"See a child differently, you see a different child."
-Dr. Stuart Shanker
-Dr. Stuart Shanker
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book an appointment?
Booking an appointment is quick and easy at Spinnaker Psychological Services. Individuals may contact Spinnaker Psychological Services directly to arrange an appointment. A doctor referral is not needed to initiate services at our clinic. Don't worry if you are not sure what specific service you need; we will listen to your questions and help you decide what will be most helpful for you and your child.
Simply email us at info@spinnakerpsychology.ca. One of our team members will call you to ask a few simple questions and answer your queries regarding next steps, wonderings related to billing and insurance, or any other initial questions that you may have and schedule an initial appointment.
What is a psychologist versus a psychometrist?
Psychologists and psychological associates are regulated health professionals and are registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Psychometrists receive extensive training in psychological testing and interviewing, but are not registered and therefore work under the supervision of a registered provider.
Psychological service providers use clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, and psychometric tests to help identify issues and to work on solutions. Psychological service providers are the only professionals qualified to use certain kinds of psychometric tests to assess intelligence, as well as emotional and behavioural problems. Psychologists and psychological associates who are trained in clinical psychology, along with physicians and psychiatrists, are the only professionals who can communicate a psychological diagnosis. Psychologists and psychometrists do not prescribe medication.
Psychologists and psychological associates are regulated health professionals and are registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Psychometrists receive extensive training in psychological testing and interviewing, but are not registered and therefore work under the supervision of a registered provider.
Psychological service providers use clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, and psychometric tests to help identify issues and to work on solutions. Psychological service providers are the only professionals qualified to use certain kinds of psychometric tests to assess intelligence, as well as emotional and behavioural problems. Psychologists and psychological associates who are trained in clinical psychology, along with physicians and psychiatrists, are the only professionals who can communicate a psychological diagnosis. Psychologists and psychometrists do not prescribe medication.
What is a consultation versus an assessment?
Why a Consultation?
If you have concerns or questions about your child's development, learning, or behaviour and are not sure how to proceed, a Consultation might be the best way to start. You will be interviewed to hear more about what you are concerned about and to gain some information about how your child is doing. Your child may or may not need to be involved in this step. Depending on what is learned, your concerns might be allayed and your questions put in context of a child simply growing and learning and doing the best they can. Or you might be directed as to what might be the next step to take, perhaps consulting with a Pediatrician, Speech and Language Pathologist, or Occupational Therapist, or what support you might ask about at your child's school, and advised as to what questions to ask them. If a bit more information is needed to best help you at this time, you might be asked to complete a rating scale, or your child might be observed briefly. Your consultant will discuss with you what her initial thoughts and recommendations are, and can get back to you with any follow-up needed. If further screening is felt helpful, this will be discussed as well. Consultations are primarily completed by the psychometrist and she will review with the supervising psychologist regarding any clinical wonderings.
Why an Assessment?
If you are looking for how to understand your child's developmental level, learning profile, wondering about a a learning, social, developmental, attention diagnosis, or have concerns about your child's mood or behaviour, an assessment is a thorough evaluation that can be extremely beneficial to help you explore and answer these questions. If you know what type of assessment you are looking for, we will describe this thoroughly on your first visit. But don't worry if you are not sure; we can discuss your questions and concerns and suggest the best fit for you. An assessment is completed by the psychologist or the psychometrist under supervision of the psychologist. An assessment may result in a diagnosis or rule out a diagnosis; either way, an assessment will provide a thorough formulation of your child's unique profile.
Why a Consultation?
If you have concerns or questions about your child's development, learning, or behaviour and are not sure how to proceed, a Consultation might be the best way to start. You will be interviewed to hear more about what you are concerned about and to gain some information about how your child is doing. Your child may or may not need to be involved in this step. Depending on what is learned, your concerns might be allayed and your questions put in context of a child simply growing and learning and doing the best they can. Or you might be directed as to what might be the next step to take, perhaps consulting with a Pediatrician, Speech and Language Pathologist, or Occupational Therapist, or what support you might ask about at your child's school, and advised as to what questions to ask them. If a bit more information is needed to best help you at this time, you might be asked to complete a rating scale, or your child might be observed briefly. Your consultant will discuss with you what her initial thoughts and recommendations are, and can get back to you with any follow-up needed. If further screening is felt helpful, this will be discussed as well. Consultations are primarily completed by the psychometrist and she will review with the supervising psychologist regarding any clinical wonderings.
Why an Assessment?
If you are looking for how to understand your child's developmental level, learning profile, wondering about a a learning, social, developmental, attention diagnosis, or have concerns about your child's mood or behaviour, an assessment is a thorough evaluation that can be extremely beneficial to help you explore and answer these questions. If you know what type of assessment you are looking for, we will describe this thoroughly on your first visit. But don't worry if you are not sure; we can discuss your questions and concerns and suggest the best fit for you. An assessment is completed by the psychologist or the psychometrist under supervision of the psychologist. An assessment may result in a diagnosis or rule out a diagnosis; either way, an assessment will provide a thorough formulation of your child's unique profile.
How should I prepare for my appointment?
If you are coming for an initial Consultation or an initial interview for an assessment, come a few minutes early so you have time to complete our Intake and Information form for new clients. If you would like to bring notes with your specific questions, or paperwork with details you want to remember (e.g., report care, doctors notes) that is fine, but you do not have to. Our initial interview will guide you in sharing the information that is needed.
If you are coming for an initial Consultation or an initial interview for an assessment, come a few minutes early so you have time to complete our Intake and Information form for new clients. If you would like to bring notes with your specific questions, or paperwork with details you want to remember (e.g., report care, doctors notes) that is fine, but you do not have to. Our initial interview will guide you in sharing the information that is needed.
What should I expect for my first appointment?
The goal of the first appointment is to understand your current concern(s), review our clinic's policies, and determine whether the services that we provide will be a good fit for you and your family. You will work collaboratively with a team member and will have the opportunity to explain your child's history and current concerns, in order to tailor an individual plan for your specific needs. If you have any wonderings, please do not hesitate to ask; we will be happy to answer your questions during your initial appointment and any time throughout your work with us.
The goal of the first appointment is to understand your current concern(s), review our clinic's policies, and determine whether the services that we provide will be a good fit for you and your family. You will work collaboratively with a team member and will have the opportunity to explain your child's history and current concerns, in order to tailor an individual plan for your specific needs. If you have any wonderings, please do not hesitate to ask; we will be happy to answer your questions during your initial appointment and any time throughout your work with us.
How should I prepare my child for appointments?
When you bring your child for an assessment appointment, we recommend informing your child that they will be coming to work with someone to help them understand how they learn and do things, to better understand how they are doing at school and with their friends and family. If they are curious to know more, let them know they will do a bunch of activities, some of them easy, some of them fun, and some of them harder, but it's not a 'test' like in school and they cannot fail! The activities will help to learn more about how their brains and feelings work best for them, to help them and their supporters (caregivers/ teachers) do and feel better. We will take breaks as we need to, and we might take one visit or a few visits.
Please ensure that your child is well rested and has had a meal before their assessment appointments. If needed, please fell free to bring a snack or bottle of water for your child. If your child usually takes medication, please continue with this routine unless we have discussed otherwise.
When you bring your child for an assessment appointment, we recommend informing your child that they will be coming to work with someone to help them understand how they learn and do things, to better understand how they are doing at school and with their friends and family. If they are curious to know more, let them know they will do a bunch of activities, some of them easy, some of them fun, and some of them harder, but it's not a 'test' like in school and they cannot fail! The activities will help to learn more about how their brains and feelings work best for them, to help them and their supporters (caregivers/ teachers) do and feel better. We will take breaks as we need to, and we might take one visit or a few visits.
Please ensure that your child is well rested and has had a meal before their assessment appointments. If needed, please fell free to bring a snack or bottle of water for your child. If your child usually takes medication, please continue with this routine unless we have discussed otherwise.
How is my information kept private?
The assessment is shared with the parents/guardians. Written consent is needed to release the information to anyone else. All information is kept private and confidential. There are some limits to confidentiality for all regulated health providers where the law requires us to share information in order to keep everyone safe; these would be explained to you before you consent. Your privacy and that of your child is very important to us and as regulated health professionals we adhere strictly to policies and procedures set out by our professional associations.
The assessment is shared with the parents/guardians. Written consent is needed to release the information to anyone else. All information is kept private and confidential. There are some limits to confidentiality for all regulated health providers where the law requires us to share information in order to keep everyone safe; these would be explained to you before you consent. Your privacy and that of your child is very important to us and as regulated health professionals we adhere strictly to policies and procedures set out by our professional associations.
Where can I go if my child is in crisis and I cannot wait for an appointment?
If you have concerns about your child's immediate safety, or the safety of others around your child, please call 911 or go to your local hospital. If you feel your child or family are in crisis, please contact Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247 (at anytime).
If you have concerns about your child's immediate safety, or the safety of others around your child, please call 911 or go to your local hospital. If you feel your child or family are in crisis, please contact Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247 (at anytime).
Please let us know if you or your child have any other questions we have not answered here or elsewhere on the website, and we are happy to help. Just email us at info@spinnakerpsychology.ca.
"The world needs different kinds of minds to work together"
-Temple Grandin
-Temple Grandin
Photos courtesy of Melissa Askew, Julianne Lieberman, Sandeep KrYah, Benjamin Elliot, Charlene Gracia,Hannah Rodrigo - Unsplash
