Examination
When you arrive at our counselling centre, you first go through our reception room (it applies for your first as well as any follow-up visits). On your first visit, the social worker will create a file for you/your child, on a follow-up visit she will record it to our computer register. Only then she will inform the concerned psychologist or special educationalist about your arrival.
An underage child must be accompanied by their legal representative (e.g. parents) during the appointment.
The first visit to our counselling centre for school-age children is usually with a psychologist and a special educationalist. A complex assessment (psychological and special educational examination) can take place on one day or on two dates. An individual examination (by a psychologist or special educationalist) usually takes about 2 - 2.5 hours. For a complex examination (psychological and special educationalist) the length of the visit will depend on the working pace of the child and on the purpose of your visit. Complex examinations usually last between 4-5 hours including breaks for the child.
For any counselling service it is necessary to fill in the Informed Consent Form where you give consent to the provision of counselling service and to the processing and storage of personal data. If this is your first time at the counselling centre, we will need to obtain data from the child's medical history (e.g. early development, child's personality traits, interests, health status, school education, homework preparation) - all this information helps us to have a basic understanding of the issue you are coming with. The introductory interview is followed by the examination itself, usually without the presence of the parents, in case of a complex examination there will be a break between the psychological and special educational part. It is advisable to bring a snack and drink for the child (especially in case of complex examination lasting a few hours).
At the end of the examination, the results and recommendations arising from the counselling are discussed with the parents, as well as the way to hand over written reports. We´d prefer you to pick up the written report and recommendations in person at the relevant branch, where you can confirm that you have understood both documents and state whether or not you have any objections. The documents can be exceptionally sent by post (in that case it is necessary to bring a stamped addressed envelope) or by data box.
Why is it beneficial to come to the counselling centre in time?
By arriving a bit early you will give your child (and also yourself) the opportunity to become acquainted with the new environment. In this way, you will contribute to making your child feel safe and relaxed. Psychologists and special educationalists carefully plan each meeting. Depending on the nature of the problem and the age of the child, they also determine the expected time of the examination so that it takes place as efficiently as possible. Your late arrival may mean that you will need to come again on another day (for which you may have to wait several weeks).
What to bring with you to the counselling centre?
- Documents related to the current issue, such as reports from previous psychological (or special educational) examinations (other than those conducted in our centre), reports from specialists (eg neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, health professionals), school questionnaire completed by teachers (if they were handed to you and not sent to us). These documents can help clarify the causes and nature of the problem and speed up the path to finding the solution.
- A completed anamnestic sheet about the history of your child that was sent to you by email together with the appointment date. In case you did not manage to fill in everything on time and send it back to us/ or bring it with you to the counseling center, no later than the day before the examination) we will fill it in together during the first meeting. We will ask for information about the child's development so far (e.g. data on how much the child weighed and measured when they started talking, crawling, walking, what illnesses they have undergone etc.).
- Snacks and drinks for the child, a book, a magazine, a favourite toy or a game (and preferably for yourself too…). The child might spend some time in the waiting room alone (usually during the initial or final interview of the professional with the parents/legal representative). In case of younger (preschool) children or more anxious children, we recommend you to consider having another accompanying person to look after the child while you are talking one-to-one with the professional (initial or final meeting). However, it is the parent (and the accompanying person) who might wait in the waiting room for a longer time (a few hours), so bring a magazine, a book or other entertainment to pass the time more quickly and pleasantly.
Do you want to visit us?
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