Psychological evaluation is a collaborative process designed to help children and the important people in their life recognize things about themselves and their world that are not always easy to see or understand. The assessment process is helpful for understanding the emotional and intellectual life of a child within his or her given family and cultural context.  Through this process, solutions to problems in living emerge. We meet with children, their family, teachers, social workers, doctors, and other important people in their life to learn as much as we can about the child and his or her current struggle.  We use tests that are culturally and developmentally sound to understand strengths, weaknesses, and barriers to growth. The final report distills in print the feelings, ways of thinking and experiences that describe a child at this time.  It offers insight into how he or she looks at and engages with the world.   Our reports may also include a children’s version – written in the language of stories and pictures, so they too can understand themselves.  The report can serve as a roadmap for how therapy or school should be, or what kind of environment would be best.  Caregiver Hand-out Youth Hand-out For more information on the Assessment Program or regarding psychological evaluation please contact Dr. Barbara Mercer, Assessment Program Director, at (510) 269-9040 or by email at bmercer@westcoastcc.org.