Explore Our Range of Assessments

At Safe Haven Therapy Services, we offer a range of assessments, each designed to help us gain understanding of different aspects of a child’s functioning individually and, if appropriate, within the family context.  Assessments are selected based on the needs of the child and family.  See below for a list of assessments used, some developed by Safe Haven Therapy Services, others standardised assessment tools.

For Families and Parents/Carers

The Marschak Interaction Method (MIM)- used to discover insights into how a child responds to adult interactions. This assessment is most often used prior to the start of Theraplay family therapy.

Feel-Good Family Toolkit Adult Assessment- an empowering reflective activity for assessing parents’ views of their family’s needs and priorities. Developed by Dena Roering, this assessment is often used in conjunction with family therapy, therapeutic parenting sessions, and prior to beginning any Feel-Good Family Toolkit work. 

Parent Stress Scale- a self-assessment of stress levels associated with parenting. It can be used as a measure of progress within the family therapy context and therapeutic parenting.

For Individual Child/ Adolescent

Whilst the list of Safe Haven’s assessments below are based on relevant DSM-5 Criteria, they are not diagnostic assessments. Any such assessment would need to be completed by professionals holding relevant qualifications, (such as via CAMHS) and with information being collected from multiple sources, across environments.  The questions in the assessments assist us in gathering information relevant to the work we will undertake in therapy and may be offered to supplement any formal assessment which may be required. They are inclusive of all ages and developmental stages.

Our range of questionnaire-based assessments include:

• Movement and Impulsivity

• Child Development and History

• Emotional Wellbeing and Risk Assessment

• Play Skills

• Sensory

• Social Communication and Interaction

Our range of activity-based assessments include:

• Visual Memory Skills

• Auditory Memory Skills

• Phonology Skills

• Processing Speed

Play therapy assessment session- during an intake session, the child may be offered a directed activity such as painting, creating a sand tray or using clay to produce a suggested image. How the child approaches the activity, along with what is produced, can offer some valuable insights into the child’s areas of concern. Play therapists do not interpret creative arts produced by a child/young person, but may notice themes emerging which can be useful.

Other Standardised Assessments

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)- captures current adaptive behaviours related to emotions, conduct, hyperactivity and peers along with a pro-social segment.

• Children’s Impact of Event Scale (CRIES)- measures intrusion, avoidance, and arousal of thoughts/feelings arising from re-experiencing a traumatic event. This assessment is used when symptoms related to past trauma are present, particularly single-event trauma.

• Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)- provides indicators for anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive thoughts, feelings and behaviours. This assessment can be used for children/young people aged 8-18 and is accessible for those with mild learning difficulties.

• Anxiety Scale for Children- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASC-ASD)- indicates levels of anxiety including various types with a specific focus on accessibility for those diagnosed with Autism. This assessment can be used for ages 8-16 and has both parent and child versions.

• Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED)- includes parent and child versions, screening tool for generalised anxiety along with various other types. This tool can be used for ages 8-18 and includes questions related to separation anxiety and school phobia.