Psychological assessment provides formal diagnosis & evaluation of underlying contributing factors, prognosis, & recommendations as to the best type of treatment. The psychological report can provide clarity on underlying factors for the children behaviour and forms a solid baseline for the treatment plan.
Our psychologist is in the field for the 26 years and recently retired from the school boards of Ontario. She has extensive experience with school age children. Her area of expertise is in school and counselling psychology, with children, adolescents, and adults.
Maria Costa, also known as Amada Costa, is a psychologist registered with the College of Psychologist of Ontario, working in the areas of school and counselling psychology, with children, adolescents, and adults.
Maria has 26 years of experience in the field of psychology, including 10 years of work in the mental health department of the University Health Network/Toronto Western Hospital, and 11 years in the two largest school boards of Ontario, in addition to her work in private practice. She has extensive experience working with old adolescents and adults presenting severe and persistent mental health conditions, including trauma, mood, anxiety substance, and psychotic related conditions.
Maria has extensive experience with psychoeducational assessments of children, adolescents and young adults presenting with difficulties related to attention (ADHD, Executive Functioning), Learning/academic (Learning Disabilities, Giftedness, Intellectual Disabilities), adjustment, anxiety, relationships, and family/social difficulties.
Maria is joining our practice offering consultations, diagnostic assessments (psychoeducational and mental health), psychological treatment (adults), psychoeducation for families of children presenting with learning, neurodevelopmental, attention problems, and therapy and support groups for children and adolescents presenting learning, social, and emotional difficulties.
All services are available on-line, except for specific psychometric tests which are completed in-person.
- Psychologist in Brazil since 1994 (still registered there).
- Psychologist in Canada, registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (Registered under the CPO #6149, with competence in the areas of School and Counselling Psychology with children, adolescents, and adults).
- 10 years (2001 - 2011) of full-time work at University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital, as a Mental Health Clinician, working with late adolescents, adults, and elderly with severe and persistent mental health problems.
- 10 years (2011 - 2021) of full-time work in school psychology (TCDSB and TDSB), with children from JK to the end of secondary school.
- 6 years of experience in private practice (part-time, subcontractor) working with adults MVA, WSIB, private clients (mental health assessments and psychological treatment).
- 2 + 1 year part-time private practice as a solo practitioner working with adults (assessment and treatment).
- Numerous trainings in areas of mental health, suicide risk assessment, non-suicidal self-injury, ADHD, autism, trauma, learning problems, various treatment modalities, etc.
Maria’s experience and training include assessment and diagnosis related to:
School age: ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Learning Disorders, Giftedness, Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Delays, some cases (not all) of ASD, anxiety and mood disorders, etc. Adults: mental health, substances, learning, ADHD (not all cases).
