Psychological Assessment

ADHD or Learning Disabilities

The Counseling Service is available to support students who wish to be evaluated for a possible learning disability or for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Meeting with a counselor can help to clarify any questions you may have, to determine what type of assessment is indicated, and to refer you to an off-campus neuropsychologist for assessment if appropriate. Support services for a learning disability such as ADHD cannot be implemented at Bowdoin without such testing.

In addition to facilitating an assessment referral for ADHD, the Counseling Service offers the opportunity for continued supportive and/or behavioral counseling in adjunct with possible psychiatric management. We can also help to connect students with on-campus services that encourage your full learning potential; chief among these is the Baldwin Learning Center. If you are interested in learning more about our assessment services and the process of referral, please contact Lindsay Jacobs at ljacobs@bowdoin.edu.

Head Trauma – Post Concussive Syndrome

Following a head injury, whether incurred in the athletic arena or elsewhere, students may experience what is referred to as Post Concussive Syndrome (PCS). Symptoms may include dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, headaches, irritability, fatigue, memory impairment, diminished ability to concentrate, as well as delayed information processing and reaction time. While many people experience these symptoms shortly after a head injury, they typically remit within 3-6 months. When they do not, individuals are said to have PCS.

Health Services and the Counseling Service work collaboratively to help students address the physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges of PCS. Meeting with a counselor can help you to identify what might be going on, to explore assessment and treatment options, and to discuss the impact of PCS on both personal and academic activities. If you are interested in learning more about PCS or in meeting with a care provider, please call either the Counseling Service at 725-3145 or the Health Service at 725-3770.