Education/School Consultation/IEP review

The process of obtaining special education services for your child and ensuring that said services are successfully addressing your child’s needs can be overwhelming; there is a lot of red tape and specialized language involved. Dr. Shack has helped numerous parents and families navigate through this process from the point of requesting an evaluation for a child to understanding the reports generated by the school. Dr. Shack is also available to attend school meetings and participate with the family as a member of the multidisciplinary team and in the formation or review of Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Dr. Shack can help whether as an advocate for the parent or child or just as a support or translator of psychoeducational terminology for the family. If a child is receiving services from a school Dr. Shack is also available to help coordinate those services with the child and family’s treatment or personal goals. 

Independent Evaluation Services

Sometimes families and school districts disagree on school district evaluation findings. In these cases, independent evaluation services are sought as a means of mediating disagreements. Dr. Shack is often contracted by parents, education lawyers, and school districts to conduct these psychoeducational evaluations and offer specific program and treatment recommendations.

Therapy Modalities

Individual therapy involves meeting with a therapist in a one-on-one setting to explore and reduce feelings that are causing psychological or behavioral problems. The therapeutic relationship is the a major building block in the process. Key components in individual therapy include trust building, confidentiality, validation, actualization, and tool aquisition. Individual therapy can help people identify feelings, realize solutions, and increase self-esteem. It can also be useful in helping to work through relational problems. Often with children, individual therapy is play based rather than rooted in talk. Children reach the same goals by playing out key issues or feelings. Dr. Shack has numerous therapeutic toys/aids in her office for children to use for this purpose. Usually when children are in individual therapy Dr. Shack also works with the family or parents collaterally to help support the child’s needs. Issues such as anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, executive functioning challenges, gender identity/sexual orientation issues, and trauma are common reasons for referral to treatment with Dr. Shack. Dr. Shack does not treat eating disorders or substance abuse issues.

Parent coaching or parent therapy provides caretakers with the opportunity to problem solve with an expert in child development. Unlike family therapy, parent counseling is more focused on problem solving rather than exploration of feelings. Parent work is particularly effective for brief, focused, problem solving. It is a particularly useful aide for parents wanting to learn more about developmental norms and age appropriate expectations for children who have such as ADHD, learning disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and other developmental issues. Not only do children with these issues often require specialized parenting tactics; their parents and families need and deserve extra support. Parent coaching or therapy can also be a particularly useful tool when a child is reticent or refusing to attend therapy as an individual or is unable to successfully access individual therapeutic services.

Private School Entrance (IQ) Testing

Many area private and independent schools require testing to accompany the application process. There are usually two types of tests accepted, the ISEE and intelligence testing. Dr. Shack administers the latter, intelligence testing, usually in the form of a Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) or a Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence- Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Both Wechsler tests provide data regarding a child’s verbal, perceptual reasoning and full scale IQ scores. Both also provide extensive data regarding a child’s intellectual strengths and weaknesses. The WPPSI-IV is used for children 2 ½ -5 years of age, while the WISC-V is generally used for those between 6 and 16 years of age. Unlike the ISEE, the Wechsler tests are administered individually rather than in a group setting. They are not a “bubble test”.

Psychoeducational Evaluation

Psychoeducational evaluation is used to evaluate for the presence of among other things, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays and/or executive functioning challenges. It is usually a lengthy process (e.g. 15-20 hours) of formal face to face psychological testing. Depending on the diagnostic question, measures of intelligence, achievement, memory, organization, executive process and/or projective testing are used. Psychoeducational evaluation yields a diagnosis as well as treatment recommendations and/or decisions regarding eligibility for specialized education. Dr. Shack is a PA Certified School Psychologist as well as a licensed psychologist. Therefore, her educational recommendations can be considered or adopted by any Pennsylvania school.

Psychological Assessment

Psychological evaluation is a brief process for the purpose of diagnostic clarification and/or treatment recommendation. It usually involves an in-depth interview and observation. Depending on the situation, it may or may not include formal psychological testing.

School Readiness Assessment

Frequently a student will miss a district cut-off date for eligibility for kindergarten or first grade by a few days or more. If a parent wishes to have that child “skip” the grade to which they were assigned, documentation of the child’s ‘school readiness’ must be provided. As a Certified School Psychologist and licensed psychologist, Dr. Shack is able to conduct the necessary testing. This testing usually includes intelligence testing, achievement screeners, brief emotional assessment and/or teacher ratings scales. The exact battery of testing often depends on the requirements of the school district in which the child resides.

To schedule appointments, email Dr. Shack at shackpsych822@gmail.com