Approach

Why Lightside?

Alex founded Lightside Psychology with a clear vision: to make psychological testing a more personalized, flexible, and collaborative experience. His testing process:

  • Is tailored to the unique goals of each individual and family

  • Fosters a partnership between the psychologist and client

  • Focuses on what is best for you, without being limited by traditional time or insurance constraints

Foundational Values

  • At Lightside Psychology, Alex makes complex psychological data easy to understand and applicable to meaningful solutions. After testing, he ensures you have a clear grasp of the best interventions and/or treatment strategies to improve your or your child’s mental health and academic success.

    The process identifies challenges while highlighting strengths, helping to create a comprehensive, actionable plan. Alex also connects you to relevant community resources to support your ongoing needs.

  • Alex believes that psychological testing is most effective when it leads to meaningful, actionable support. Throughout the process, he works closely with your family, therapists, physicians, and/or school teams to ensure test results translate into the right academic and therapeutic interventions. His advocacy extends beyond testing to ensure lasting support.

    With strong connections to professionals across Florida, Missouri, and nationwide, Alex can also help connect you or your child with additional resources to meet your mental health, medical, or academic needs.

  • Alex’s testing process fosters deep self-awareness, empowering individuals and families to better advocate for their mental health and academic needs. After testing, feedback is delivered clearly, focusing on understanding strengths, addressing challenges, and using that knowledge to take informed action.

  • Alex believes the success of treatment hinges on a strong, collaborative relationship. He works to build trust with each client through empathy, flexibility, and a non-judgmental approach, always prioritizing your or your child’s unique needs. Alex also helps clients identify and leverage their personal strengths.

    For older children and adolescents, ongoing collaboration with parents is an integral part of the process.

TESTING SERVICES

Psychological & Psychoeducational Testing

  • Why psychoeducational testing?

    A suspected learning problem in reading, math, or writing (e.g., specific learning disorder)

    To identify appropriate academic accommodations and inform learning plans (i.e., IEP, 504-disability plan, private learning plan, giftedness)

    Unexplained academic difficulties or chronic underachievement

    Poor performance on tests/exams

  • Why ADHD testing?

    Problems orienting and/or sustaining focus to activities or tasks

    Difficulties with planning, organization, memory, time management, completing tasks, or meeting deadlines

    Hyperactivity or overactivity, problems with impulse control and emotional regulation

  • Why a psychological evaluation?

    Differential diagnosis / diagnostic clarity; helping determine the core underlying challenges most clearly impacting mental health functioning

    Limited improvements in mental health despite prior/ongoing psychotherapy

    To inform treatment planning prior to initiating a course of psychotherapy

  • Why giftedness testing?

    To determine eligibility for accelerated or ‘gifted’ academic programs

    Learning far quicker and easier than same-age peers

    Mastery of academic skills well above age and grade level expectations

    Boredom with general education curriculum

  • Why evaluation for school and/or exam accommodations?

    You or your child need initial or updated testing to support accommodation requests on College Board (ACT/SAT) or high-stakes exams (LSAT, MCAT, COMLEX, GRE, USMLE, state bar, etc.).

    You or your child need initial or updated testing to support accommodation requests in high school, college, graduate school, or in the workplace.

  • Why an adult autism evaluation?

    Concerns with social communication skills or chronic difficulties relating to/connecting with others.