Child and Adolescent Services

Child psychotherapy.

During childhood and adolescence, psychological difficulties can appear in various forms. They are generally divided into three categories:

• Age-related challenges
• Developmental disorders
• Emotional and behavioral problems

Identifying these difficulties begins with an assessment, which is often preceded by an initial consultation and interview with the parents and the child.

Assessment process

Assessment is essential for choosing the most appropriate therapeutic approach. This process includes:

• Interviews with parents
• observation of the child
• administering standardized tests when needed

The assessment may extend over several sessions so that the psychologist can fully gather all relevant information and formulate conclusions.

Recommendations and Therapeutic Services

After the initial assessment, the clinical psychologist shares the results with the family and provides recommendations for appropriate services, such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Psychotherapy
• Art therapy
• Speech therapy
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Psychiatric consultation

How does care work at the Mental Health Research Center?

1. Psychological assessment and diagnosis:

• Diagnosis of emotional and behavioral difficulties: anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, phobias, and OCD
• A detailed interview with the family and the child
• Age-appropriate testing to assess cognitive and emotional abilities

2. Individual Therapy:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): an effective method for managing anxiety and behavioral difficulties

3. Family support:

• PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy): strengthening the bond between parent and child
• Parent training and psychoeducation: teaching parents how to manage their child’s emotional state

Why is timely intervention important?

Timely response to psychological difficulties identified in childhood, together with collaboration with a professional, helps prevent complications from the outset and supports the improvement of the child’s mental well-being.

ADOS 2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule is a standardized diagnostic test for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which

It involves observing the individual’s behavior during play and communication.

The ADOS test is prescribed by a specialist during the initial consultation. The psychiatrist determines the need for additional assessments if, based on the clinical picture, signs characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder are present. In such cases, a more in‑depth evaluation is required, which is precisely what the ADOS test provides.

ADOS consists of five different modules. Each of them is made up of structured and semi-structured tasks. The module is selected according to the individual’s age and level of language development. In the ADOS test, the tasks and environment are designed in such a way that, during the assessment, signs characteristic of autism spectrum conditions are revealed as fully as possible, if such signs are present.

The ADOS test evaluates two domains: social affect (communication and social interaction) and restricted interests/stereotyped behaviors. The total score obtained determines how the person’s condition is classified – as autism or as an autism spectrum disorder. It also indicates the degree to which autism‑related features are expressed (mildly expressed, moderately, or markedly).

The ADOS test can be administered from 12 months of age. Please note that a necessary condition for administering the ADOS test is that the child is already able to move independently.

Administering the ADOS test usually takes the clinician about 30–60 minutes. When assessing infants and children, a parent is expected to remain in the room for the entire duration of the procedure. The parent’s primary role is to observe; however, the clinician may ask the parent to interact with the child in specific ways at certain points during the ADOS. Otherwise, it is preferable for the parent not to step out of the role of a passive observer.

Before bringing your child for the ADOS test, you should make sure that your child is not hungry and not sleepy, because at such times children tend to be more irritable, which can sometimes interfere with the ADOS test process.

In the case of adolescents, the ADOS test is conducted only between the clinician and the client.

Today, the ADOS test is the first-line choice for diagnosing autism spectrum conditions and has a relatively high level of reliability.

Although ADOS-2 is considered the “gold standard” for ASD assessment, it is important to understand that it is not the only source of information and is not sufficient on its own to establish an ASD diagnosis. ADOS-2 is one important component of a comprehensive evaluation, which is carried out by a multidisciplinary team. This evaluation includes analysis of the individual’s developmental history, information provided by parents and other key informants, observation of behavior during and beyond the administration of ADOS-2, and the joint clinical judgment of experienced specialists.

It is essential for the child’s condition to be monitored by a physician at 6–12 month intervals and, when needed, for the ADOS test to be repeated in order to assess progress and current developmental dynamics. This is precisely why the ADOS assessment is video-recorded, so that during re-evaluation specialists can use the recording, which makes the results of the work and the changes over time more clearly visible.

During the assessment process, additional parent interview forms are used, which evaluate the parent’s observations and the overall quality of the child’s functioning.

The duration of the assessment depends on the child’s level of engagement and the course of the process (on average 60–90 minutes).

Recording a video of the assessment is necessary so that the evaluator can review it and accurately document objective information.

After the assessment, the test results are expressed in scores, which determine the presence of autism and its severity.

The evaluator provides a conclusion, a score-based ranking, and appropriate recommendations.

The Wechsler test (WISC) is a standardized measure of intelligence used to assess cognitive functions; the purpose of the test is to calculate verbal, non-verbal, and full-scale intelligence quotients. It is used to determine the intelligence quotient both in children and in adults.

Types of Wechsler intelligence tests:

WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale)

• For adults (16–90 years)

• Current version: WAIS-IV

• Measures verbal comprehension, perceptual and reasoning abilities, working memory, and processing speed.

WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children)

• For children (6–16 years)

• Current version: WISC-V

• Intelligence is divided into several domains: verbal, visuospatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed

WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence)

• For young children (2.5–7 years)

• Measures early cognitive development

🧩 Test structure

Wechsler tests include multiple subtests. Some are verbal, while others involve solving puzzles, recognizing patterns, or performing memory exercises. For example:

• Verbal comprehension: vocabulary, similarities, general knowledge

• Perceptual reasoning: block design, matrix reasoning

• Working memory: digit span, arithmetic

• Processing speed: coding, symbol search

📊 Score calculation

• Average IQ = 100

• Standard deviation = 15

• Most people (about 68%) receive scores between 85 and 115

Scores are also divided into different domains (verbal, visual, memory, etc.), which helps identify learning difficulties, developmental level, or neurodiversity (such as ADHD or autism).

🧠 The Wechsler tests can be used to:

• For educational purposes (e.g., special education)

• For clinical diagnosis (e.g., intellectual disability, learning difficulties)

• For employment screening or military evaluations

• For research purposes (psychology, neurology, education)

WAIS – Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

WAIS (currently WAIS-IV) is the most widely used intelligence test for older adolescents and adults (ages 16 to 90). The test measures different aspects of intelligence and provides both a Full Scale IQ score and sub-scores for specific cognitive abilities.

📋 Key WAIS-IV indicators

Key indexes:

1. Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)

o Vocabulary

o Similarities

o General knowledge

2. Perceptual Index (PRI)

o building blocks

o Matrix Analogy

o visual puzzles

3. Working Memory Index (WMI)

o Digit Span

o arithmetic

4. Processing Speed Index (PSI)

o Symbol Search

o Coding

🔍 What does this test measure?

• Verbal comprehension – the ability to understand and use language

• Perceptual reasoning – visual-spatial logic and problem-solving

• Working memory – short-term memory and attention

• Processing speed – the ability to quickly receive information and respond

⏱️ How long does it take?

Administering the full WAIS-IV test takes approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on the individual’s pace of performance and the selected subtests.

📊 Scoring system

• The Full-Scale IQ is obtained by combining four index scores

• Average IQ = 100, standard deviation = 15

• You will also receive separate index scores: VCI, PRI, WMI, and PSI

🧠 Why do adults undergo the WAIS test?

• For educational or professional assessment purposes

• For neuropsychological diagnostics (for example, assessment for traumatic brain injury or dementia)

• to determine disability status

• To assess giftedness or a high IQ

• For the assessment of ADHD or other forms of neurodiversity

What are the Wechsler scales?

They are a series of intelligence tests designed for different age groups. Each scale assesses overall intellectual ability (IQ), as well as specific cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, language, and the speed of information processing.

WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Wechsler’s intelligence scale for children)

• Age: 6–16 years

• Current version: WISC-V

• Use: to identify learning difficulties, giftedness, or developmental delays in children

Indexes:

• Verbal comprehension

• Visual-spatial ability

• Fluid reasoning

• Working memory

• Processing speed

What does this test measure:

• Verbal comprehension – the ability to understand and use language

• Perceptual reasoning – visual-spatial logic and problem-solving

• Working memory – short-term memory and attention

• Processing speed – the ability to quickly receive information and respond to it

⏱️ How long does it take?

Administering the full WAIS-IV test takes approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on the individual’s pace of performance and the selected subtests.

📊 Scoring system

• Full IQ is obtained by combining four index scores

• Average IQ = 100, standard deviation = 15

• You are also given separate index scores: VCI, PRI, WMI, and PSI

When is testing carried out with children?

• Identifying learning difficulties

• Assessing the level of development

• Identifying neurodiversity (such as ADHD or autism)