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Developmental Assessment

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Autism Assessments: Early & Adult Impact

Developmental Assessment for Children Ages 2–5

Gain a clearer understanding of your child’s developmental strengths, needs, and next steps with a comprehensive developmental assessment. Our assessments are designed to help parents make informed decisions about support, intervention, and future planning.

Not sure whether a developmental assessment is right for your child? We offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and answer your questions.

Do You Have Questions About Your Child's Development?

Every child develops at their own pace, but it can be difficult to know when developmental differences may benefit from further evaluation. If you have concerns about your child’s development, a developmental assessment can provide valuable information and guidance.

A developmental assessment may be helpful if you have concerns about:

  • Speech and language development
  • Social interaction and communication
  • Play skills
  • Learning readiness
  • Emotional regulation
  • Behavioural challenges
  • Independence and daily living skills
  • Overall developmental milestones

Our goal is to help you better understand your child’s unique developmental profile so you can feel confident about the next steps.

What Is a Developmental Assessment?

A developmental assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that examines how a young child is progressing across key areas of development. It helps identify strengths, areas where additional support may be beneficial, and whether further assessment or intervention should be considered.

Designed for children between 2 and 5 years of age, developmental assessments provide a clearer picture of how your child is functioning across different developmental domains. The information gathered can help guide decisions about educational supports, therapies, and other services that may benefit your child and family.

Our Developmental Assessment Process

We strive to make the assessment process supportive, collaborative, and child-friendly.

Parent Consultation and Developmental History

The assessment begins with a meeting with parents or caregivers. During this appointment, we gather detailed information about your child’s developmental history, current functioning, strengths, and areas of concern.

This discussion helps us understand your child’s unique needs and ensures that the assessment is tailored appropriately.

Child Assessment Session

Your child will participate in an assessment session while one parent or caregiver remains present. This allows us to observe your child’s skills in a comfortable and supportive environment.

Through structured activities and observation, we assess areas such as communication, social interaction, learning readiness, play skills, attention, emotional regulation, and adaptive functioning.

Adaptive Skills Assessment

As part of the evaluation, we may complete structured interviews or questionnaires focused on adaptive skills. These measures provide important information about how your child functions in everyday situations.

Areas assessed may include:

  • Communication
  • Social development
  • Daily living skills
  • Self-care abilities
  • Independence

Feedback and Recommendations

Once the assessment is complete, we prepare a written summary of the findings and meet with you to review the results.

During the feedback session, we will:

  • Explain the assessment findings
  • Discuss your child’s developmental strengths and needs
  • Answer your questions
  • Provide individualized recommendations
  • Discuss possible next steps and supports

Our goal is to ensure you leave with a clear understanding of your child’s developmental profile and practical guidance for moving forward.

What You'll Learn From the Assessment

A developmental assessment can provide valuable insights into your child’s development and help answer important questions about their growth and functioning.

Following the assessment, you will have a better understanding of:

  • Your child’s developmental strengths
  • Areas where additional support may be beneficial
  • Communication and social development
  • Learning readiness and developmental skills
  • Adaptive functioning and independence
  • Recommended supports, services, or interventions

This information can help you make informed decisions about your child’s future and access the resources they may need to thrive.

Why Families Choose RMPS

We understand that seeking an assessment for your child can feel overwhelming. Our team is committed to providing a compassionate, supportive experience for both children and their families.

Families choose RMPS because we offer:

  • Extensive experience working with young children
  • A family-centred and collaborative approach
  • Comprehensive and individualized assessments
  • Clear explanations and practical recommendations
  • A supportive environment where parents feel heard and understood

We focus not only on identifying challenges but also on recognizing your child’s strengths and potential.

Frequently Asked Question

What happens during a developmental assessment?

A developmental assessment includes a parent consultation to gather your child’s history, a child assessment session with structured activities to observe their skills, and an adaptive skills evaluation. We assess communication, social development, play skills, emotional regulation, and daily living abilities. After the assessment, we meet with you for a detailed feedback session to explain the findings and discuss recommendations.

Our developmental assessments are designed for children between 2 and 5 years of age. If your child falls outside this range or you’re unsure whether an assessment is appropriate, we encourage you to contact us for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your concerns.

The assessment process typically involves multiple appointments: an initial parent consultation, a child assessment session, and a feedback meeting to review results and discuss recommendations. We’ll provide you with a timeline based on your child’s specific needs.
Following the assessment, you receive a written summary of the findings along with a detailed explanation during the feedback session. The report includes your child’s developmental strengths, areas where additional support may be beneficial, and individualized recommendations for next steps and supports.

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Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation

If you are concerned about your child’s development or wondering whether a developmental assessment would be beneficial, we invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

We can discuss your concerns, explain the assessment process, and help you determine whether a developmental assessment is the right next step for your child.

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Contact Us

Cassandra White

Cassandra Hillman White is the Owner and Clinical Director of Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS). A Registered Psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, Cassandra works with children, adolescents, parents, and families facing a wide range of developmental, emotional, behavioural, learning, and mental health challenges. She is known for her thoughtful case conceptualization, collaborative approach, and commitment to helping families understand both the challenges they are facing and the path forward.

Cassandra’s career began working with children with special needs and their families throughout Central Alberta. From supporting parents in their homes to consulting with daycare and preschool programs, she developed a deep appreciation for the importance of relationships, developmental understanding, and practical strategies that families and educators can use in everyday life. These early experiences continue to shape her work today.

Throughout her career, Cassandra has pursued extensive training across multiple therapeutic approaches, allowing her to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs. Her clinical background includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Synergetic Play Therapy, Jungian Sandplay, Neurofeedback, Adlerian Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, and the Play Therapy Dimensions Model. While she draws from a variety of evidence-informed approaches, Adlerian principles and play therapy frameworks have become particularly influential in her current work with children and families.

Cassandra believes that effective therapy begins with understanding the whole person. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, she works collaboratively with clients and families to explore the factors contributing to current challenges, identify strengths, and develop meaningful goals. She values creating clear treatment plans that are reviewed and adjusted over time, ensuring clients remain active participants in their own growth and healing.

As Clinical Director, Cassandra leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and families across complex presentations, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, emotional regulation concerns, trauma, behavioural challenges, and family relationship difficulties. She also works closely with schools, physicians, allied health professionals, and community agencies to help families access coordinated and effective support.

In addition to her clinical work, Cassandra serves as President of the Council of the College of Alberta Psychologists and is a Canadian Certified Play Therapist. She brings her commitment to ethical practice, professional excellence, and lifelong learning into every aspect of her work.

Outside of the office, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her four adult children, exploring nature, travelling, and continuing to learn. Her curiosity about people and their stories remains at the heart of the work she has loved for more than three decades.

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.