Assessments
- Memory
- Attention
- Visual Processing
- Auditory Processing
- Analytical and Reasoning Ability
- Planning and Organization
- Motivation
- Emotional and Psychological Functioning
ADHD Evaluations
A psychoeducational assessment provides an in-depth analysis of your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and identifies if ADHD is present. Some practices achieve this by offering each child a standard battery of tests. The licensed therapists at Therapy and Co utilize a more individualized approach. The assessment begins with a parent interview to learn about the difficulties the child is having at school. Based on this information, the therapist selects specific assessments to target areas of concern to administer along with a selected standard battery. This approach tends to be less time-consuming, more cost-effective, and more precise in arriving at diagnoses. In the feedback session with your therapist, parents receive a detailed report outlining all of the findings along with detailed recommendations for helping their child.
AUTISM Evaluations
A developmental assessment can determine if your child is meeting expectations in several different domains, including language, motor skills, cognitive/early problem solving skills, social skills, and self-care skills. This type of assessment also provides information about whether your concerns about your child’s development are related to an Autism Spectrum Disorder or another issue. Most importantly, if your child has a developmental issue, early diagnosis allows you to intervene effectively and help your child succeed.
Therapists at Therapy and Co have specialized training and experience in conducting comprehensive developmental assessments and ensure the assessment is individualized to meet your child’s specific needs. This includes an interview with you, the parents, followed by one or more testing sessions with your child. Consultation with your child’s teacher or a school observation may also be incorporated in the assessment. Best-practice, standardized tests, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), are used to determine developmental functioning and diagnose complex issues such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. During the feedback session, the therapist meets with parents to provide a detailed report of the results, explain applicable diagnoses, and provide treatment recommendations and advice on accessing services.
Developmental assessments are appropriate for children from 6 months to approximately 6 years of age. Therapy and Co therapists also provide testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder for older children, adolescents, and adults as part of a comprehensive psychological or psychoeducational assessment.
For those who have concerns about their child’s development, but aren’t sure they require a full evaluation, Therapy and Co therapists offer developmental and Autism screenings. These screenings do not provide a diagnosis, but will aid in determining if a comprehensive developmental assessment is needed.
ESA Letters
Animals, such as dogs and cats –who are commonly used as emotional support animals–have the outstanding ability to understand our body language, tone, and actions. Due to their passionate demonstration of empathy towards people, emotional support animals can truly create an unforgettable feeling towards fulfilling one’s emotional needs often. They can bring upon a wide variety of improvements. These include an increase in social skills, higher self-esteem, feelings of being safer and acquired comfort, motivation, decrease in symptoms of illness, and a feeling of self-purpose.
It’s important to note that Emotional Support Animals are different from service animals, though. Service animals are legally allowed to accompany their owners at all times, whereas emotional support animals are only protected for housing situations and on flights. Also, service animals are trained and certified, whereas emotional support animals don’t require training or certification.
Emotional Support Animals can benefit those suffering from:
- PTSD
- Mild to severe anxiety
- Aerophobia (fear of flying)
- Agoraphobia (fear of being outside of the home)
- Depression
- General Anxiety Disorder
- Stress-induced situations
- Emotional and Psychological Functioning
Analyzing and acknowledging your own mental health conditions is the first part towards reaching an emotional support animal. Once your needs are fully understood, after a minimum of two sessions, the next step is receiving a written letter and taking the step to having your support animal closer than ever. Through the written Emotional Support Animal letter of prescription, your own pet can become certified as well. By going through the proper parts to fully acknowledging mental illness and striving towards treatment, an emotional support animal letter can make all the difference. The extra feeling of comfort, nurturing love, and happiness can be all one needs to overcome certain obstacles and feel an effective difference.
Some of our therapists require a minimum number of sessions to assess you and the need for an ESA letter. We cannot guarantee that you will qualify for a letter.
How Would Obtaining An ESA Letter be Helpful?
Laws by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) are policies that recognize and ensure individuals with mental health issues are not discriminated against for having/needing an emotional support animal. ESA Letters for housing are certified proof of the need for an emotional support animal. Thus they allow individual rental housing regardless of pet policies that may be in place.
What Do I Need to Obtain an ESA Letter?
The first step is to book an intake appointment with a licensed therapist at Therapy and Co. We ask that you meet with your provider for multiple sessions so that they can appropriately assess the needs of you and your ESA. Your therapist will then write an emotional support animal letter that highlights the diagnosis and any associated limitations.
What is the Cost for an ESA Letter?
The cost of the ESA letter will depend on how many sessions are required to appropriately assess your needs. The letter report is a standard $125. Your therapist will provide you with the exact amount at your initial session.
It’s important to note that Emotional Support Animals are different from service animals, though. Service animals are legally allowed to accompany their owners at all times, whereas emotional support animals are only protected for housing situations and on flights. Also, service animals are trained and certified, whereas emotional support animals don’t require training or certification.
Emotional Support Animals can benefit those suffering from:
Houston Therapists Who Specialize in Assessments
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