Child Behavioral

Children communicate through behavior. When something is wrong emotionally or psychologically, when a child is anxious, overwhelmed, struggling with attention, experiencing trauma, or navigating a condition that has not yet been identified,  it often shows up first in what they do rather than what they say. Tantrums that are too frequent or too intense. Aggression that seems to come out of nowhere. Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they once loved. Persistent defiance at home or escalating problems at school. These behaviors are not random, and they are not simply a phase. They are signals, and a professional behavioral evaluation is the most effective way to understand what they are communicating. 

At Old Town Psychology, we provide comprehensive child behavioral evaluations in Alexandria, VA for children and adolescents across the full developmental spectrum. We have immediate openings, so you can get answers now rather than waiting months for an appointment.

What Is a Child Behavioral Evaluation?

A child behavioral evaluation is a structured, multi-method psychological assessment that examines the emotional, behavioral, and developmental factors driving a child’s presenting concerns. It is a clinical tool for understanding what is actually happening beneath the surface of the behaviors you are seeing.

Behavioral evaluations for children go beyond simply observing or documenting what a child does. They examine the context, frequency, and intensity of behavioral and emotional concerns; assess the underlying cognitive, psychological, and developmental factors that may be contributing; gather information from multiple people across multiple settings; and distinguish between conditions that can look similar but require very different interventions.

At Old Town Psychology, child behavioral evaluations are conducted by licensed psychologists with specialized expertise in child and adolescent development. We approach every evaluation with clinical precision and genuine care for the child at the center of the process. The goal is not simply a report; it is a clear, actionable understanding of your child that puts your family in a stronger position to help them.

Signs Your Child Needs a Behavioral Evaluation

Behavioral and emotional concerns in children exist on a wide spectrum, and the signs that warrant a formal evaluation are not always dramatic. Some children present with behaviors that are hard to miss. Others show subtler patterns of emotional distress, social difficulty, or developmental concern that accumulate over time into something that clearly needs professional attention. You may want to schedule a child behavioral evaluation if your child is experiencing any of the following:

Behavioral concerns:

• Frequent, intense, or prolonged temper tantrums or emotional meltdowns that are difficult to de-escalate
• Persistent aggression toward siblings, peers, or adults, including hitting, biting, kicking, or throwing objects
• Significant and ongoing defiance, oppositional behavior, or refusal to follow reasonable rules or expectations at home or school
• Impulsive behavior that creates safety concerns or consistently disrupts daily life
• Lying, stealing, or other conduct concerns that are escalating or have not responded to standard parenting approaches
• Self-harming behaviors, including hitting or scratching themselves

Emotional concerns:

• Persistent sadness, irritability, or emotional flatness that has lasted more than a few weeks
• Excessive worry, fearfulness, or anxiety that is interfering with daily activities, school, or social engagement
• Significant mood swings or emotional intensity that feels disproportionate to the situation
• Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities that previously brought the child joy

Social and developmental concerns:

• Difficulty making or keeping friendships, or a pattern of peer conflict that has not improved
• Social withdrawal or significant discomfort in social situations
• Developmental regression, returning to behaviors typical of a younger age, particularly following a stressful event
• Concerns about a child’s social communication or relational patterns

Academic and school-related concerns:

• Declining grades or academic performance that is not explained by intellectual ability
• Frequent disciplinary referrals, suspensions, or school-based behavioral incidents
• School refusal, chronic absenteeism, or persistent distress around attending school
• Teacher reports of significant behavioral or emotional concerns in the classroom

Life circumstances:

• A major life change, such as a divorce, a move, a loss, a new sibling, or a significant family transition that has been followed by a noticeable behavioral or emotional shift
• Exposure to a traumatic event, abuse, or ongoing household instability
• A history of early adversity or adverse childhood experiences that may be affecting current functioning

What Can a Child Behavioral Evaluation Help With?

A child behavioral evaluation is a powerful first step, one that changes what comes next by replacing guesswork with clinical clarity. Here is what a comprehensive evaluation at Old Town Psychology provides:

A clear diagnostic picture: A formal evaluation determines whether a diagnosable condition is contributing to your child’s behavioral and emotional concerns, and if so, which one. 

Distinguishing between overlapping conditions: Many behavioral and emotional conditions share symptoms, and treating the wrong one , or missing a co-occurring condition, can significantly limit a child’s progress. A thorough evaluation provides the clinical depth needed to distinguish between presentations that look similar on the surface but require different approaches.

A personalized treatment roadmap: Beyond diagnosis, your evaluation report includes specific, tailored recommendations for next steps, whether that is individual therapy for your child, parent coaching, family therapy, school-based supports, or a referral to another specialist. 

Guidance for parents: Understanding what is driving your child’s behavior changes everything about how you respond to it. The evaluation gives you a clearer picture of your child’s internal experience, which makes parenting more effective, less frustrating, and more connected.

A foundation for therapy: When individual therapy begins with a clear behavioral and emotional profile, the work is more targeted and more efficient from the start. A behavioral evaluation sets that foundation for your child, for their therapist, and for their school.

What Does a Child Behavioral Evaluation Look Like?

At Old Town Psychology, child behavioral evaluations are conducted using a multi-method, multi-informant approach because a complete and accurate picture of a child’s behavioral and emotional functioning requires information from multiple sources across multiple settings. Here is what the process involves:

Parent Interview

Your evaluation begins with a comprehensive clinical interview with you as the parent or caregiver. We want to understand your child’s developmental history, family background, the specific behaviors and concerns that prompted the referral, how long the concerns have been present, what has been tried, and how your child functions across different settings. Your observations as a parent are an essential part of the clinical picture, and we take the time to listen carefully.

Child Interview

Depending on the child’s age and the nature of the presenting concerns, we conduct a direct interview or observation with your child. This allows us to gather information from the child’s own perspective and to observe behavior, communication, emotional presentation, and relational style directly.

Standardized Rating Scales

Parents and teachers complete validated, standardized behavioral and emotional rating scales that capture how the child is functioning across home and school settings. These instruments compare your child’s behavior to that of a large, representative sample of same-age peers, providing an objective benchmark that supplements clinical observation and interview.

Comprehensive Report and Feedback Session

Once all information has been gathered and integrated, we prepare a detailed written report documenting the findings, diagnostic conclusions, and individualized recommendations. We then meet with you in a dedicated feedback session to walk through the report, answer your questions, and ensure you leave with a thorough understanding of the results and a clear sense of how to move forward.

You will not be handed a report without context. We will make sure the findings are meaningful and immediately useful to your family.

What Our Patients Say

"We brought our daughter in for testing and the OTP team was amazing. They were so kind, caring and great with children. My daughter is shy and takes a little time to warm up when first meeting someone new. The Doctor was patient and encouraging and my daughter had a wonderful time. They also provide fast results and meet with you to explain everything in the report. I would definitely recommend them."

"Very prompt response to our inquiry. Welcoming environment and very professional, thorough communication. The staff genuinely seems to care that your needs are met."

"Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, incredible responsiveness, diligence and follow through -- we feel lucky we found such a great therapy practice. We cannot recommend them highly enough!"

“My daughter took WISC-V test there and we are very pleased with our experience. They are professional, patient and wonderful throughout the entire process. My daughter had such a great time that she hardly felt that was a test - she even asked when she could take it again. I would highly recommend them to whoever needs child IQ testing services.”

“I took my children here for TAG testing. Both of my kids actually enjoyed their assessments. I was very pleased with the time and care taken to assess my children, the thoroughness of the report, and the fact that there was a follow-up session to discuss any questions that I had relative to the assessment included. Also-- the tea selection in the waiting room is top tier :)”

“Very prompt response to our inquiry. Welcoming environment and very professional, thorough communication. The staff genuinely seems to care that your needs are met.”

Take the Next Step

Your child’s behavior is trying to tell you something. A behavioral evaluation is how you find out what. At Old Town Psychology, we maintain immediate availability for new evaluation clients. 

To schedule a child behavioral evaluation or to ask any questions, contact us today.