The Wright Institute Assessment Services
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 multiple supplemental opportunities where students can utilize and enhance their assessment skills while offering valuable services to the community. WIAS programs are for Wright doctorate program practicum students who are 3rd year or above. They receive structured training and conduct various types of psychological evaluations under the supervision of licensed psychologists. Each program opportunity is described below. Applications for each supplemental program are shared in spring and include additional details about expectations and services offered. You may contact Dr. Pade if you have any questions.
Wright Institute Advanced Supplemental Assessment Practicum
Overview
The WIAS advanced supplemental began in the 2009-2010 academic year, with the primary objective of offering low-fee comprehensive psychological assessments 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 clinical assessments. Student evaluators typically conduct a clinical interview, cultural interview, administer various psychological measures, score and interpret data, integrate their findings into a written 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 inquiries via a secure Google document and may also come via the referral line at 510-239-2014. Referrals are screened for appropriateness of evaluation questions and best fit for student training.
Practicum Training Experience
Training consists of a weekly didactic/group supervision and individual supervision. During the weekly didactic groups, students 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 utilizes a collaborative, therapeutic, diversity aware, and neuro-affirmative approach. While many referrals request an evaluation for neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention, executive functions, and learning disorders as well as autism spectrum disorder, assessments provided are comprehensive and address trauma and social emotional functioning along with understanding individual context and circumstances. As part of their training, 4th year students or above also provide peer consultation for 1st or 2nd year students completing integrated intakes at the other Wright clinics.
Time Commitment
Third year students commit to 10 hours per week while 4th year students or above contract for 15 hours per week. All students typically complete 3 comprehensive assessments. Workflow varies with some weeks being much more demanding. Assessment cases typically coincide with the academic trimester calendar and students must dedicate the necessary time to learn new measures. This opportunity required a sincere interest in assessment, strong self-discipline and initiative as well as excellent organizational and time management skills.
Fees
Fees for the Wright Institute Assessment Clinic are significantly lower than typical cost for the Bay Area and usually below $1500. Specific cost is determined case-by-case based on the individual income circumstances and needs.
Wright Institute Child and Adolescent Integrated Intake Supplemental Practicum
Overview
The 2024-2025 academic year was the pilot year for the child and adolescent integrated assessment program with the primary objective of offering valuable screenings for incoming Child and Adolescent Clinic (CAC) clients as well as providing additional assessment opportunities for advanced Wright students and assessment exposure to 1st year CAC trainees. Assessments are brief and fairly broad, exploring overall functioning to inform treatment planning and therapy work. Advanced students, under supervision of a licensed psychologist, conduct clinical (or play) interviews with clients as well as parents/guardians, administer a number of screening measures, integrate findings into a written report as well as verbal feedback. First year CAC trainees observe and participate in the assessment process. Thus, this opportunity allows for direct assessment experience as well as mentoring students.
Client Referrals
Referrals to CAC come from the Wright Institute clinics and community agencies. Referrals are screened for fit for student training.
Practicum Training Experience
Training consists of weekly didactic/group supervision, ongoing individual support. Students will learn to utilize various screening measures, relevant role of developmental stages and family dynamics, diagnostic considerations, and giving feedback through lecture, discussion, and review of clinical cases. Students typically complete approximately 5 integrated assessments.
Time Commitment
Advanced students contract for 8 hours per week. Workflow also varies greatly with some weeks being more demanding. The general guideline for most cases from the first meeting with the client to feedback is approximately 12 weeks. This opportunity required a sincere interest in assessment, strong self-discipline and initiative as well as excellent organizational and time management skills.
Wright Institute Learning Disability Assessment Supplemental Practicum
Overview
The Learning Disabilities assessment opportunity with local community colleges was established in the 2026-2027 academic year. The primary objective of offering such targeted evaluations is towards identifying a need for formal academic accommodations and supports. It also aims to provide assessment experience for Wright Institute doctorate program students, in order to enhance early graduate practice with assessments. Student assessors conduct a brief targeted clinical interview, administer specific measures for to better understand clients’ intellectual abilities and academic achievement including reported learning challenges. Students then score and interpret data, integrate their findings into a cohesive written report, document their work, and provide verbal feedback to clients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This assessment opportunity is comprised of two programs; the wellness supplemental and WIAS LD assessment supplemental.
Client Referrals
Referrals come directly from the community colleges participating in this initiative, currently Contra Costa Community College and Diablo Valley Community College. Referrals are screened by the respected colleges to ensure appropriateness of this specific evaluation and associated learning needs.
Practicum Training Experience
Training consists of weekly group supervision, monthly didactics, and per-case individual supervision. In the ongoing didactic sessions students will learn about learning disabilities, relevant standardized test administration/scoring, accurate interpretation, diagnostic formulation, a meaningful and cohesive written report, and giving feedback through lecture, review of clinical cases, and case presentations. Students typically complete approximately 5 assessments.
Time Commitment
Students who are 3rd year or above contract for 10 hours per week. Workflow also varies greatly with some weeks being more demanding. The general timeline guidance for these targeted assessments from the first meeting with the client to feedback is approximately 8 weeks. This opportunity required a sincere interest in assessment, strong self-discipline and initiative as well as excellent organizational and time management skills.
Wright Institute Recovery Clinic Assessment Program
Overview
The 2025-2026 academic year was the pilot year for the assessment program within the Recovery Clinic with the primary objective of increasing training opportunities for advanced Wright students to learn and practice assessment as well as offer valuable clinical insight to clients and their therapists. Assessments are conducted by Recovery Clinic student mentors at no cost, focusing on social emotional functioning within context of their recovery. Under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, students conduct clinical interviews, administer and score several social emotional focused measures, integrate findings meaningfully into a cohesive written report, and provide feedback to their clients and often treating clinicians. The program utilizes a collaborative therapeutic approach that us driven by individual context of clients in recovery.
Client Referrals
Referrals come from the Wright Institute Recovery Clinic and are carefully considered for appropriateness of evaluation questions and for best fit for student training.
Practicum Training Experience
Training consists of weekly didactic/group supervision and per-case individual supervision. In the weekly sessions, students review various measures utilized, diagnostic formulation, and giving feedback through presentations, review of clinical cases, and case presentations.
Time Commitment
Students are contracted through the Recovery Clinic as mentors. They typically complete 1-2 assessments dedicating a varied number of hours per week, but no less than 1-2 hours, depending on cases assigned. Thus, assessment related work flow varies greatly. The general timeline guidance for assessment cases from the first meeting with the client to feedback is approximately 10 weeks. This opportunity required a sincere interest in assessment, strong self-discipline and initiative as well as excellent organizational and time management skills.
Core Clinic Staff
Hadas Pade, PsyD (She/Her)
Director of Assessment Services
hpade@wi.edu
Dr. Pade oversees and supports all the WIAS related programs described above. She facilitates the training and supervision for the advanced supplemental, the learning disabilities program, and the Recovery Clinic program.
Amanda Bean, PsyD (She/Her)
Assistant Training Director
abean@wi.edu
Dr. Bean oversees and facilitates the Child Adolescent Clinic integrated intakes program as well as the peer integrated intake consultation component through the advanced supplemental program.
Deanna van Ligten, PsyD (She/Her)
Director of Clinical Services
dvanligten@wi.edu
Dr. van Ligten oversees and supports all the Wright Institute clinical Services.