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Capacity Assessment

Capacity Assessment across Alberta

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), we provide professional capacity assessments in Calgary and, for some individuals, across Alberta through an in-person and online assessment program to determine whether an adult can make informed personal, medical, or financial decisions and fully understand the potential consequences of those choices. Our team at RMPS provides every individual with a safe space, making sure they receive expert assistance while preserving their autonomy and dignity.

An adult capacity assessment is more than a legal requirement; it is a professional evaluation specifically designed to protect both the rights and the well-being of the individual. At our clinic, we adhere to Alberta legal and healthcare standards, employing proven clinical methods and a compassionate approach. Our goal is to provide clarity for families, legal representatives, and healthcare providers during important decision-making moments.

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Understanding the Capacity Assessment Process

Capacity assessment is a professional approach to examining whether an adult is capable of taking in the information they need, understanding their options, and making an informed decision. In general, it is assumed that individuals who have reached the age of majority (age 18 in Alberta) have the capacity to make informed and reasonable decisions for themselves. This assessment is only done for individuals who might be affected by any serious health condition, cognitive or memory problems, or other conditions that impact how they think and process information.

Capacity assessment is a step towards supporting someone for their future. For example, it might lead to activating a personal directive or appointing a guardian, co-decision-maker, or trustee. It is important to remember: just because you don’t agree with someone’s decisions doesn’t mean they’ve lost capacity. If they understand the facts and the consequences, they may still be perfectly capable of making that choice.

Knowing When to Consider a Capacity Assessment

An adult capacity assessment is performed when there is a solid reason to believe that an individual’s ability to make decisions is impaired. Some of the common situations may include:

  • The person has previously been identified as requiring high levels of support due to cognitive challenges (e.g., Intellectual Disorder), confusion, or impaired judgment.

  • Concerns about vulnerability to financial exploitation.

  • Significant health changes affecting mental clarity.

  • Requests to activate a personal directive or appoint a legal decision-maker.

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), our capacity assessment acts as a legal safeguard to ensure that adults who find it difficult to make their own decisions get proper support.

Medical Examination Requirement in Adult Capacity Assessment

Before a Capacity Assessment can move forward; the law says a doctor must first carry out a medical examination. The purpose of this step is to make sure the person’s decision-making ability isn’t being affected by something temporary or treatable. For example, issues like infections, medication side effects, dehydration, or sudden illness can sometimes cause confusion or poor judgment, but these problems can often be fixed.

By ruling out these short-term causes, the process ensures the assessment reflects the person’s true, long-term decision-making abilities. Only when the doctor confirms that no reversible medical issue is to blame can the formal capacity assessment begin.

Some Signs a Capacity Assessors Look For

When performing a capacity assessment, the capacity assessment psychologist evaluates two key areas:

  • Understanding of Facts: Whether the adult can understand the information relevant to the decision at hand.

  • Awareness of Consequences: Whether they understand what might happen if they choose one option over another.

For financial matters, this could mean understanding account balances, obligations, and possible risks. For personal decisions, it might involve medical treatments, living arrangements, or daily care needs.

Who Can Conduct an Adult Capacity Assessment

According to Alberta laws, capacity assessments can only be performed by someone who has training in evaluating decision-making abilities. This includes all physicians and psychologists, and other healthcare professionals who have met provincial training and regulatory requirements. Depending on their credentials, these may include registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists.

Every professional who can perform a capacity assessment is well-trained to assess whether an adult can recognize relevant information and the potential consequences of their choices. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), our registered psychologists are fully qualified to conduct capacity assessments, adhering strictly to Alberta’s legal and healthcare guidelines while ensuring the process is thorough, respectful, and supportive for every client.

The RMPS Capacity Assessment Process

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, our team takes a professional approach to every capacity assessment. Our Capacity Assessment across Alberta process typically includes:

  • Information-Gathering Meeting:
    We meet with family members, legal representatives, or other relevant parties to gather important background details. Depending on the situation, this may or may not include the individual being assessed.

  • Clinical Interviews:
    The individual participates in a structured clinical interview to assess comprehension, reasoning, and decision-making in a supportive setting.

  • Capacity Assessment Form:
    We document our findings clearly and accurately using Alberta’s official capacity assessment form.

What Happens After the Assessment

Once the adult capacity assessment is complete, the results may lead to:

  • No further action: The individual remains fully capable of making their own decisions.
  • Activation of a personal directive: A previously appointed agent takes on the role of decision-maker for personal matters.
  • Appointment of a decision-maker: A guardian, trustee, or co-decision-maker may be appointed by the court if needed.

At RMPS, we provide guidance on next steps, collaborating with families, lawyers, and healthcare providers to ensure the individual’s rights and well-being are respected.

FAQs

How long does a capacity assessment take?

Most adult capacity assessments at RMPS are completed within one to two sessions. Each session may last one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the case. Additional time is required for reviewing records, consulting with relevant parties, and preparing the official Alberta capacity assessment form.

Yes. Family members, legal representatives, or healthcare providers can request a capacity assessment if they have valid concerns about someone’s decision-making ability. Requests should be based on concerns about reasoning, judgment, or memory, not simply disagreements with personal choices.

In most cases, consent from the adult is required. However, in certain legal or medical situations, such as when there are serious safety concerns, an assessment may proceed without direct consent if authorized under Alberta law.

No. A capacity assessment is a clinical process performed by a qualified assessor, while a competency hearing is a formal legal proceeding that may use the assessment results as evidence.

While our main office is in Calgary, we offer online capacity assessments across Alberta. Please contact us to discuss if this option is a fit for you or the person you are considering for the assessment.

Under the regulations, the fee for a capacity assessment is:

  • Up to $500 for a guardianship or trusteeship assessment.
  • Up to $700 for a combined guardianship and trusteeship assessment.

If covering the cost of a capacity assessment creates a financial hardship, you may contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) to discuss available options.

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Cassandra White

Cassandra has been the owner and Director of RMPS since 2013. She brings more than 20 years of experience in working with children and families to the practice. Her background and expertise in the areas of assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD as well as her knowledge of neurofeedback therapy and play therapy give her the broad base of knowledge to direct this multi-faceted private psychology practice. In addition to her experience in assessment and treatment of learning disabilities and giftedness, Cassandra has training and expertise in Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy. She has worked extensively with children and their families regarding treatment of anxiety, depression, behavioral issues and emotion regulation using play-based and expressive interventions. Cassandra is also a clinical supervisor who provides supervision and consultation to other practitioners specializing in working with children. Cassandra’s experience and knowledge is not only academic; she is the mother of four children. Her experience of being a parent of four children makes her a very practical and realistic therapist. She understands the demands of parenting and does not rely on “book knowledge” or recommendations that appear unattainable for parents. She prides herself in understanding both the needs of the parents and the child. She looks for ways to enhance family functioning so that parents can feel competent and successful in their difficult jobs of raising children with a variety of complex needs.
Rocky Mountain psychological services Calgary

MacKenzie Ebel

MacKenzie is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Princeton University, where she also played 4 years for the women’s ice hockey team. She recently completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology through City University of Seattle. MacKenzie has worked with children, youth, and their families in a number of settings, through coaching, as a behavioural aid, and counselling through her internship placement. She is excited to continue learning about assessment administration, neurofeedback, and play therapy practices at RMPS! Currently, she is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team, as she completes her final capstone assignment and intends to join our counselling team as a Registered Provisional Psychologist.

Tammy Thomson

Tammy is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program at Yorkville University and is trained at the master’s level in art therapy as a professional art psychotherapist and member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in child development settings, children’s hospitals, and schools as an early childhood educator and elementary teacher. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science specializing in Child Development Studies at the University of Guelph, Ontario and holds a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Tammy is a member of the Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association and College of Alberta Psychologists while pursuing her next goal of registration as a provisional psychologist. Tammy values a client-centered approach using play therapy and the expressive arts to support those who may find it difficult to articulate their thoughts and feelings with words. Children and families do not need any skill or prior art experience and the art studio is a safe place where children can gain a sense of independence, greater emotional regulation, and confidence through self-exploration. Expressive interventions in art therapy can treat behavioural issues, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, physical and developmental disabilities, and attachment difficulties. As a parent of three young children herself, Tammy understands the complexities of family life using compassion to help parents feel more confident in their role of raising a successful family.

Raquel Freitas

Raquel is an Office Administrator at RMPS. Back in Brazil, her home country, she graduated as a Psychologist and worked as a clinician for the past 5 years. Although she loved working with children and adults, she discovered a new passion: manage the administrative tasks that keep the business running. 

As someone who is passionate about learning new things and developing new skills, with the career transition also came the decision to live abroad and explore a new culture. To serve empathetically and connect with people is Raquel’s main personal and professional goal.

Emma Donnelly

Emma is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in her hometown at Brandon University, after which she moved to Calgary to earn her Master’s of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology at the University of Calgary. Emma has a passion for working with children and families and has experience doing so in a number of settings, including schools, homes, early intervention programs, and within the community. She specializes in assessment, including psychoeduational, social-emotional-behavioural, and autism assessment. Emma uses a client centred approach to counselling, supported by cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as play-based and attachment-based techniques. She believes in meeting clients where they are at and prides herself in working together with her clients to achieve their goals, improve their functioning, and enjoy their daily life.

Amanda Stoner

Amanda is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Amanda earned her doctoral degree in Psychology at Brock University in Ontario in 2017, with a specialization in developmental psychology. Amanda provides formal assessment services at RMPS. 

Since 2009, Amanda has received formal training and work experience in private practice settings in conducting psycho-educational assessments for students ranging from preschool through university. Amanda is skilled at test administration, interpretation of data, and report writing for various referral questions including ADHD, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Giftedness, and Intellectual Disabilities. Amanda enjoys working with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds, and she tries to make the testing environment feel relaxed and comfortable while maintaining integrity in testing protocol.

Denise Riewe

Denise has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences through the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Counselling with Athabasca University. She is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychological Association of Alberta. Denise has over 9 years of experience supporting children, youth and their families in both residential and community-based practices. Denise is experienced in working with high and at-risk youth, supporting children and their families with strength-based approaches. She practices from a client-center approach supported by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Theraplay, and other play and art-based modalities.

John Pynn

John is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. He completed his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. He brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in a variety of settings. He brings a relaxed and collaborative atmosphere to sessions. John uses an integrated counselling approach including client-centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focussed therapy (SFT) to find the best-fit for clients. He has experience with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, anger, self-
esteem, relationships, parenting, ADHD, grief/loss, addictions, and trauma. This broad experience comes from working in schools, social service agencies, group-care, and clinical settings. He also draws from the practical experience of being a parent to two teenagers as well as a husband. Supporting and empowering clients with mental health concerns is something John genuinely enjoys. John also provides counselling for adults and holds a Gottman level 1 certification for couples therapy.

Zara Crasto

Zara is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Graduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment at Concordia University of Edmonton. 

Zara has spent over five years working alongside children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. These include public and private schools, in-home support, residential programs, early-intervention programs, and non-profit organizations. Currently, Zara is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team. As a lifelong learner, Zara plans to go back to graduate school and eventually become a psychologist one day.

Kellie Lanktree

Kellie is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with the University of Victoria and a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology through the University of Lethbridge. Kellie has over 10 years experience supporting children and youth with developmental disorders/delays and their families. Kellie has experience working in schools, clinical settings, and within homes to provide support and therapeutic interventions. Through her time at RMPS, Kellie has also gained experience in helping individuals affected by trauma, grief/loss, separations, emotional dysregulation, depression, and anxiety. Kellie practices through developmental, attachment-based and trauma-informed lenses, and draws from a variety of play-based approaches such as Synergetic Play Therapy, Child-centered play therapy, DIR/Floortime, art-based mediums, and mindfulness-based practices. Kellie also provides Neurofeedback therapy, and is working on receiving her certification through BCIA. Kellie believes in meeting children and their families where they are at and that there is no “one size fits all” for therapy.