Psychology Clinic

Deaf and hard of hearing patients frequently experience two barriers to healthcare: lack of appropriate accommodation, and insufficient clinician training in regards to working with deaf and hard of hearing individuals. All GUPC clinicians are bilingual in American Sign Language and English and are trained extensively in regard to working with deaf and hard of hearing clients. Many GUPC clinicians are deaf and hard of hearing themselves! This training, cultural understanding, and clinician fluency in both ASL and English allows clinicians at the GUPC to catch nuances in presentation of disorders that may be incorrectly attributed to hearing loss or otherwise overlooked by other clinicians.

GUPC provides comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for all ages. Common referral questions include concerns related to autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and learning disabilities, as well as mood and behavior related concerns.

We usually complete neuropsychological testing in one day, though exact times vary based on the age and abilities of the individual undergoing evaluation. Parents must remain present for the entire evaluation, whether or not they are needed in the evaluation room. One of our clinicians will spend time with the individual being evaluated, and we may ask the individual or parents to complete questionnaires about their behavior, interview you/your child about history, behavior, and other details, as well as observe their general behavior. We will conduct a variety of written and activity-based assessments, some of which are standardized. We may ask that other people, such as teachers or family members of adults who come in for evaluation, fill out questionnaires as well.

If your child is being evaluated, talk with your child about the evaluation process ahead of time. Keep it simple, brief, and use language your child is likely to understand. The My Visit to the GU Psychology Clinic resource is available on our website and will help with that conversation. Reassure them that evaluation is painless, and that there are no right or wrong answers- your child should just try to do their best.
Your clinician is the best person to ask any specific questions you may have, and they will provide any details, forms, information, or instructions that might be needed.
Please bring any forms you may have completed in advance, any glasses, hearing aids, or other medical device your child may need. Any regular medication should be taken as normal, though if the individual being evaluated takes medication to help regulate attention, please check with staff when you schedule the appointment as we may request this medication not be taken on the testing date. Individuals undergoing evaluation should be well rested and have eaten a good breakfast prior to arrival.

After we finish the evaluation, we will discuss results and recommendations based on the evaluation, including strengths and areas of concern. Patients/parents/guardians may also choose to engage in a feedback session on a separate date via Zoom. Written reports will be made available to patients or their parents/guardians approximately 3-4 weeks after evaluation, with copies sent to referring physicians/other necessary parties at this time.

We offer psychotherapy using various models including Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is also available via the Department of Psychology’s PCIT lab, a training clinic run by clinicians who are certified or soon to be certified in PCIT.

Be prepared to tell your therapist a little bit about your history and why you’re coming to therapy as well as any mental health symptoms you may be experiencing, and bring any goals you have for therapy to share as well as any questions you have for your therapist.

If your appointment is taking place via Zoom, make sure your internet quality is good and that your device is charged or plugged in and ready to go.

Most sessions last 50 minutes, but this varies on a case by case basis.

The GUPC does not offer crisis counseling. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call, text, or use your videophone to contact 988, or you can visit 988lifeline.org to chat with someone online. You can also text “HOME” to 747 741 at any time to reach a trained crisis counselor.

We accept consultations from families as well as professionals who work with deaf and hard of hearing clients.

Consultations last between 1-2 hours and include a brief written report with recommendations.

Consultations take place both in person and via Zoom.

Please be aware that some insurance companies such as Kaiser may require referral from in-network clinicians to cover services provided by GUPC. Please talk with your primary care provider to start the referral process. We also accept some VR and Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) based referrals.