The Wright Institute Assessment Clinic

The Wright Institute Assessment Clinic

The Wright Institute Assessment Services (WIAS) is a department of the Wright Institute Clinical Services, which is operated by the Wright Institute. Currently, WIAS operates the Wright Institute Advanced Supplemental Assessment Practicum (WIASP) and the Wright Institute 2nd Year (Y2) Assessment Program, whereby doctorate program practicum students receive training and conduct evaluations under the supervision of licensed psychologists.

Wright Institute Advanced Supplemental Assessment Practicum

Overview

WIAS began in the 2009-2010 academic year, with the primary objective of offering low-fee psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. It also aims to provide supplemental assessment experience for Wright Institute doctorate program students, in order to enhance early graduate practice with comprehensive clinical assessments. Student evaluators conduct a clinical interview, administer testing, score and interpret data, integrate their findings into a report, document their work, and provide feedback to clients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

Client Referrals

Referrals come from self-referrals, the Wright Institute clinics, and the community at large. Referrals to the Wright Institute Advanced Supplemental Assessment Practicum come by phone via the referral line at 510-239-2014. Referrals are screened for appropriateness of evaluation question and for best fit for student training.

Practicum Training Experience

Training consists of a weekly didactic/group supervision, staff meeting, labs, and per-case individual supervision. During the weekly didactics and labs, students will learn assessment fundamentals, test administration and scoring, test interpretation, and diagnostic formulation through review of clinical cases and through presentation of their cases. The practicum will have three focuses: general assessment, child assessment, and neuropsychological assessment. The majority of cases require evaluation for neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and Learning Disorders. Assessments will be conducted using the Therapeutic/Collaborative Assessment Model unless contraindicated. You may also mentor a second year assessment student.

Time Commitment

10-18 hours depending on number of batteries (minimum is 3 for the year). Workflow also varies greatly with some weeks being much more demanding. The general guideline for testing from the first meeting with the client to feedback will be 12 weeks. This will require excellent time management skills.

Fees

Fees for the Wright Institute Assessment Clinic are assigned on a sliding scale based on the individual or family gross income. When exceptions to the fee appear to be necessary due to extraordinary hardship or clinical reasons, a reduced fee may be considered.

Wright Institute Second Year (Y2) Assessment

Overview

The 2013-2014 academic year was the pilot year for the Second Year Assessment Program with the primary objective of increasing training opportunities for second year students to practice psychological assessment in tandem with the Adult Assessment course. Training that supplements class content will be offered for intellectual functioning, academic achievement, neuropsychological screening, and emotional functioning.

Students will gain proficiency in administering specified tests while they are learning assessment in class. Later in the training year, student evaluators will perform psychodiagnostic assessments and give feedback to their clients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Students will be supported in developing their skills with clinical interviewing, test administration, data interpretation, case formulation, report writing, and giving feedback. Implementation of Collaborative/ Therapeutic Assessment techniques will be explored.

Client Referrals

Referrals come from the Wright Institute clinics and community agencies and a small fee may be charged. Referrals are screened for appropriateness of evaluation question and for best fit for student training.

Practicum Training Experience

Training consists of weekly didactic/group supervision, labs, and per-case individual supervision. In the weekly didactic and lab, students will learn assessment fundamentals, such as test administration, test scoring, test interpretation, diagnostic formulation, and giving feedback through presentations, review of clinical cases, and through presentation of their cases.

Time Commitment

8-10 hours. Workflow also varies greatly with some weeks being much more demanding. The general guideline for testing from the first meeting with the client to feedback will be 12 weeks. This will require excellent time management skills.

Clinic Staff

Training Director
Kinshasa Bennett, PhD
(510) 705-8503 x 114 kbennett@wi.edu

Assistant Training Director
Talia Kurland, PsyD
ANSA Voicemail Ext 431 tkurland@wi.edu

Director of Clinical Services
Deanna van Ligten, Psy.D. dvanligten@wi.edu

Intake

510-239-2014