For many families, the entrance evaluation is the part of private school admissions that raises the most questions. A child may have strong grades, kind teacher comments, and a real interest in the school, yet the school still asks for testing, interviews, classroom visits, or writing samples.

You finally made the call. Maybe your child's preschool teacher raised a concern, or maybe you've had a quiet feeling for months that something about the way your child plays, talks, or handles change is a little different. Then you hear the words: "Our next opening is in a year."

It is one of the questions I hear most often from parents. Their child is working hard, maybe harder than anyone else in the class, and reading still isn't clicking. Homework turns into a nightly battle. A teacher has mentioned "some concerns," or a relative has said the word dyslexia out loud for the first time.

If you picture child therapy as a kid lying on a couch talking about their feelings for an hour, you're not alone... and you're also picturing something that rarely happens.

As a parent, you may have heard someone describe your child as “bright,” “advanced,” or “gifted.” At the same time, you may notice that your child struggles with things that seem like they should come easily.

Your child can't seem to focus on homework. They forget instructions. They avoid certain assignments. They become overwhelmed easily. They may have trouble sleeping, worry about making mistakes, or become upset when things don't go as planned.

As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. You may have noticed that something seems harder for your child than it is for other children their age, or perhaps your child is working incredibly hard but still struggling at school, at home, or with peers.