Adult Cognitive Assessments

At breakthru, we pride ourselves on using evidence-based approaches to help and support our customers to live their best lives.

In order to provide the most suitable personalised services to our customers, breakthru now delivers Cognitive & Adult Intelligence Assessments as part of our Psychological Assessment Services.

When conducting the Adult Cognitive Assessments, our highly trained Allied Health provisional psychologists will use the WAIS-IV framework. Once complete, the assessment results can be used as supporting documentation for NDIS applications, tailoring individualised support plans, educational planning and placement of adolescents and adults in school.

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Our Psychologists

When it comes to finding the right psychologist or counsellor, it’s important you find someone that you not only connect with, but also feel you can depend on. While face-to-face sessions are encouraged, we always try to be as flexible as possible, working in to suit your schedule – even if it means having a session on Skype or over the phone.

When you work with breakthru, you can be confident that each and every one of our psychologists are:

Experienced & Qualified

Learn how to approach discussions around disclosure.

Trained & Accredited

Undertake regular professional development.

Professionally Registered

Registered with any relevant professional or governing body.

Private & Confidential

Operate in confidence, ensuring your privacy is the number one priority.

Meet Our Team

Rita Tawil

MProfPsyc, BPsy (Hons)

Rita started with Breakthru in December 2021 as a Behaviour Support Practitioner, having worked in the role for more than 2 years. She has been working in the disability sector since 2016 across all ages. With a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree and Master of Professional Psychology, Rita is able to apply her knowledge to help clients reach both their behaviour support and mental health goals, and improving quality of life in a client-centred approach is her number one goal.

Outside of work hours, Rita enjoys cooking, reading crime/horror novels, and enjoying outdoor activities.

Puja Bhattacharya

BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Couns/Health)

Puja joined breakthru in February 2020. Puja brings more than 10 years of extensive work experience in Psychology and Counselling to our clinical team. Puja works as an AHPRA registered Provisional Psychologist and Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner. She is passionate about positively empowering customers in their therapeutic journey towards achieving their goals and improved quality of life.

Puja specialises in varied therapies – CBT, Relaxation Therapy for people with anxiety, stress, sleep difficulties and facilitates the breakthru REVIVE program. Puja enjoys working with children, families and adults with disabilities, anxiety, ASD, ADHD, BPD and other mental health conditions. Aside from her work at breakthru, Puja loves spending time with family/friends and enjoys travelling, cooking and gardening in her leisure time.

What is WAIS-IV?

WAIS-IV stands for Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4^th Edition. It is the Gold Standard Cognitive Assessment that measures a person’s intellectual performance and is most appropriate for people aged 16-90 years. It assists to examine the relationship that exists between intellectual functioning and memory. The WAIS-IV contains four index scores representing major components of intelligence:

Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)

How well verbal skills are learnt. This index reflects a person’s ability to speak, use, think and understand language.

Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI)

Ability to solve problems and find patterns. It reflects a person’s ability to think, interpret and organise visual information, and measuring non-verbal reasoning skills.

Working Memory Index (WMI)

Ability to retain information in a short period of time. This reflects a person’s ability to absorb and utilise information to perform a task.

Processing Speed Index (PSI)

The time taken to process visual information. It reflects a person’s ability to process routine and simple visual information efficiently and with speed.

Apart from providing IQ scores, the WAIS-IV integrates current conceptualisations and recent research to provide the most essential information about an individual’s strengths and areas of difficulty.

What do the Adult Cognitive Assessments include?

The WAIS-IV is composed of 10 core tests and 5 supplemental tests. The 10 core tests comprise the Full Scale IQ. During the assessment process, a qualified breakthru Psychologist will conduct the necessary tests and provide a report detailing the individuals results for each index, overall IQ and areas of difficulty.

The Adult Cognitive Assessments are ideal for:

Barrier Identification

Need for a cognitive assessment for a customer referred by other providers / support services / GP to help identify the barriers in achieving their goals.

NDIS Applications

Individuals that require evidence as part of an NDIS application.

Need Identification

To identify areas of support a customer needed based on cognitive deficits.

Goal Setting

Recommendation regarding multi-disciplinary approach / support that may be needed for a customer, as well as how to best support the customer on their identified areas of needs and setting goals accordingly.

How are the Adult Cognitive Assessments delivered?

The WAIS-IV will be administrated by our highly qualified and trained provisional psychologist using the WAIS-IV Kit, which includes all the test tools and materials, along with other aids where necessary. A modified assessment is also available for virtual delivery (where applicable).

How long will the Adult Cognitive Assessments take?

It takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete the core tests.

Fees

All our services can be built into your new or existing NDIS plan. If you’re not eligible for the NDIS or don’t currently have a plan, we also have fee-for-service and payment plan options to ensure you can get the support you need as soon as possible.

Our Locations

We offer face to face assessments in the following location