We do not offer counselling at Onyx Assessments, but we are more than happy to refer you to our sister company, Onyx Counselling & Psychology, just next door! Check out their website at https://onyxtherapy.ca.

Typically, an assessment from start to finish takes between 4-6 weeks. However, it can be completed in a shorter time frame based on availability.

Yes, all information is kept private and secure.

You will not need to bring anything to the initial intake interview and the psychologist will inform you if anything is needed for the subsequent sessions.

We recommend being as transparent with your child as possible about the assessment process (using developmentally appropriate language, of course). The psychologist will work with you during the intake meeting to find the appropriate language to use to explain the process to your child and inform you what kind of tasks your child will be asked to complete.

Yes, we do. Reach out to our team to find out more about what this looks like.

We recommend initial assessments around grade 3 (age 8), to allow students to be exposed to early literacy and numeracy skills prior to an assessment.

No, you do not need a referral – however, an assessment is often suggested by a teacher, tutor, coach or doctor.

In publicly funded school boards across Alberta, an assessment may be recommended by your child’s school support team. If your child is referred for one within their school, it is free and performed at your child’s school by a psychologist or psychometrist. Unfortunately, wait times for a psychoeducational assessment through school boards can range from several months to years. Every school board is different and wait times vary.

At Onyx, Psychological Testing is carried out by highly trained and experienced psychologists and psychometrists. They are skilled in selecting, administering, and interpreting the results of various psychological tests.

A psychometrist is an individual who has extensive training in the administration and scoring of psychological assessment measures. Psychometrists complete the testing aspect of the assessment. The registered psychologist is responsible to interpret the test results and write the final report. If a psychometrist is used to complete testing, the psychologist will make it clear and obtain consent prior to booking in the assessment appointments.

We typically require 24 hours notice by phone or email. To ensure we can fill the appointment with another client, please let us know as early as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Schools often face limitations in resources, staffing, and time, so while they may strive to meet the needs of students, it's important to set realistic expectations for their ability to provide assessments. Some considerations include:

1. Wait Times: There may be delays in assessments due to high demand, especially for specialized services like psychological or speech evaluations.

2. Limited Staffing: Some schools may not have dedicated personnel for every type of assessment (e.g., educational psychologists, speech therapists) and may rely on external resources, which can cause delays.

3. Prioritization: Schools may prioritize certain assessments based on urgency or severity of need, so students with more visible or urgent challenges might receive attention first.

4. Interventions Before Assessment: Many schools may implement early interventions or support systems before formal assessments to see if a student's needs can be addressed without a full evaluation.

5. Collaboration with Parents: Schools often work closely with parents to ensure concerns are addressed, so it’s important to maintain open communication, ask questions, and explore external assessment options if needed.

Being aware of these limitations can help set expectations and guide discussions with the school about possible solutions.