Psychological Assessments
For Teens

Dr. Thurlow is passionate about working with teens, and she is widely sought after for her assessments because of her ability to form meaningful connections with them. Her adolescent evaluations are comprehensive, clear, and can be easily understood by professionals and parents alike. Parents and teens enjoy working with Dr. Thurlow, not just because she is an astute diagnostician, but because she cares deeply about improving the lives of teens.

Brain Spectrum offers assessments of teens for the following:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Learning Disorders
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Executive Functioning
• Cognitive Processing Deficits
• Giftedness
• Anxiety, Depression, Mood, and Complex Psychological Presentations
• Behavior
• Personality
• Thought Disorder
• Trauma
• Gender Dysphoria
• Sexual Orientation

Did you know that one in three teens suffers from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder? Among college students, 29.1% have been diagnosed with anxiety and 23.6% have been diagnosed with depression (NCHA, 2021). Moreover, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, ages 10-34 (CDC, 2022). The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions can be serious, with challenges that may extend well into adulthood.

Dr. Thurlow has a special place in her heart for her teen clients. Not only are they bubbling over with hormones, they are having to navigate a more complex world than the one their parents grew up in. Questions about sexual identity and orientation, social isolation, school pressure, social media, depression, anxiety, and autism are quite common nowadays.  An evaluation with Brain Spectrum can help clarify and facilitate conversation between parents and their teens.

Your first appointment is a parent-only interview during which we obtain history and information about your teen’s challenges. This can be conducted in-person or via our telehealth platform. At the end of this appointment, Dr. Thurlow will discuss with you the type of evaluation that is best suited to your teen.

Depending on the nature of the evaluation, your teen will then be scheduled for up to three testing appointments. These in-person appointments typically last between two and four hours each, during which Dr. Thurlow will observe your teen, and administer relevant tests. Client, parent, teacher, and other relevant questionnaires will be sent out by email.

Once testing has been completed and all relevant information has been received, all the data that has been compiled is then reviewed and interpreted. A custom evaluation report of the results will be provided at the end of a 50-minute parent feedback session.

Every client will be provided with a clearly-written report of the results and evidence-based recommendations. If indicated, recommendations will also include school recommendations for special education services through an IEP, or accommodations through a 504 plan. This report can be kept private; shared with your school to demonstrate eligibility for special education services; or shared with your treatment team.