Services

Services Offered

Dr. Ruebel was trained to provide counseling and assessment to adults, adolescents and children presenting with an array of difficulties, including:

Depression / mood disturbances (including Bipolar Disorder)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) / phobias
Parenting / behavior management
School-related difficulties
Adjustment to life changes
Interpersonal communication problems

Dr. Ruebel offers:

Psychological assessment of children, adolescents, and adults focused on behavioral and learning problems including ADHD and Learning Disabilities.
Individual counseling with adults, adolescents, and children.
Assessment of mood, anxiety, and personality disorders.

How does Dr. Ruebel assess ADHD?

Dr. Ruebel believes that the diagnosis of an attention-deficit disorder can only occur following a thorough psychological evaluation. This is necessary in order to rule out other potential causes/explanations for attention problems. The full evaluation entails:

A diagnostic interview with the client and family. This typically takes between 1 - 1.5 hours and is the first thing we do.
Assessment of attention, concentration, and impulse control with a standardized, computer-based program. This test takes 30 minutes to administer.
Thorough intellectual assessment to provide understanding of verbal, non-verbal, and other intellectual abilities. Dr. Ruebel uses the Wechsler scales (WAIS-IV and WISC-IV), which are regarded as the standard in intellectual assessment. This typically takes 1.5 - 2.0 hours.
Achievement testing of basic reading, spelling, and arithmetic abilities to see if there are any indications of a possible learning disability. If testing suggests a learning disability, more in-depth testing would be needed. This takes between 1.5 - 2.5 hours.
Psychological testing in order to assess client's mood and personality. This takes 1.0 hour.
For children under age 18, parents, teachers, and the client complete the Conners' rating scales to assess severity of common behavioral and emotional symptoms.
After testing is complete, Dr. Ruebel will interpret results and write a brief report and go over the results with the client and family. This feedback session is 1.0 hour.

How is a learning disability assessed?

Assessment of a learning disability is similar to the ADHD evaluation with a few changes:

Achievement testing is more thorough and measures reading and listening comprehension and oral and written expression in addition to reading, spelling, and aritmetic skills.
Assessment of short and long-term memory skills with the Wechsler Memory Scale - Third Edition -Abreviated.
More in depth assessment of language skills, reading skills, and expressive/receptive language may be needed as well.

What to expect with Dr. Ruebel

The first step involves a brief consultation vie email/phone so you can discuss your concerns and problems with Dr. Ruebel or his staff. At this point we will offer you an appointment or make a referral to another qualified mental health professional if needed.

Prior to your first session, you will need to download and complete several forms. These forms are accessible from the "Forms" page. Please bring the completed forms with you to your first session.

At the first session, Dr. Ruebel will gather information from you about your concerns, history, and goals. This process will take the entire first session. At the end of this session, Dr. Ruebel will offer short-term suggestions and suggest a plan for therapy. If the client is a child under the age of 12, please do not bring him/her to the first session. This will allow you to speak candidly about your child.

Psychological assessment is often indicated after the initial evaluation. Dr. Ruebel offers assessment of ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional health. After testing has been completed, Dr. Ruebel will review all results with you in person.

Dr. Ruebel utilizes a mix of therapeutic styles, including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and solution-focused. This means that you can expect a variety of therapeutic techniques which may include the use of rating scales for your feelings, checklists of behaviors and problems, keeping a journal of your thoughts and emotions, and role plays.

When working with children and adolescents, Dr. Ruebel requires participation from parents. You, as parents, are the most valuable source of information and the most important agents of change. Family therapy with Dr. Ruebel is active, solution-focused and fast paced. Dr. Ruebel incorporates rating scales, observational measurement, and collaboration with parents and teachers (with your consent) to arrive at the most appropriate recommendations for individuals.

Individual therapy with Dr. Ruebel is also solution-focused. You, the client, will be expected to collaborate with Dr. Ruebel by actively participating in your therapy. This may require you to talk about painful or difficult things. Therapy is not typically a purely cognitive process. You will experience strong emotions and Dr. Ruebel will assist you in coping with them. Your ability to openly experience emotion will help the therapeutic process.

Link to article about signs that your child might have a learning disability