Psychological Testing FAQ
How do I schedule psychological testing?
Dr. Pratt schedules all meetings through this website. To register and schedule testing, please click on the schedule testing button below.
Does my child need psychological testing?
Psychological testing of a student helps parents to make informed decisions. There are a wide range of concerns that might warrant testing, including issues with learning, attention, depression and anxiety. Psychological testing is most helpful when there are specific questions, such as:
- Is my child making adequate progress in school?
- Does my child need special education services?
- How can my child get the accommodations and services that they need?
- Is my child in the correct grade?
- Does my child need a tutor, therapist or medication?
- Does my child need a different school?
When do I sign a consent form?
Dr. Pratt needs a signed psychological testing consent form before the initial parent meeting. Families will be sent a consent form through DocuSign. By law, psychologists need to have a signed consent form before they can provide any service, including an initial meeting. The consent form describes the nature of services provided and explains laws related to psychology. Policies and fees are also deliniated.
What is the Difference Between Dr. Pratt and an Educational Advocate?
Dr. Brendan Pratt is a licensed psychologist (PSY17794) who completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. He has been licensed as a psychologist in California since 2002. He is qualified to diagnose disorders using the DSM-5-TR, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Dr. Pratt specializes in completing comprehensive psychological testing of students. In completing evaluations, he adheres strictly to the California Education Code §56320 and the ethics code of the American Psycholgoical Association. For instance, he ensures assessments are comprehensive, validated for the specific purpose and administered in the student’s native language. Dr. Pratt evaluates all areas of suspected disability, utilizing a multi-source approach that includes clinical interviews, review of educational records, behavior rating scales and direct testing. When he attends a school meeting, Dr. Pratt bases his opinions on the clinical data from psychological testing. Because his conclusions are based on objective data, Dr. Pratt’s independent opinion can qualify him as an expert witness in due process hearings.
In contrast, an educational advocate is a strategic spokesperson for the parents. Advocates guide parents through the IEP process, ensuring school districts follow legal timelines and meeting protocols. Educational advocates are generally not licensed to diagnose or interpret psychological tests. By definition, an advocate’s role is to represent the parent's perspective, whereas Dr. Pratt’s role is to provide an unbiased analysis of the student’s needs. That is, Dr. Pratt provides the facts based on testing data, an advocate ensures the parents’ voices are heard.
What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is a private assessment by an examiner not employed by the student’s school district. It provides parents a safeguard if they disagree with the district’s evaluation. Under California law, parents can request an IEE at public expense; the district must then either pay for it or file for due process, a hearing to defend their report. The results of any IEE must be considered by the IEP team when deciding on special education services, ensuring that decisions are based on accurate, unbiased data about the child’s needs.
As an independent licensed psychologist, Dr. Pratt specializes in completing psychological testing, which is one kind of an IEE. To ensure his independence, Dr. Pratt does not contract directly with school districts; instead, the family pays Dr. Pratt directly for all services. Dr. Pratt gives his independent professional opinion regardless of whether it agrees with the student, the family or school personnel.
What should I tell my child before a psychological testing session?
What can my child expect during psychological testing?
Can I leave during my child's psychological testing sessions?
Is my family's privacy protected throughout the psychological assessment process?
Dr. Pratt follows ethical guidelines and laws protecting the privacy of clients. He follows the ethical guidelines of the Americal Psychological Association. He also strictly adheres to the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) (Civil Code §56). This state law provides rigorous protection for sensitive mental health information.
There are exceptions to confidentiality that are allowed or mandated by law, and these exceptions include, but are not limited to: suspected abuse of a child, elder or dependent adult; danger to self or others; grave disability; childhood victim of a crime; legal proceedings by court order; investigation of criminal cases by law enforcement officials; malpractice lawsuits; Medicare audit; No Surprises Act mediation; ethics complaints; and licensing complaints. There is generally no privilege in a legal case in which the client’s mental status is at issue, such as a disability determination. State and county health department guidelines and contact tracing may lead to disclosure of confidential information.
If Dr. Pratt determines that there is a probability of imminent physical injury by any clients to themselves or others, or there is a probability of immediate mental or emotional injury to the client(s), Dr. Pratt may disclose confidential mental health information to medical or law enforcement personnel. If an exception to confidentiality appears to apply, Dr. Pratt will inform the family.
