The purpose of the socio-emotional assessment of the child is to evaluate different systems in the child’s world as well as in the child’s socio-emotional functioning and emotional experience of these systems. The evaluation also aims to identify and understand different factors that contribute to the child’s current experiences, in order to make the necessary recommendations in the best interests of the child.
The evaluation process is conducted from a systems viewpoint that recognizes that the child is influenced by the system he/she belongs to, just as the system is affected by the individuals that belongs to it. A holistic view is used to assess the child’s functioning in all areas – relationships (school, peers, parents, siblings, marital, discomfort), attachment, broad screening of motor- and perceptual functioning, screening for possible trauma exposure (including physical and/or sexual abuse), and personality functioning/temperament.