Calgary Psychologist Specializing in Assessment
Hi, I’m Kendra
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST, M.Ed.
I believe assessment should help people better understand how they learn, think, and navigate the demands of everyday life. My goal is to provide useful answers and recommendations that make a difference beyond the assessment itself.
ABOUT BLUE SPRUCE PSYCHOLOGY
An Assessment Can Change the Conversation
Parents often reach out after months, or even years, of wondering. They've tried different strategies, spoken with teachers, watched their child work harder than ever, and still feel like something isn't adding up.
Often, the greatest gift of the assessment process is finally understanding why things have been hard, what comes more naturally, and what will actually help.
EVERY ASSESSMENT BEGINS WITH A QUESTION
The Why Behind
Blue Spruce Psychology
If you'd asked me back in 2005 where I'd end up, I would have confidently told you I was going to teach grade 3.
I started university with every intention of spending my career in a classroom. But during my very first practicum, I found myself drawn to one student who was struggling to keep up, stay focused, and connect with peers.
I couldn't stop wondering why.
That question eventually took me from education into psychology, across three provinces, and, years later, back home to Calgary to build a career helping children and families find answers.
One single student changed the direction of my career.
Training & Expertise
M.Ed.
Registered Psychologist
School & Applied Child Psychology (Educational Psychology)
10+ years
Assessment experience
ADHD · Learning · Giftedness · Intellectual Disability · Autism
1400+ hours
Specialized assessment training
Administration · Interpretation · Intervention
MY APPROACH TO ASSESSMENT
The Assessment is Standardized.
The Human Interaction isn't.
Some children need time to warm up. Some want to know exactly what we're doing and why. Some talk their way through everything. Some need movement breaks but are too shy to say anything. Teenagers, especially, tend to know immediately when an adult isn't being genuine.
I adjust my pace, energy, explanations, encouragement, conversation, and breaks to who is sitting across from me. That doesn't change what I'm measuring. It helps create the conditions for a child or teen to show me what they can actually do.
Who I Support
I work with children, teens, post-secondary students, and adults when there are questions about learning, attention, academic achievement, or cognitive abilities.
Families may be looking to understand why their child is struggling, explore ADHD or giftedness, make decisions about school or specialized programming, or identify accommodations and supports that may help.
Adults and post-secondary students may be seeking assessment for long-standing learning or attention concerns, updated documentation, academic accommodations, student grants or funding, or simply a better understanding of how they learn and work.
LOCAL ASSESSMENT SERVICES
Serving Calgary & Surrounding Areas
Blue Spruce Psychology welcomes clients from across Calgary, as well as those living in Chestermere, Langdon, Strathmore, Okotoks, and other neighbouring communities.
The office is conveniently located near major routes including Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail.
A Thoughtful Approach to Assessment
WHAT I PAY ATTENTION TO
The details matter.
ADHD, learning difficulties, anxiety, and giftedness rarely arrive looking like a checklist. A child may focus for hours on something they love but need repeated reminders for everyday routines. A teenager may be earning good grades while a parent quietly holds the entire organizational system together. Another child may understand the hardest question on a test and lose marks on three easy ones.
After years of listening to families describe what learning and daily life actually look like, I've learned to pay attention to those details. Often, the pattern between them tells us where to look next.
BEYOND THE ASSESSMENT
Why I Created
The Parent Library
Many of the questions families bring to assessment begin long before they know whether testing is needed. They often begin with small contradictions: a capable child who is struggling, strong focus in one setting but not another, or school performance that doesn’t reflect the effort required.
I created The Parent Library to help families make sense of those early questions. Each resource connects psychological concepts to everyday life, offering clear, practical guidance without assuming that every concern needs a diagnosis or formal assessment.
GET TO KNOW KENDRA
Beyond The Office
I'm a born-and-raised Calgarian who loves big blue skies and mountain views.
At home, I’m most often found with a coffee in hand and cozied up with a book I can’t put down (right now, it’s a trilogy), working on a home renovation project, or convincing myself there’s always room for one more shrub rose in my garden.
And if I’m not doing any of those things, my favourite place to be is wherever my family and fur babies are.
Let’s Connect
If you have questions about assessment or whether Blue Spruce may be a good fit for what you need, you're welcome to reach out.
All assessments are scheduled with Kendra following an initial inquiry/complimentary consultation. You can fill out the form below or email me directly: kendra@bluesprucepsychology.ca