Psychoeducational Assessment Services

A key component of the Phoenix Outdoor mission is to provide a comprehensive assessment for the family and other involved professionals so that an appropriate long-term plan for the care of the student can be developed. While this assessment is grounded in the experience and skills of the Phoenix Outdoor therapist and the field instructor team, many families also choose to have our testing psychologist conduct an optional comprehensive and objective psychological evaluation.

Although many students at Phoenix have had previous testing, parents frequently choose to have Phoenix initiate a current assessment in order to have updated and more useful and relevant results. What is unique about the testing provided at Phoenix Outdoor is that our nationally recognized testing psychologist Dr. Sandra Newes and the psychological team at Clear View Psychological Services focus on the complex interplay between a student’s intellectual, educational, behavioral, and psychological functioning. They also explore as how these relate to such issues as substance abuse, identity, development factors, presence or absence of significant psychopathology/mental illness, clarification of diagnoses, emotional/behavioral control, and response to treatment. This often provides parents with benefits that go well beyond the simple diagnosis and jargon-based explanations parents may have previously encountered.

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Stated most simply, the goal of the assessment services provided at Phoenix Outdoor is to help you better understand your child and the associated issues that have been creating the difficulties that led you to Phoenix Outdoor. It is this that most differentiates the testing done at Phoenix from testing in other settings, and our psychologists take great care to provide you with a useful, relevant, and comprehensive service designed to aid in the treatment process overall.

Overall, the true benefits of the testing at Phoenix Outdoor comes from an emphasis on the integration of the results of the intellectual, educational, and psychological components of the evaluation; and with the additional understanding of a student’s behavior and underlying dynamics this can provide. This more in-depth understanding can be immediately applied as part of the ongoing intervention strategy. Parents are also involved in the process and the psychologist spends approximately two hours on the phone with parents, going over the results in great detail and gathering additional background information. A comprehensive and detailed written report follows. More specific information about the benefits of psychoeducational assessment and the process overall is provided below.

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What is a psychoeducational assessment?

Integrative psychoeducational assessment provides objective information regarding a student’s intellectual (cognitive) abilities, educational achievement levels, and psychological functioning. Using state-of-the-art and evidence-based measures, this process yields essential information relevant for producing individualized recommendations for both treatment and educational planning. In combination with the observations and insights of our trained psychologists, these three aspects of assessment provide a comprehensive view of issues that may be contributing to your child’s behavior. Substance abuse testing is also included in order to more completely assess the role of drugs and alcohol in your child’s life, as well as how these have impacted his or her functioning in the other areas.

Intellectual testing measures a student’s potential for learning and his or her unique information processing style. It also clarifies the nature of a student’s information processing abilities, and identifies particular areas of strength or weakness. Educational (achievement) testing measures what has already been learned in math, reading, spelling and other academic areas, and also helps to further clarify any learning-related issues. If your child has an indentified learning disability, educational tests document ways that this is impacting your child. Psychological testing helps to more completely identify the particular psychological issues that are also impacting your child, along with how these might also be influencing their intellectual and educational functioning. Importantly, each of these are relevant to behavior out of the classroom as well, including communication and other relationship issues that have been effecting your family along with substance abuse. These types of issues are discussed at with parents as part of the process.

Why is a psychoeducational assessment important?

Psychoeducational assessment is designed to answer a number of questions about the student such as: Does my child have a learning disability? Does he have attention or processing problems? What are my child’s academic and cognitive abilities, strengths, and weaknesses? How do her psychological issues impact learning, and under what circumstances? Does my child need accommodations in school or a specialized learning environment? How do substances impact this? Is my child struggling with a mental illness? What should we do for aftercare?

More specifically, psychoeducational assessment can be an essential tool for:

Exploring issues underlying the treatment process; helping to fine tune the treatment planning.
Identifying underlying learning issues..
Investigating how psychological issues may impact a student’s performance on traditional IQ and achievement tests, as well as in the classroom.
Identifying useful educational accommodations, and providing necessary documentation to procure such accommodations.
Additional exploration of the role of substances in your child’s life.
Clarification of previous diagnosis and differential diagnoses; helps to further identify the most effective treatment approaches and associated medication administration.
Helping with the difficult process of choosing the right type of aftercare for the student after Phoenix Outdoor.

To expand on this, psychoeducational assessment can be a very useful tool in exploring issues that may be underlying a student’s presenting behaviors, and therefore the treatment process overall. As such, it can be quite useful in fine tuning the individualized nature of treatment planning. It can also be important in helping to identify the underlying learning issues that may be at the heart of what are often misunderstood psychological and behavioral issues. In addition, this type of assessment helps to identify the way that psychological issues may impact how a student scores on traditional IQ and achievement tests, as well as how they may be associated with classroom performance and behavior. Related to this, the necessary documentation needed to procure potentially useful academic accommodations is provided.

Integrative psychoeducational assessment also helps to further explore the role of substances in your child’s life, which can be another useful tool for strengthening the impact of treatment. Differential diagnosis is another crucial component, and often students come to Phoenix having been previously diagnosed with a variety of issues. This can be very confusing and frustrating for parents, and clarification of diagnostic issues is important in identifying the most effective treatment approaches and any associated medication administration. Importantly, while Dr. Newes and her team are highly skilled in this area, they also believe that diagnosis in only one part of the process; and strongly believe that the greatest value of the testing is on helping parents and other involved professionals gain a richer understanding of the complexities of the issues.

Finally, this type of assessment can be very helping with the difficult process of choosing the right type of aftercare for the student after Phoenix Outdoor. At Phoenix, we have learned that by carefully making aftercare choices that specifically address the unique needs of the student, parents can help assure that their child is provided with the right services to continue the process of developing the tools necessary for a healthy and successful life. These decisions can also help maximize the likelihood that your child will be free of the negative influences of drugs and alcohol. This will be an important aspect of your child’s treatment to begin discussing fairly early in the process. Should a residential aftercare placement be chosen, it is also useful for parents to know that many programs require this type of integrative assessment prior to admission in order to help determine whether their program and the students needs are a good fit.

What is the psychoeducational assessment process?

The integrative assessment process at Phoenix Outdoor is conducted by a trained psychologist and involves a number of evidence-based resources and tools designed to provide a comprehensive view of the student. Extensive background information is gathered prior to the evaluation and throughout the process. The psychologist will first review the Phoenix Outdoor application to gather an initial understanding of the educational, social, family, substance-related, and medical history of the student. Any available records or previous tests that have been conducted are collected and reviewed.

Collateral information is an essential aspect of an integrative assessment, and the therapist and any referral sources and other professionals actively involved in the process are also consulted. Observations from all members of the treatment team are incorporated throughout in order to maximize our understanding of the relevance and accuracy of results. This collateral information also provides the more complete picture of the student’s background, treatment progress, and current situation necessary for accurate interpretations. Educational consultants are contacted prior to the testing if requested, and again immediately after results are scored.

Testing of the student normally takes place between weeks two and four at Phoenix. In a pleasant office-like setting at the Phoenix base camp, the psychologist spends approximately five hours with the student; conducting an extensive clinical interview and administering tests. Recognizing that rapport is a crucial component of accurate assessment, healthy snacks are often provided to help increase the student’s overall comfort level. Many parents and referral sources find it interesting to know that students themselves often find the process useful, as the psychologist at times shares observations with the student that are deemed relevant to the testing process. In combination, these factors contribute to students typically finding the process fairly pleasant (which parents are often surprised to find out as well!).

What can parents expect?

Parents are contacted after the Psychologist meets with the student, typically within four business days. These calls take approximately two hours and results are gone over in great detail, using language that is meaningful to the parent. Background is gathered from parent, which is an essential aspect in making information diagnoses. Opportunities are provided to answer questions, and care is taken to be certain that interpretations of results are grounded in the actual events of the student’s life. Beyond all else, our goal is for parents to complete the process with a more complete and enriched understanding of the issues that been impacting their child. This is another feature that many parents find differentiates the assessment at process at Phoenix Outdoor.

A highly detailed and comprehensive report is then produced which reviews all of the relevant background information and interprets the results of the assessment. Information about the development of rapport and observations about the actual testing itself are reported; and ways in which these observations relate to therfindings themselves are discussed. Test scores are reported in an easy-to-understand fashion, comparing the student results to the national averages. Detailed treatment recommendations based on these results are also provided. Reports are usually received within ten working days, and are sent electronically in order to allow ease of forwarding to aftercare programs or other professionals.

The psychologist can also make contact with any potential aftercare placements to discuss the results of testing if that is deemed useful.

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What’s in a psychoeducational testing battery?

A typical test battery at Phoenix includes the following tests and measures:

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) /Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III(WAIS-III or WAIS IV)
Woodcock-Johnson-III Tests of Achievement (WJR-III)
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- Adolescent (MMPI-A)
The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI)
The Sentence Completion Test
The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Adolescents (SASSI-A2)
Mental status exam
Clinical interview with student
Clinical interview with parents
Verbal results shared with therapist, and ongoing consultation regarding relevance of results to the treatment and aftercare process
Verbal results shared with family resource manager
Verbal results shared with educational consultant or other referring professional (as needed)
Verbal results shared with other actively involved professionals (as needed)
Review of any previous records
Extensive written report, created after all background information is gathered.

Additional tests can be administered based on identified individual need.

How do I determine if testing is appropriate for my student?

If your student has not had any psychological or educational testing within the last year, getting an updated assessment could be important; as the factors that led you to Phoenix Outdoor may have impacted your child’s functioning in ways that are important to identify. Additional assessment may also be important if previous evaluations did not incorporate psychological factors into the examination, which is quite common. It is also useful to consider the needs of any potential aftercare placements. Consultation with the therapist and any involved referral sources is a key to understanding how a psychoeducational assessment will be utilized.

Meet Dr. Sandra Newes

Dr. Sandra Newes and the team of psychologists at Clear View Psychological Services provide the comprehensive psychoeducational testing at Phoenix Outdoor. Dr. Newes is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of Clear View Psychological Services, an independent organization committed to providing integrated clinical and coaching services to adolescents, young adults, and families. She is also the Assistant Director of Peak Experience Training and Consulting, an organization focused on offering high quality staff training and consulting in wilderness and other residential programs for adolescents and young adults.

Nationally recognized for the quality of her comprehensive and integrative psychological assessment services, Dr. Newes offers a variety of clinical services in the Asheville area; as well as to wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools around the country. Clinically, Dr. Newes has specialized training in the areas of substance abuse, psychological/psychoeducational assessment, trauma and abuse, Axis II disorders, and interpersonal conceptions of behavioral and psychological disorders. Her other clinical specialties include learning disorders and ADHD, behavioral and emotional dysregulation, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Bipolar Disorder, Borderline symptomatology, depression and anxiety, self-harm, attachment issues, family-related issues, developmental and identity issues, sexuality and sexual acting-out, and interpersonal relationships. Overall, Dr. Newes genuinely believes that the integration of traditional clinical approaches with experiential processes is an essential aspect of helping to facilitate lasting change.

Dr. Newes is also recognized for her work in the wilderness therapy industry, where she has been active since 1997. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Penn State University, where she specialized in the integration of clinical theory, method, and evidence-based practices into wilderness and adventure therapy. A strong advocate of combining state-of-the art and evidence-based clinical practices with experiential modalities, Dr. Newes is the previous Chair of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). She is also active in the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council (OBHIC) and the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), as well as the Western North Carolina Psychological Association.

Dr. Newes regularly presents nationally and internationally on wilderness therapy, specializing in clinical applications of wilderness programming. She also provides consultation and training to clinical professionals interested in learning more about this type of treatment, and works with programs interested in more completely integrating clinical evidence-based practices into the overall treatment milieu. Dr. Newes is also involved in a variety of writing projects as well, and co-edited a book entitled “Coming of Age: Adventure Therapy in the New Millennium,” along with as a book chapter on the general concepts associated with Wilderness and Adventure Therapy. In addition, she is involved in the Best Practices in Adventure Therapy project through AEE.

Prior to developing Clear View Psychological Services in 206, Dr. Newes held a variety of positions at wilderness therapy programs. After completing her Ph.D. in 2003, she worked as a therapist at SUWS of the Carolinas and also provided psychological testing for Psychological Testing Services; receiving her “on-the-ground” training from some of the most experienced individuals in the industry. She went on to become part of the start-up management team for Phoenix Outdoor, holding the title of Director of Clinical Development and Research. In her role at Phoenix at that time, Dr. Newes provided clinical services to students and parents; helping to develop both the student and parent curriculum. In addition, she developed and administered the psychoeducational/psychological assessment program, was active in staff development, conducted outcome evaluation, and participated in a number of program development and marketing efforts. She has also been involved with Peak Experience Training since 2007.

Clear View Psychological Services

Sandra Newes, Ph.D. founded Clear View Psychological Services in 2006, an independent organization committed to providing integrated clinical and coaching services to adolescents, young adults, and families. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, services are offered regionally as well as nationally and internationally. The unique emphasis of Clear View is on combining the benefits of state-of-the-art and evidence-based clinical practices with experiential modalities such as outdoor experiential programming, wilderness therapy, creative arts, and body-based practices such as yoga and expressive movement.

Sandy Newes is nationally recognized for her unique approach to psychoeducational assessment, which focused on the integration of intellectual, behavioral, and psychological functioning. Traditional individual and group psychotherapy are offered to individuals, families, and couples. In addition, Sandy provides parent coaching and family transition services, both in person and phone-based. Parent and family experiential workshops are also offered, with the goal of actively highlighting communication patterns that are negatively impacting family functioning and providing the support needed to make lasting change.

Clear View Psychological also offers short-term wilderness and adventure-based experiences to adolescents, young adults, families, and adult women; with the goal of incorporating the added benefits of outdoor education and connection to wilderness into an ongoing therapeutic process, Facilitated and overseen by trained clinicians, workshops for particular groups, populations, or around specific issues (e.g., families, survivors of trauma, adolescent girls, Rites of Passage, college age and adult women, life transitions) are offered in the wilderness and in retreat center settings. These services are specifically designed as tools to strengthen and enrich an ongoing therapeutic process, and we work collaboratively with referring clinical professionals. In addition, llamas are also incorporated into some of our trips. This draws in the additional therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted psychotherapy, which can serve as powerful mirror of relationship patterns.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr, Sandra Newes offers a range of organizational development services including program and business development consultation, research and evaluation, educationally-based marketing services, and clinical supervision for programs nationwide. Sandy also provides training for direct care and clinical staff, with a particular emphasis on the effective use of relationship and useful applied evidence-based techniques (e.g., Motivational Interviewing). Education and outreach services to clinical professionals and parents nationwide interested in wilderness therapy are also offered, as well as program development consultation, research and evaluation services, executive coaching; and cultural competency/diversity programs. In her role with Peak Experience training, Sandy co-facilitates the Clinical First Responder (CFR) trainings with Dr. Scott Bandoroff. Educationally-based marketing services are also offered.

More information about the services of Dr. Sandra Newes and Clear View Psychological Services can be found as clearviewpsychological.com.