the student to stay engaged and relaxed.

Input from Key People

We also talk with people who know the client well — parents, teachers, and sometimes the student too, depending on their age. This can be achieved through a conversation, or questionnaires, providing a clearer picture of how the person performs in different settings.

Reviewing Results Together

Once everything is complete, we take the time to review what we’ve found. You will receive a detailed report, but we will also walk you through it in plain language. This is an opportunity to ask questions, gain clarity, and leave with practical ideas for next steps.

Checking Back In

Around six weeks later, we reconnect to see how things are going. We clarify any questions or concerns from the results or report and then support parents/guardians with developing and implementing a treatment plan including next steps.

Why Families Choose RMPS

Families across Alberta turn to us when they need assessments that go beyond the basics, providing depth, accuracy, and practical solutions.

Specialized Expertise

We have psychologists with extensive experience conducting psychoeducational assessments particularly for students with layered or complex needs. Every evaluation is carefully planned to capture the complete picture.

Collaborative Approach

We work closely with parents, educators, and other professionals involved in the student’s life. This ensures that our recommendations are realistic, well-coordinated, and easy to implement in both school and home settings.

Evidence-Based Process

Our approach to assessment and interpretation of the results is based on research. We work hard to stay up-to-date with the latest research to ensure we do the best job possible for our clients.

Experience

While some RMPS clinicians are newer to the field and some have been around for many years, what sets us apart is a cohesive and collaborative team, headed up by Senior Psychologist, Cassandra Hillman White, who has been doing assessments for over 25 years and teaches assessment courses to Masters-level students, interns, and early career psychologists.

Frequently Asked Question

How is a complex assessment different from a standard one?

A complex evaluation involves additional testing, interviews or questionnaires to help to get to the bottom of complex issues such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, trauma, etc.

How long does the process take?

The process typically takes four to eight weeks, depending on scheduling and the speed at which we receive the questionnaires.

Can you work with schools outside Calgary?

Yes. We work with families across Alberta. Some or possibly all of the assessment may be able to be completed virtually (discuss with your assessment psychologist whether this option is a fit for your child and situation). Our reports are recognized by schools and universities throughout the province, nationally, and internationally.

Will the results help with school accommodations?

Yes. They can support Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) and other accommodations, especially for students with multiple areas of need.

Do you also assess adults?

Yes. We work with post-secondary students and adults who seek a deeper understanding of learning differences, attention concerns, or other challenges that may be impacting their performance. Our reports can be used to access accommodations for college and university programs as well as for professional exams (e.g., accounting).

What if I need a psychoeducational assessment but cannot travel to Calgary?

If traveling to our Calgary office is not possible, we may be able to offer secure online assessment options to ensure you can still access high-quality support. In some cases, we may also collaborate with local professionals to coordinate parts of the process, making assessments accessible to families across Alberta.