Assessment Services
Evaluations for Children and Adolescents
Most children and adolescents struggle, at one point or another, with some aspect of attention, learning, or social emotional development. When difficulties or concerns persist, or when interventions that have been tried do not seem to be enough, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is useful for clarifying diagnostic patterns and the next steps to take.
At Interactive Discovery, psychologists work closely with parents, children, and teachers to develop a clear picture of the whole child. Using well-established tools, parent and child reports, and observations, we consider the interaction of cognitive, neuropsychological, learning, and social-emotional factors in a child’s daily experience. Diagnostic questions are approached thoughtfully and carefully, with an eye toward formulating evidence-based, practical recommendations for home and school.
Our goal is to help caregivers gain a deeper understanding of their child’s unique learning profile, strengthen their advocacy skills, and engage in productive, collaborative relationships with teachers, schools, and other professionals in their child’s life. We also aim to help children and adolescents become more aware of their learning styles, strengths and needs.
Evaluations for Adults
Many university students, young adults, and early career professionals find themselves struggling for the first time, after a successful journey through earlier schooling experiences. Often, learning disabilities and other neurodevelopmental disorders go undiagnosed until adulthood, leaving individuals feeling stuck. Seeking out a neuropsychological assessment can help adults develop a deeper understanding of their own cognitive profiles, what may be holding them back, and their unique set of strengths that will propel them forward. Using tools specifically geared towards adults, we work collaboratively with individuals to empower them to navigate transitions and meet their personal and professional goals.
Targeted ADHD Evaluations
Our Targeted ADHD Evaluations are designed for children, teens, and adults who are seeking clarity around attention-related challenges. This focused assessment is helpful for individuals who have previously completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and would like to determine whether interventions or supports have been effective, as well as for those who suspect they may have ADHD and want confirmation or clarification. It is particularly valuable when difficulties with focus, organization, and attention are beginning to affect daily life at home, school, or work.
During the evaluation process, we look at common concerns such as trouble focusing or sustaining attention, difficulty shifting between tasks, problems with organization, challenges starting and completing projects, struggles with time management, and feeling easily distracted or mentally fatigued.
It is important to note that Targeted ADHD Evaluations are not designed to fully assess or diagnose co-occurring conditions such as specific learning disabilities, mood or anxiety disorders, or sensory and physiological differences. For those seeking a broader evaluation to explore multiple areas of concern, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended.
Psychoeducational Evaluations
Psychoeducational assessments are useful in instances where a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation may not be warranted, but it is necessary to re-evaluate a child, adolescent or young adult’s academic progress and functioning. Psychoeducational assessments may be prompted by questions about school or classroom placement, or the impact of a particular academic intervention (e.g., tutoring, structured reading support, integrated co-teaching class) on a child’s learning and progress. Psychoeducational assessments can be used to evaluate whether a child or young person continues to require curricular or environmental modifications, classroom accommodations, or other learning supports.
Follow-Up Services
Following the assessment process, families or individuals meet with their clinician for a comprehensive, collaborative feedback meeting. Here, an overview of the report is provided and a discussion about next steps is facilitated. Clinicians often refer to community resources, including tutors, therapists, parent training specialists, occupational or physical therapists, and youth programs (e.g., athletic leagues, theater classes, group gaming). Clinicians are also available to meet with your or your child’s school to develop a robust plan of services and interventions that can meet your child’s needs.
Meet the Team
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Veronica Brodsky, PsyD
CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Dr. Veronica Brodsky is the founder and Clinical Director of Interactive Discovery Consulting and Psychological Services, P.C. which was founded over 12 years ago with a focus on a holistic approach to mental health. She is a seasoned licensed psychologist who has been seeing patients for over 25 years.
In addition to her work as a therapist at ID, Dr. Brodsky also conducts and supervises neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations. Her vast experience working on child evaluations gives her advanced skills to examine a child’s academic, cognitive, and emotional development; providing individually tailored recommendations based on evaluation results.
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Jane Paley, PsyD
SENIOR CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
Jane Paley has co-coordinated the Assessment Division at Interactive Discovery since 2011. Dr. Paley earned a doctoral degree in Child Clinical/School Psychology from New York University. Dr. Paley supervises and conducts comprehensive neuropsychological and psycho-educational assessments with children and adolescents, and offers parent, teacher and school consultation. She is committed to providing testing that is thorough, comprehensive, and practical - aimed at improving clients’ learning, self-awareness and self-advocacy skills. She is equally committed to in-depth collaboration with families, in the service of developing a thorough, integrated, and empathic understanding of a child or adolescent’s strengths and needs.
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Jacqui Kluger, PhD
SENIOR CLINICIAN, TESTING SUPERVISOR
Dr. Kluger is a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in Educational Psychology from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. She joined Interactive Discovery in 2018 after serving children and their families in a learning support clinic in Manhattan. Dr. Kluger uses a range of tools to assess the learning, developmental, and social-emotional needs of her clients, with special training in the assessment of neurodevelopmental differences using the ADOS. She has extensive experience connecting children to the support they need, and helping families navigate the process of understanding and treating their children’s learning and emotional difficulties. Working in a private practice that focuses on assessment and consultation highlighted the profound way that mental health and learning challenges are tightly intertwined, with each affecting the other. Her work with families has provided her with a level of expertise that allows her to bring her therapeutic work into the assessment process to become an ally and an advocate for families and individuals.
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Alexa Algios, PsyD
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Alexa Algios is a therapist and assessment clinician at Interactive Discovery. She completed her doctoral training at Pace University in the School-Clinical Child PsyD program and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Algios trained in a variety of settings where she provided individual, group, and family therapy. Her training has focused on working with children, adolescents, and young adults with a wide range of clinical presentations, such as anxiety, depression, complex trauma, attachment difficulties, and disruptive behavior.
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Elsa Obus, PhD
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Elsa Obus is a licensed psychologist who provides both therapeutic services and neuropsychological assessments at Interactive Discovery. She received her doctoral training from Tulane University’s School Psychology PhD program in New Orleans, LA.
As a school psychologist, Dr. Obus has experience providing both psychoeducational assessment in schools as well as comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation in clinic settings for a range of learning, developmental, social-emotional, and executive functioning needs. In her assessment practice, she prioritizes using evidence-based methods, attending to the intersecting influences of cognitive, emotional, developmental, and contextual factors, and providing clarity, understanding, and helpful recommendations to individuals and families.
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Laura Hackimer, PhD
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Laura Hackimer is a New York State licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist. She holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology with a specialization in School Psychology from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Dr. Hackimer has extensive experience conducting assessments to help identify learning, attention, and social-emotional challenges as well as with identifying appropriately supportive interventions. Currently, Dr. Hackimer is working primarily in the assessment of older adolescents and adults. She believes that enabling individuals to understand their specific strengths and weaknesses can unlock an understanding and acceptance of themselves to fuel their future aspirations.
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Micaela Wire, PhD
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dr. Wire received her PhD from Fordham University’s School Psychology graduate program in 2014 where she received intensive assessment training. She has worked with preschool, elementary, and middle school students within school and private practice settings. In addition to her work at ID, Dr. Wire is currently employed by a special education school in Brooklyn where she provides individual and group therapy, teacher and parent workshops, behavior interventions, crisis management, and parent support.
Dr. Wire is an expert on the assessment and diagnosis of various learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders, in addition to various social-emotional disorders. She also has vast experience navigating the special education system in NYC, and is frequently involved in IEP planning and development. Dr. Wire is passionate about advocating for children who are struggling to be understood, and empowering parents to support their child in reaching their highest potential.
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Ida Piker, PsyD
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Dr. Ida Piker received her doctoral training from Pace University’s School-Clinical Child Psychology program in New York City. She has experience in elementary, high school, residential, and inpatient settings conducting psychoeducational and comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessments of children and adolescents experiencing developmental delays, learning disabilities, and mental health challenges. Dr. Piker recognizes the value of receiving a diagnosis and the beneficial services and interventions individuals may obtain as a result. She works closely with clients and their families to gain an in-depth picture of their psychological functioning, clarify diagnoses, and provide tailored treatment recommendations.
