What to expect | Dr Muireann

What To Expect At Each Stage

Initial consultation

We will have 45 mins to discuss what you are concerned about and what you want to address.

You can ask me any questions that you may have and I will give you a truthful answer, drawing upon my professional skills and experience. I will put you and your child's best interests at the heart of any advice.

By the end of the consultation you will have clarity regarding your situation and regarding your next steps. This may include a decision to proceed with further assessment or referral to another professional e.g. speech and language therapist or paediatrician.

Before the assessment

I will ask you to complete a questionnaire regarding the person being assessed (e.g. your child)

If you consent to it, I will also ask your child's school or college to complete a questionnaire about them.

Together, these questionnaires give me a good picture of the client's development so far, including their interests, strengths, any other professional involvement e.g. CAMHS or speech and language.

I will also read any relevant, supporting documents that you share with me e.g. previous professional reports.

If it is your child that I am assessing, please read the next section and advise them of what to expect. They should have a truthful and clear idea of what the assessment involves. A simple explanation like "you will be doing various activities so that we can find out more about how you learn best" often suffices. This is critical for their informed consent and to support a positive experience of the process.

Please reassure them that it is totally normal and understandable to feel a little nervous about the assessment but that my job is to help them to enjoy it as much as possible and that they will almost certainly enjoy some, if not all, of the activities we do together.

The assessment

Depending on what is being assessed, the assessment session lasts anywhere between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours*.

*Sometimes it can take a little longer than expected if a client needs lots of breaks or has a processing speed issue.

The assessment session always starts with some rapport building and getting to know a little bit about each other, including any questions that the child or client I'm assessing has. I also recap what to expect in the session.

My aim is for clients to relax and enjoy the assessment. I work hard to make it a positive and constructive experience. It is typically very enjoyable as the majority of tasks are 'puzzle-like' activities that feel like games or brain-teasers.

There will be many opportunities for breaks throughout,

I can also provide a visual timetable for clients that may want or need this.

Feedback

I provide feedback to clients after assessments (typically, immediately after but it can be arranged for up to 7 days after via video call) to explain the results and advise on my interpretations and professional conclusions.

It also gives you the chance to ask any clarifying questions about the data I have gathered or any outstanding questions you may have. The information we discuss will be included in the written report.

Written report

The written report follows within 10 working days of the assessment and feedback, or within 48 hours for clients who have purchased the express report writing service add-on.

The written report will include background information about the client I assessed, their views and the views of parents (and school), as well as full details of the assessment materials used, the data and qualitative information gathered as well as my interpretation of results.

The report concludes with my professional views and understanding of the concerns or issues raised, triangulating all of the information gathered. Reports include recommendations on how any issues or difficulties identified can be addressed.

Whichever service you avail of...

I can guarantee a personable, discrete and professional service delivered with integrity and warmth.

I apply psychology and my rich experience and skills to help clients to gain insight, solve problems and devise meaningful solutions.