I am in need of a *highly* qualified psychiatrist or psychologist (preferably with some forensic training) who is either GT themselves, or acutely aware of and sympathetic to the many ways in which GTs can be misunderstood by the general public, and others in the mental health professions.
I'd prefer to find someone in the Wellington area, but I will take what I can get.
I have a problem involving a mental health professional who categorically (and without testing) refuses to believe that my child and I are GT. This person has also come to many, *other* wildly and frighteningly wrong conclusions about me, and has cast aspersions upon my character and my parenting as well as my intelligence, and all of it without conducting a shred of testing. It's pure uninformed opinion. And it's serious stuff.
Due to this person's arrogance and ignorance, many things about me and my parenting have been grossly pathologised (and we won't even go into the outright lies and fabrications). I have cause to worry that I could actually lose my kids over this "little misunderstanding".
If anyone knows of a good, reputable professional who is, or who might *know of* someone who is suitable for the task of critically assessing a GT person and painting a clear clinical picture of them with objective data, please let me know.
(If I test out as a stupid psycho, fine, but let's see the data ;-> )
I'd be interested in knowing what sorts of services people here have used her for, if anyone is willing to share.
"She's good" is lovely, but it doesn't necessarily help me determine if she's appropriate to our needs. A little more detail would be nice :-)
"Good" at what?
I'm still inerested in further recommendations, just in case she doesn't work out for scheduling reasons or whatever.
Shirley visited our son twice (in our own home) and his school once. She administered the WISC and Stanford Binet tests and provided feedback verbally and also in a full written report. She also provided us with all the information we wanted/needed and assisted us in getting things sorted with our sons school.
I plan on contacting her again sometime soon to have our daughter assessed.
You could ring and talk to her first and see what you think. That is what I did initially.
Shirley Taylor is a very experienced educational psychologist.
Another option would be Susan Hunt, she is a clinical psychologist with a lot of experience with gifted kids. She does all the testing for One Day School in Wellington. In the past she had experience working in a mental health team (CAFS?) so she might have some forensic experience.
I have a list of people to ring to address various aspects of the situation.
It helps to know a little about what they do before I call them so I don't end up with a chicken-vs-egg conversation.
"How can I help you?"
"I don't know. What do you do?"
"That depends, what do you need?"
I have also used Shirley for my son who was aged 8. She relates well with children. Also she is effective and respected by the school. In my case the school - Wadestown - was loathe to implement anything for my son. She made a recommendation for my son to go to a higher class for maths, which the school was concerned might set a precedent - however given her relationship with the Min of Ed - they were pretty powerless to not follow her recommendation.
We used Ulla Preston at Wellington Psychological Associates when our son was having some difficulties at school at age 5.5, and again at age 7.5 (early last year) and she was very helpful.
She came with us to attend one of our meetings with the school (three years ago) and was very valuable to us in advocating solutions, not just defining and characterising the problems.
Our son is GT but is somewhat challenged by aspects of the school environment.
I have not heard back from any of the people I contacted by e-mail earlier this week so I shall be upgrading to phone calls and contacting more people as more referrals come in.
Assessment Counselling & Effective Learning Centre
Lynn Berresford, Justine Wilson & Aurelia
Escoto-Kemp - Registered Psychologists
541 A Remuera Rd Remuera Auckland
0-9-524-7727
This is the group I finally ended up goign with.
Justine Wilson was very accomodating in setting up a time when I could come in outside of regular hours, she was very friendly, competent, and efficient in administering the test, and I am very pleased with the whole experience.
FWIW, if anyone else should come in here asking about *ADULT* IQ testing, most of the recommendations given elsewhere in this thread only deal with children, and one told me they do test adults, but weren't comfortable testing gifted adults.
Several never bothered to call be back.
I'd recommend the Assessment Counselling & Effective Learning Centre as a *first* stop for anyone else in need of similar services.
I am very happy to guide parents in Wellington with their gifted and talented children.
Name = Paula Gilbert - paula.gilbert@xtra.co.nz
ex teacher
M.Ed. Psych. ( Hons )
I use the WJ111 Test of achivement and test of cognitive ability . Most of my referrals come through SPELD but I do have a private client base
On reading the above letters- the professionals mentioned are all good-
Susan Hunt : Ulla Preston : lyn Bereford: Shirley works with the Ministry in Wellington so has direct contacts . Be very comfortable with them all.
