Clinical psychology: Understanding the bigger picture

16. April 2025

Each of us sometimes finds ourselves in a situation where ordinary advice is not enough. In children, it can be delayed speech development, attention disorders, autism spectrum disorder or just a difficult to describe "something is wrong". Adults most often come because of problems with attention, memory, suspected ADHD or anxiety-depressive disorder, or repeated relationship problems, impulsivity or emotional instability. At these times, proper psychological care may be the key to improvement. Clinical psychology at the Ponseti Clinic offers professional help where a person no longer knows what to do on their own - whether as a parent, partner or individual.

What is clinical psychology?

​Clinical psychology deals with the diagnosis and therapy of psychological disorders, developmental difficulties and complex life situations. It is based on scientific knowledge and respects the individuality of each client – ​​their experience, context, history and current state.

Unlike regular counseling or school psychology, a clinical psychologist works more deeply – and often over a longer period of time. It uses standardized methods, comprehensive diagnostics and can rely on accredited psychotherapy training during therapy.

How does the clinical-psychological examination take place?

The examination is not a one-time visit, but a gradual process. At the Ponseti Clinic, it takes place in three basic steps:

1. Introductory meeting (60 minutes)

• interview with parents (or adult client),
• observation of the child during free play,
• collection of anamnestic data,
• review of previous reports and recommendations,
• specifying the reason for the examination (the so-called wording of the order).

At this stage, if no further diagnosis is needed, another form of care may be recommended (e.g. neurology, speech therapy, child psychiatry...).

2. Diagnostic examination (1-5 hours)

• takes place in one to three meetings,
• we use psychodiagnostic tests focused on: overall level of mental abilities, memory and ability to learn, attention and ability to concentrate, language skills (comprehension, expression, speech development), visuomotor skills (e.g. drawing, composition, eye-hand coordination), emotional experience, personality, relationships and behavior
• we always adapt the selection of methods to the specific problems of a child or an adult client.

After the diagnosis, the psychologist prepares a detailed report - usually in the scope of several hours of professional work.

3. Final announcement of results (60 minutes)

• forwarding the message,
• comprehensible interpretation of the results,
• recommendations for next steps (therapy, school, approach in the family, other expertise),
• the possibility of arranging a follow-up consultation after 3-12 months.

What can you contact us about?

Diagnosis:

• Developmental diagnostics for children under 3.5 years of age – e.g. in case of delayed speech development, communication disorders, suspected developmental disorders
• Complex psychological examinations – focused on developmental dysphasia, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), ADHD, intellectual disorders, mood disorders, etc.
• Neuropsychological diagnosis – we monitor the functioning of memory, attention, language skills and other cognitive functions (suitable, for example, after injuries, when brain function is suspected, in children with developmental difficulties).
• Targeted examinations and checks – e.g. when the condition changes, after therapy or when requesting a re-evaluation of the recommendation.

Therapeutic care:

Psychotherapy is not just "telling". It is a professional process that can lead to deeper change – self-understanding, relief, finding strength and new strategies.

At Ponseti Clinic we offer:

• Individual psychotherapy for adults (in Gestalt modality),
• Family therapy – if problems interfere with relationship dynamics,
• Supportive therapy and crisis intervention - in currently challenging situations (breakup, exhaustion, diagnosis of a child, etc.),
• Counseling care – when you need to discuss the situation once and get an expert opinion.

Note: we do not yet offer psychotherapy to children under the age of 15.

How to order?

It is possible to book an initial session through the reception. We recommend preparing beforehand:

• the age of the child (or information on whether the client is an adult),
• a brief description of the problem,
• interest in a specific type of service (e.g. diagnostics, therapy, counseling),
• and if possible also previous reports from psychologists, speech therapists, schools or doctors.

Examinations and therapy take place in a pleasant environment with an emphasis on calmness, respect and an individual approach. The psychologist plans his work in such a way that he has enough time both for the client and for the processing of conclusions and recommendations.

Why here?

Clinical psychology at the Ponseti Clinic is part of interdisciplinary cooperation – we have physiotherapists, speech therapists, doctors and other specialists in the team. Thanks to this, we look at the client comprehensively - we do not separate the psyche from the body, nor the child from his family.

We emphasize:

• human approach and trust,
• professional accuracy and transparent communication,
• support not only for the child, but also for his parents.

Do you feel like you need help but don't know where to start?

Get in touch with us. One initial meeting can be the first step – sometimes that brings the most relief.

We are Ponseti Clinic. We give strength to rise.