Assessment Services

A first appointment gives us an opportunity to gather some initial information. Prior to seeing a counsellor you will be asked to complete a written form so we can gather information such as your name, address, health and mental health history. You will be given a handout that outlines our services and policies on boundaries, cancellations, confidentiality and emergencies.

Assessments

The purpose of a first meeting is to understand the difficulties that you are experiencing from your perspective. We want to make sure that this is the right place for you to get help. This session will also give you an opportunity to meet with a particular counsellor to ensure that you are comfortable with the working relationship. We encourage you to come prepared to ask questions. Together, we should be in a position to identify your needs and to establish an initial contract for services by the end of this meeting.

It is our clinical belief that a careful assessment will lead to an effective resolution of problems. We need to understand why you are having the difficulties that are leading you to seek help. Once we do this, a plan for intervention logically follows. Some difficulties will require a standardized form of assessment.

Standardized Assessments

We provide specific standardized assessments for some very specialized problem areas:

Trauma Assessment General (TAG)

For individuals who may have experienced the following: physical abuse/neglect, witnessing or living in violence, involvement in or witnessing accidents, events that result in emotional shock or distressing symptoms.

Sexual Trauma Assessment (STA)

For individuals who may have experienced sexual trauma of any kind including: sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape, sexual exploitation by people in authority (such as teachers, doctors, ministers, employers)

Sexual Behaviour Problems in Prepubescent Children (SB)

When adults become concerned that children are engaging in sexual behaviour that is not age appropriate a formal assessment may be necessary. Consultation with relevant, concerned adults will determine the necessity and degree of comprehensiveness of the assessment.

Sibling Sexual Abuse Assessment and Treatment

When children in a family have been involved sexually with each other all family members are affected. The definition of siblings and family vary. When caregivers are in a parental role and their children live together full or part time as family, the boundaries of safety and protection are viewed as the same. Regardless of the family configuration, sexual contact between children in a family is problematic.

Our Comprehensive Assessment includes the following:

• family assessment
• trauma assessment
• sexual behaviour or sexual offense assessment
• psychological component
• psychometric component
• review of all relevant collateral contacts information
• formulation and written report outlining treatment recommendations

Our Comprehensive Treatment Program includes the following:

• Individual Treatment for each sibling involved
• Dyadic Treatment for parents and siblings involved
• Family Treatment for all family members. Can include the extended family

Note: In situations where adults have been abused by a sibling during childhood, this protocol may not be used. Instead, adults could undergo a Sexual Trauma Assessment. Current family issues would be addressed as part of the treatment plan..

For further information please contact Geraldine Crisci, ext. 222

Supporting Adoption Successes

The only thing worse than not having a “forever family” is having a “forever family” not work. Risk of losing an adoptive family compounds the trauma already experienced by a child who has lost one family and is a tragedy for the family who had hoped to share their lives with a child.

Our experience has informed us that children who have the following histories are likely to be the most challenging and pose the greatest risk of poor attachment in adoption placement.

• early trauma, neglect and/or deprivation
• preverbal trauma
• exposure to violent homes
• chaotic and unpredictable caregiving
• birth parents with substance abuse/addictions or major mental health disorders
• multiple placements prior to adoption
• inadequate prenatal care and early childhood medical care
• lack of emotional and physical nurturance in institutional care settings
• children who have been exposed to numerous changes ie., culture, language, nutrition, travel

Our success with these families and children is a result of a comprehensive assessment and treatment model that recognizes how these issues manifest in the parent/child relationship. We assist parents in accurately identifying the child’s needs and correctly interpret the child’s behaviour. Our job is to assist parents to develop and implement specific interventions to facilitate attachment. We work with the family to strengthen their relationship in order to provide support to each other as well as the child.

Referral for this program should be made by completing the child and youth referral form and by contacting Geraldine Crisci, ext. 222