31 Panoramic Way, STE 202, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 &
21 Tamal Vista Blvd, Ste 203, Corte Madera, CA 94925
Psychological Testing
Assessment is an evidence-based method for identifying cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral strengths and weaknesses. Using your strengths, we develop treatment recommendations and strategies to work with the weaknesses, to improve functioning in your daily life. Our evaluations go beyond simply identifying challenges, they uncover strengths, explain patterns, and provide practical strategies for supporting you and/or your child’s development.
Comprehensive Psychoeducational & Psychological Evaluations
Our most comprehensive evaluation option—and the one we recommend most frequently—provides a thorough understanding of you or your child’s strengths, challenges, and overall functioning across cognitive, academic, attentional, behavioral, and social-emotional domains. While concerns may begin in one area, a comprehensive assessment often reveals important connections that help explain the broader picture. This approach allows us to answer both presenting and underlying questions, offering meaningful insights and individualized recommendations across home, school, work, and therapeutic settings.
Comprehensive evaluations are ideal for:
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Understanding complex or overlapping challenges
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Addressing multiple concerns simultaneously
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Obtaining detailed documentation for school accommodations
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Creating a comprehensive support plan
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Identifying subtle learning or processing differences
Specific Learning Differences (SLD)
Everyone has unique strengths and challenges. Some individuals may excel in verbal or written communication but find complex mathematical concepts difficult to grasp. Others may have strong analytical skills and perform well with calculations but struggle with expressing themselves in writing or speech. These variations are a normal part of human diversity and do not, in themselves, indicate a learning difference. However, significant and persistent difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, or mathematical reasoning—when not attributable to inadequate instruction or academic exposure—may suggest the presence of a Specific Learning Difference (SLD).
There are three primary types of SLDs:
Reading Impairment
(Dyslexia)
This form of SLD is characterized by difficulty accurately reading words, especially those that are not phonetic (e.g., “recipe”). You may recognize and understand the word when hearing it spoken but misread it in print as something entirely different, such as “receipt.” Reading may be slow and effortful, often requiring repeated attempts to comprehend text.
Written Expression Impairment
This may present as frequent spelling errors, inconsistent grammar or punctuation use, and difficulty organizing thoughts clearly in writing.
Mathematics Impairment (Dyscalculia)
Individuals with this SLD may struggle to memorize basic arithmetic facts (like multiplication tables), resulting in poor calculation accuracy or fluency. They may also have difficulty applying math concepts to solve problems or reason through multi-step equations.
Specific Learning Differences are classified as neurodevelopment disorders, meaning that symptoms begin during early brain development. If difficulties in reading, writing, or math were not evident in childhood, it is unlikely that current challenges are due to an SLD.
SLD often co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and communication disorders. It may also contribute to mood-related issues, including anxiety and depression.
A comprehensive assessment can help determine whether a learning disability is present, differentiate it from other conditions, and provide individualized treatment recommendations. Early identification and targeted support can significantly improve academic, professional, and everyday functioning.
Conditions That May Affect Memory And Thinking Such As Mood, Sleep, and Stress
In everyday life, stress, sleep, and mood are deeply interconnected—so much so that it can be difficult to determine where one influence ends and another begins. When we're under stress, the body releases hormones that drive both physical and emotional responses. Adrenaline increases alertness and arousal, while cortisol, another key stress hormone, suppresses the immune system. When stress becomes chronic, prolonged exposure to these hormones can contribute to anxiety, depression, memory problems, and impaired cognitive functioning. Stress frequently disrupts sleep, leading to irregular patterns that drain energy and worsen mood—creating a cycle that intensifies both stress and emotional instability. Poor sleep can result in increased irritability, reduced attention to detail, and difficulty concentrating or remembering, which can negatively impact work, relationships, and overall well-being.
For helpful sleep suggestions try the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s recommendations.
IQ Testing
IQ testing provides a standardized measure of cognitive abilities and can offer valuable insight into how an individual learns, reasons, solves problems, and processes information. Depending on the assessment used, areas evaluated may include verbal reasoning, visual-spatial abilities, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Our evaluations are conducted by licensed psychologists with specialized training in cognitive assessment and extensive experience working with children and adolescents. We also offer lower-fee testing options through supervised trainees. Families considering this option are encouraged to confirm whether their child's school, program, or organization accepts evaluations completed by supervised postdoctoral fellows. However, significant and persistent difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, or mathematical reasoning—when not attributable to inadequate instruction or academic exposure—may suggest the presence of a Specific Learning Difference (SLD).
At AgapeHealth, we offer standalone IQ evaluations for admissions, placement, and gifted program applications, including:
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Private school admissions
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Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs
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Gifted program placement
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Academic talent searches
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Selective extracurricular and enrichment programs