Heather Kuhl, Psy. D., LMFT:
Helping Adults and Children Better Understand Themselves so They
Can Experience Personal, Professional and Academic Success.
My goal is to help my clients and their families to better understand their strengths and challenges and the obstacles preventing them from finding success and happiness.
I provide comprehensive psychological testing and evaluations for children, teens, and adults so they can find clarity, understand themselves better, and create a plan to attain personal, professional, and academic success.
As part of my own journey, I’ve turned to therapy to help me learn about myself, recognize my shortcomings, and appreciate my strengths. While this process was incredibly empowering, I know how hard it can be to take that first step and ask for help.
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I offer psychological testing and evaluations for children, teens and adults at our beautiful office in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Plantation, Florida.
Call me today for your complimentary phone consultation at 954-391-5305 so we can discuss how I can help you and your loved ones!
Learn More About How I Help Children & Adults Live Their Best Lives...
My Psychological Evaluations & Counseling Services For Children & Adults
Psychological & Psychoeducational Testing for Children:
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There are a variety of reasons an evaluation may be the right step to take for your child. Academically, testing can help to uncover learning differences, auditory or visual processing difficulties, or shed light on problems with attention and/or memory. All of these factors can play a role in learning.
Socially, children have difficulties developing friends for various reasons such a fear of rejection or humiliation, difficulties with communication, or related to neurodiversity such as with an autism.
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Lastly, certain emotions and behaviors can make it difficult for children to function at home and/or at school. Therefore, it is critical to understand the source of various emotions such as sadness or anxiety, or behaviors such as defiance and aggression to provide proper supports at home and school.
For instance, a child can have a meltdown due to severe anxiety, to be manipulative, or related to an autism spectrum disorder. It is important to understand the cause as the approach to treating each behavior is vastly different. I take time to thoroughly understand your child and provide an accurate diagnosis which is the first step to creating a roadmap for their success.
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Gifted Testing for Children:
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I provided gifted testing for children in private and public school settings. A private evaluation has several benefits including a more comfortable environment, one-on-one testing experience, more comprehensive look at intellectual functioning, and qualitative observations that may provide further insight into a child’s score and their functioning.
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Autism Testing for Children & Adults:
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Testing specifically for autism may be warranted for several reasons. I work with many adults and children who have never been diagnosed but suspect an autism spectrum disorder based upon various behavioral traits. I also provide brief autism testing for children who have already received a diagnosis from a medical professional but require a formal diagnosis and evaluation in order to get services such as for applied behavioral analysis (ABA).
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ADHD Testing for Children & Adults:
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Do you find yourself making careless mistakes at work or in your day to day life? Perhaps you feel frustrated because you often forget important details or miss deadlines. You notice that day dreaming and getting lost in your thoughts makes it hard to focus at work and home. If any of these apply to you, an ADHD evaluation may help you better understand these behaviors and provide a plan for how to overcome these challenges.
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Psychological Testing for Adults:
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For adults who find certain behaviors and emotions interfering in developing relationships or personal, academic, or occupational success, a psychological evaluation may help you gain insight into obstacles. Testing is individualized to meet your unique needs and answer various questions you may have about yourself.
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Cogscreen Evaluation for Pilots:
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I provide Cogscreen - Aeromedical Edition (AE) testing for a select group of pilots in accordance with requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Counseling for Adults:
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While the majority of my practice is devoted to testing, I carry a small caseload of individual therapy clients. Areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, adjustment difficulties, communication challenges, relationship difficulties, and substance use and recovery.
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My Story
As a teenager, I went through my own struggles and often felt lost and alone not understanding what was really going on. My parents who did not know how to best help, took me to a psychologist who slowly peeled back the layers and helped me truly understand why I was having a difficult time. I finally felt understood and supported. I finally had a good understanding of myself and a list of recommendations and steps to take in order to achieve my goals. This experience inspired me to want to help other children and families.
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After I completed a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, I worked for several years with adults and adolescents as well as their families at South Miami Hospital’s Substance Abuse Treatment Program.
My thirst for knowledge led me back to school to pursue a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I was introduced to the world of psychological assessment and found this very fulfilling. I worked at Miami Children’s Hospital Brain Institute and at the Center for Assessment and Intervention where I conducted evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of medical and mental health issues including Epilepsy and other neurological conditions, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Learning Disorders, Mood Disorders, among others.
My Background in Psychology
I specialize in conducting psychological evaluations and gifted testing with children and adults. I also conduct evaluations for the Federal Aviation Administration, both with pilots and air traffic controllers.
Aside from conducting psychological evaluations, I have extensive experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families, as well as with diverse populations such as veterans and survivors of torture. My clinical expertise includes substance abuse, anger management, social skill training, academic problems, parenting issues, family conflict, marital conflict, and mood and anxiety disorders.
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I earned a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Miami in 2005 and a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctorate (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2009 and 2012 respectively.
In addition to my clinical work, I am an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science. I have had the opportunity to be a guest lecturer at the University of Miami and Keiser University. I was selected to present research at the 2009 American Psychological Association conference in Toronto, 2010 American Psychological Association conference in San Diego, 2011 International Neuropsychological Society conference in Boston, and 2013 American Psychological Association conference in Hawaii. I am also a Florida Qualified Supervisor for Registered Intern Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Fun Facts
My absolute favorite pastime is anything related to horses. I’ve been a competitive equestrian athlete since I was 7 years of age competing in the hunters and jumpers in Wellington, Florida. I currently ride weekly at a farm in Southwest Ranches.
In addition, my passion for horses and helping others inspired me to form a nonprofit with two other horse loving friends called Give Back for Special Equestrians which raises money for equine assisted and therapeutic horseback riding for children and veterans with physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
Aside from horses, I love yoga, playing with my dogs, spending time with family, and relaxing on the couch watching my favorite shows.
Why Work With Me For
Psychological Evaluations?
Choosing the right psychologist can be stressful, and scheduling appointments during the school week or work week can be challenging. To ease this process and accommodate you, I provide testing and psychological evaluations on the weekends and weekdays, making it easier to complete an evaluation quickly without interfering with school or work. I also offer therapy in the afternoon and evening hours to ensure that making time for you does not interfere with your busy day.
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If you call seeking a psychological evaluation for yourself or your loved one, you can expect a high-quality report with an accurate diagnosis as well as very thorough recommendations about what steps to take next.
For those seeking therapy, I consider myself compassionate and encouraging. You can expect our sessions to be goal driven. I know therapy is a time and financial commitment, and I believe in working toward solutions and helping you achieve your goals is most important.
Now is the Time!
Call me today at (954) 391-5305 to schedule your complimentary consultation and learn how an evaluation can help you or your loved one!
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I provide counseling and psychological evaluations and testing for children, teens, and adults across Broward County, Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Plantation) for your convenience.
For more information about my approach to therapy or psychological evaluations, visit my website.