Adolescence is a period of significant change and growth. Our clinicians provide teenagers with age-specific, individualized support and assessments.
Many families come in for an assessment because they find that their teenager is struggling in one of many ways, that may indicate that there are unmet needs and unique challenges that their teenager needs help navigating.
Comprehensive Psychological Testing & Evaluations for Adolescents in Sacramento, San Jose, and South Lake Tahoe
At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, we understand that adolescence is a critical period of development filled with unique challenges. Our specialized team provides comprehensive assessment services for teens designed to identify and address the specific emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges affecting their well-being and academic success.
Expert Psychological Evaluations for Youth Ages 12-17
Our psychological testing services help parents understand the underlying factors contributing to their teenager’s difficulties. Through thorough evaluation and diagnosis, we provide valuable information that guides effective treatment planning and support services for youth ages 12-17 throughout Sacramento, San Jose, and South Lake Tahoe.
Common Reasons Parents Seek Assessment Services
Teenagers today face numerous challenges that can affect their mental health and development. Our assessment services can help when your teenager is experiencing:
- Anxiety – Persistent worry, fear, or nervousness affecting daily activities
- Depression – Ongoing sadness, withdrawal, or loss of interest in activities
- Learning difficulties – Unexplained academic struggles despite effort
- Attention problems – Difficulty focusing, completing tasks, or staying organized
- Social challenges – Struggles with peer relationships and social interactions
- Behavioral concerns – Acting out, defiance, or difficulty following rules
- Emotional regulation issues – Mood swings or difficulty managing emotions
- School avoidance – Resistance to attending or participating in school activities
A comprehensive psychological evaluation can identify underlying issues and provide a roadmap for effective support and treatment. Our group practice specializes in recognizing the nuanced needs of children, teens, and adults in Northern California.
Your teenager may be experiencing:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social challenges at school
- Academic difficulties
- Trouble focusing and paying attention
- Bullying
- Behavioral challenges
- Difficulties maintaining a job
Our Specialized Teen Assessment Services
ADHD Testing & Evaluations
Our comprehensive ADHD assessments evaluate attention, concentration, impulsivity, and executive functioning across different settings. We gather information from parents, teachers, and the teen themselves to create a complete picture of functioning and determine appropriate interventions.
Our clinicians use standardized measures, observational assessments, and detailed interviews to distinguish between ADHD and other conditions with similar symptoms. This thorough approach ensures accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment recommendations.
Autism Testing & Evaluations
Our autism evaluations focus on social communication, interaction patterns, and behavioral characteristics. We recognize that autism presents differently in adolescents than in younger children, often with more subtle manifestations that require specialized assessment techniques.
The evaluation process includes standardized measures, direct observation, developmental history review, and functional analysis to identify autism spectrum disorder in teens. Our comprehensive reports highlight both challenges and strengths to inform personalized intervention strategies.
Learning Disability Evaluations
Our learning disability assessments examine cognitive processing, academic achievement, and the relationship between ability and performance. We evaluate reading, writing, math, and other academic skills to identify specific learning disabilities and determine educational needs.
For teenagers, these evaluations are particularly important as they prepare for increasing academic demands and future educational transitions. Our assessment results provide valuable information about learning styles and needs, informing appropriate accommodations and support strategies for school success.
Independent Educational Evaluation
As an independent provider, we offer objective educational evaluations that complement or provide an alternative perspective to school-based assessments. These comprehensive evaluations focus on your teenager’s specific learning needs and challenges.
Our independent educational evaluations can be particularly valuable when families seek additional insights beyond what school-based assessments provide. These evaluations support advocacy for appropriate educational services and accommodations for teenagers with learning differences.
Psychological Testing for Mental Health Concerns
Anxiety & Depression Assessments
Our mental health assessments evaluate the nature, severity, and impact of emotional symptoms across different settings. We recognize that anxiety and depression can manifest uniquely during adolescence and require age-appropriate assessment approaches.
Through standardized measures, clinical interviews, and behavioral observations, we identify specific emotional patterns affecting your teenager’s functioning. Our comprehensive assessment provides a foundation for targeted treatment recommendations tailored to your teen’s unique needs.
Trauma & Stress Assessments
Our assessments for trauma and stress evaluate how life events and ongoing stressors affect your teenager’s mental health and functioning. We use trauma-sensitive approaches that gather necessary information while minimizing potential distress.
For teenagers who have experienced significant stress or trauma, our assessments provide critical insights into how these experiences may be affecting current development. Our recommendations focus on building resilience and processing difficult experiences in safe, supportive ways.
Collaborative Approach to Teen Assessment
Working with Parents
Parents play a crucial role in the assessment process. Your insights about your teenager’s development, strengths, challenges, and daily functioning provide invaluable context for our evaluation. We encourage open communication and active participation throughout the assessment journey.
We recognize that parents are the experts when it comes to their children and teenagers. By partnering with you, we develop a more complete understanding of your teenager’s needs and create more effective recommendations for support.
Coordination with Schools and Teachers
School performance is often a key concern for teenagers undergoing psychological assessment. With your permission, we can collaborate with teachers and school personnel to gather information about classroom functioning and academic performance.
This collaboration helps ensure our recommendations are practical and applicable in the school environment. We can provide guidance for educational accommodations and support services that address your teenager’s specific learning needs.
Integration with Medical and Mental Health Providers
Mental health concerns often require a coordinated approach to care. Our clinicians work closely with physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, and other medical professionals to ensure comprehensive treatment planning.
We provide detailed assessment results to other providers, with appropriate consent, to facilitate integrated care. This collaborative approach leads to more effective interventions and better outcomes for teenagers experiencing mental health and learning challenges.
The Value of Early Assessment and Intervention
For many teenagers, early identification of learning, behavioral, or emotional challenges can significantly impact their developmental trajectory. Comprehensive psychological evaluation provides a foundation for understanding and addressing these challenges before they lead to more serious problems.
Early intervention based on thorough assessment can help prevent academic failure, social isolation, and the development of secondary mental health issues. By identifying specific challenges and strengths, we help teenagers and their families develop effective treatment strategies for success at home, in school, and in social settings.
Our assessment services for teens create a roadmap for addressing current difficulties and preventing future complications. This proactive approach supports healthy development and maximizes potential during this critical life stage.
Tailored Assessments
Engaging Techniques
We believe in making the assessment process enjoyable for teenagers. Our methods involve interactive activities that are not only engaging but also deeply informative.
Unveiling Hidden Strengths
Using interactive methods, we can uncover and understand hidden aspects of a teenager's development that may not be apparent during traditional assessments.
What We Assess
Behavioral Patterns
Understanding a teenager's behavior in different contexts provides us with valuable insights into their emotional and cognitive development.
Learning Challenges
We identify areas where a teenager may need extra support, whether it's in academic learning or developing essential life skills.
Social Skills Assessment
We recognize the importance of understanding how teenagers interact with their peers and adults to guide them towards healthy social development.
Emotional Well-Being
We prioritize a teenager's emotional well-being, paying close attention to their emotional health.
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 strengths. Depending on the age, the session may include the teenager, parents/caregivers, and/or a support person, aiming to gather valuable information about the client’s history and presenting questions.
Step 3
Testing Phase (Approximately 2+ Hours)
Step 4
Feedback, Recommendations, and Resources
Helpful Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Open Communication
We know every parent or caregiver is the expert when it comes to their teenager. Openly share your concerns or those little quirks that make your teenager uniquely them. provide invaluable context for our assessment team.
Prepare Your teenager
Explain the assessment process to your teenager in an age-appropriate manner. Reassure them that it's a supportive environment where they can be themselves. Check out some pictures or even a short video of our office. You can look at these together with your teenager before you come in. Make it a family thing – we want it to be as comfortable and familiar as possible.
Provide Background Information
Being open about your teenager's developmental history and any specific challenges they may be facing helps us build a clearer picture of how best to support them.
Speak up!
Your presence and engagement during the assessment process matter. Ask questions, seek clarification, and be an active participant. Your insights are invaluable.
Why Choose Bridges of the Mind for Teen Assessment Services
Choosing the right provider for your teenager’s psychological assessment is an important decision. At Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services, we offer:
- Specialized expertise in adolescent development and psychological testing
- Comprehensive evaluations addressing multiple domains of functioning
- Personalized approach tailored to each teenager’s unique needs
- Collaborative process including parents, teens, and other providers
- Evidence-based methods reflecting current best practices
- Clear, actionable recommendations for home, school, and treatment
- Convenient location serving Sacramento, San Jose, and South Lake Tahoe families
Our group practice brings together experienced clinicians with diverse specializations, ensuring your teenager receives appropriate and effective assessment services. We’re committed to excellence in psychological evaluation and supporting the mental health of children, teens, and adults throughout our community.
We’re in this together, making sure your teenager gets the support they need. We are excited to partner with you.
Taking the Next Step
If you’re concerned about your teenager’s mental health, academic performance, or behavior, a comprehensive psychological assessment can provide valuable insights and direction. Our team at Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services is here to guide you through the evaluation process and help connect your teenager with the support they need to thrive.
“We did an assessment with Bridges of the Mind in order to ensure our teenager has as much information about how they learn and experience the world as possible prior to going to college and becoming an adult. The doctor we worked with was intelligent, friendly, kind, and knowledgeable. She set a terrific tone with which our teenager really resonated with. The structure of the assessment is appropriately thorough without being overwhelming. We really enjoyed the experience and we are excited to put our new knowledge to work.”