Psychological vs. Psychoeducational Evaluations:

Is there a difference?

The short answer?  yes!

However, there is some overlap.  Psychoeducational testing is conducted when there is a need to understand the ways in which your child’s cognitive, emotional and behavioral functioning could be impacting their educational progress.  This includes assessing for learning disabilities, giftedness, processing disorders or emotional struggles like depression or anxiety.  With information about your child’s functioning, the evaluator can provide recommendations for improving academic success and tackling those obstacles to educational growth.  

A psychological evaluation will focus primarily on your child’s psychological functioning to identify or clarify a mental health diagnosis.  These evaluations are often recommended when there is a known or suspected mental illness that is currently affecting your child.  Other providers working with your family (like a physician or therapist) may recommend the evaluation to confirm a diagnosis, receive assistance with planning the best course of treatment or as justification for a higher and/or broader level of care.