Professional Psychological Assessments in Sacramento, San Jose, and South Lake Tahoe
At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, we provide comprehensive assessment services for adults facing cognitive, learning, attention, and developmental challenges. Our team of experienced psychologists specializes in identifying and understanding the unique needs of each client through thorough psychological assessments.
Special Focus on Late Diagnosis
Attention to Underdiagnosed Adults
Recognizing that many adults may have been overlooked or misdiagnosed earlier in life, we provide focused evaluations to uncover these hidden differences.
Understanding Lifelong Patterns
Exploring lifelong behavioral and cognitive patterns that might indicate conditions like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or learning disabilities.
Navigating Life Transitions
Assessing challenges faced during major life transitions, such as entering or exiting relationships, career changes, and parenthood.
Why Adult Assessment Matters
Many adults struggle with undiagnosed conditions that have affected them throughout their lives. Whether you’re experiencing difficulties with focus, learning, social interactions, or emotional regulation, our assessment services for adults can provide crucial insights and documentation.
Psychological assessments serve as a gateway to understanding cognitive patterns and learning styles that may have been overlooked in earlier years. For many adults, receiving an accurate diagnosis can be transformative—finally putting a name to lifelong struggles and opening doors to appropriate accommodations and support systems.
Our Comprehensive Assessment Services
ADHD Testing & Evaluations
Many adults struggle with symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) without realizing it. These symptoms can significantly impact professional success, relationships, and daily functioning.
Our comprehensive ADHD assessment process includes:
- Detailed clinical interviews examining lifelong patterns
- Standardized rating scales and questionnaires
- Cognitive and neuropsychological testing
- Evaluation of executive functioning skills
The assessment results provide clarity about whether ADHD is affecting your life and form the basis for specific recommendations to manage symptoms effectively. Our psychologists will provide treatment recommendations tailored to your unique needs and strengths.
Autism Testing & Evaluations
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often goes unrecognized in adults, particularly among women and individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our autism assessments help adults understand social communication patterns, sensory processing differences, and cognitive styles that may indicate autism.
The testing process for autism evaluation includes:
- Comprehensive developmental history
- Assessment of social communication patterns
- Evaluation of sensory processing
- Analysis of cognitive flexibility and behavioral patterns
An autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in adulthood can provide valuable context for understanding social and communication differences, sensory sensitivities, and unique cognitive functioning patterns.
Learning Disability Evaluations
Learning disabilities don’t disappear in adulthood—they often manifest differently as educational and career demands change. Adults with undiagnosed learning disabilities may have developed compensatory strategies but still struggle in specific areas.
Our learning disability assessments include:
- Comprehensive cognitive testing
- Academic achievement measures
- Processing speed evaluation
- Working memory assessment
- Reading, writing, and mathematical skills analysis
When you obtain testing for learning disabilities, you receive documentation needed for accommodations in higher education, professional certification exams, and workplace settings. These comprehensive assessments provide diagnostic clarification that many clients find invaluable for school and workplace success.
Assessments for Educational and Professional Exam Accommodations
For adults pursuing higher education or professional certification, we provide specialized assessments for exam accommodations. These evaluations document the need for accommodations on standardized tests such as:
- College entrance exams (SAT, ACT, GRE)
- Professional licensing tests (LSAT, MCAT, Bar Exam)
- Graduate program entrance exams
- Professional certification assessments
Our comprehensive documentation meets the specific requirements of testing organizations and educational institutions, helping you access the accommodations you need to demonstrate your true abilities
Common Reasons Adults Seek Assessment
Academic and Workplace Challenges
Many adults seek assessment when facing persistent challenges in school or workplace settings:
- Difficulty meeting deadlines despite strong effort
- Struggles with organization and time management
- Reading or writing inefficiencies
- Math-related challenges
- Test-taking difficulties
- Trouble staying focused in meetings or lectures
Our assessments can identify underlying causes of these challenges and provide specific recommendations for addressing them. Common examples include learning disabilities, ADHD, and processing speed difficulties that impact performance in academic and professional environments.
Personal Understanding and Self-Discovery
For many adults, assessment serves as a journey of self-discovery, helping to explain lifelong patterns and experiences:
- Understanding why certain tasks have always been challenging
- Making sense of social interaction differences
- Gaining clarity about processing and learning styles
- Discovering strengths that may have been overlooked
This increased self-understanding often leads to improved self-acceptance and more effective self-advocacy.
Documentation for Accommodations
Adults pursuing higher education or professional advancement often need formal documentation to access appropriate accommodations:
- Extended time on exams
- Alternative testing environments
- Note-taking assistance
- Technology accommodations
- Workplace adaptations
Our comprehensive assessment reports provide the specific documentation required by educational institutions and employers to support accommodation requests.
Specialized Focus Areas
Assessments During Life Transitions
Major life transitions often bring cognitive and emotional challenges into focus. Whether you’re entering higher education, starting a new career, or experiencing other significant life changes, our psychological assessments can help you understand how your cognitive profile impacts your adaptation to new roles and responsibilities.
Supporting Underdiagnosed Populations
At Bridges of the Mind, we recognize that many adults—particularly women, people of color, and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds—have historically been underdiagnosed with conditions like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. Our assessment approach is designed to be culturally responsive and gender-inclusive, recognizing how neurodevelopmental conditions may present differently across diverse populations.
Services for Older Adults
We provide specialized assessment services for older adults that distinguish between normal age-related changes and potential cognitive disorders. These evaluations support medical decision making and help older adults and their families plan appropriate supports.
Why Choose Bridges of the Mind
Specialized Expertise
Our team of psychologists specializes in adult assessment, with specific expertise in ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and related conditions. This specialized knowledge ensures accurate identification of often-overlooked conditions.
Comprehensive Approach
We utilize a multi-method assessment approach that goes beyond simple questionnaires or brief screenings. Our comprehensive assessments provide the depth of information needed for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment recommendations.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Perspective
We approach assessment from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective, recognizing that neurological differences represent normal human variation rather than deficits to be “fixed.” Our goal is to help you understand and work with your unique cognitive style.
Culturally Responsive Practices
Our assessment approach is designed to be culturally responsive, recognizing how culture, language, and background influence the expression and interpretation of cognitive and emotional functioning.
Comprehensive Services for Children and Teens
In addition to our assessment services for adults, Bridges of the Mind provides psychological assessments for children and teens. Our experienced team understands the unique developmental considerations for younger clients and offers specialized assessment protocols for learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and academic achievement concerns in school settings.
The Assessment Journey
Step 1
Initial Appointment Setup
Step 2
Intake Session (Approximately 1 Hour)
During the intake session, lasting about an hour, we engage in a conversation to better understand presenting challenges and personal strenghts. The session may include the adult and a support person, aiming to gather invaluable information about the client’s history and presenting questions.
Step 3
Testing Phase (Approximately 2+ Hours)
Step 4
Feedback, Recommendations, and Resources
- Past Client
Take the First Step
If you’ve been struggling with unexplained challenges, wondering about undiagnosed conditions, or seeking documentation for accommodations, we invite you to reach out to our team. The assessment process begins with scheduling your first appointment.
Our administrative team is available to answer your questions about the assessment process, discuss insurance coverage, and schedule your consultation. We typically can accommodate new clients within about three weeks, ensuring you don’t have to wait long to begin your journey toward understanding and support.