Comprehensive, integrative psychiatric assessments for adolescents and young adults with complex mental health problems.
The Krasner Adolescent Institute (KAI) is now part of The Krasner Institute, bringing the same rigorous, interdisciplinary assessment program under one roof. Families and clinicians who know us as KAI will find the same team, same approach, and same commitment to the kids who need it most.
What We Do
Our approach isn’t a longer version of a standard assessment. It’s a fundamentally different one. Our interdisciplinary assessment program is for adolescents and young adults with complex psychiatric presentations that may have eluded conventional evaluation and treatment. We begin by tracing the full history of a young person’s mental health, immersing ourselves in their family system, and bringing together a team of eight specialists who meet twice weekly to build a shared, nuanced picture of who this person is and what they need. The result is a comprehensive, integrated report with a treatment plan that doesn’t just point in a direction — it names specific clinicians, makes the calls, and follows up to make sure the plan holds.
The Six-Week Program
Our program brings together eight specialists, each assessing a different dimension of the young person’s life. Their findings culminate in a comprehensive, integrated report with a clear path forward.
Psychosocial Assessment and Data Gathering
Our Director of Client Experience meets individually with each client and coordinates with the family to gather prior records, previous assessments, and documentation from past treatment providers. This historical timeline anchors everything that follows.
Educational Assessment
Our Educational Liaison reviews school records, IEPs, 504 plans, and the history of academic and social-emotional functioning. In some cases, education consultants join the team to assist with placement recommendations.
Individual Assessment
Our Individual Therapist serves as the bridge between The Krasner Institute and the community-based treatment team, ensuring continuity of care and informing our recommendations for ongoing treatment.
Neuropsychological Assessment
Our Chief Psychologist determines which cognitive and social-emotional assessments to conduct, integrates previous testing, and produces a report that links observable clinical phenomena to brain function.
Family Assessment
We assess parenting, family dynamics, and each parent individually — including a home visit. Because teens live in families, family function is central to understanding adolescent symptoms.
Art Assessment
Where appropriate, our Art Therapist and Music Therapist use creative mediums to offer another layer of assessment.
Team Collaboration
The full team meets twice weekly throughout the program. At the conclusion of the assessment, we host a collaborative meeting with the family and client and, when possible, the referring clinician, to review findings, explain the diagnostic impression, and map next steps.
Case Management
Before, during, and after the assessment, our case management team organizes collateral information, coordinates referrals to specific, known experts, and follows up to ensure the treatment plan is implemented with fidelity.
How Our Assessment is Different
Conventional Assessment
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Psychiatry
Conventional Assessment
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Psychology
Conventional Assessment
Standard psychological assessment using standardized psychometric assessments that generate a report focusing on cognitive ability without a detailed understanding of the relationship between cognitive and social/emotional findings. Academic testing sometimes included.
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Neuropsychological assessment enriched by twice weekly interdisciplinary rounds, a detailed social and emotional timeline, detailed educational information, an art therapy assessment, discussions with previous assessors, review of previous records gathered by our case manager, projective measures, educational testing, and an integrated report.
Social Work
Conventional Assessment
Individual social work therapist responsible for contacting previous therapists, programs; individual social work therapist responsible for meeting with the teen and family without support.
The Krasner Institute Assessment
A team of two LCSWs work collaboratively to collect and organize previous records and speak with prior treatment teams utilizing a standardized approach. The team assesses the individual patient from a social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural standpoint. The data they collect is then shared with the team during twice weekly interdisciplinary rounds.
Education
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Our educational expert conducts a detailed assessment of previous school records including IEP, 504 plans as well as report cards. Because the interface between social/emotional and cognitive function is so important for teens, we prioritize a deeper dive into the educational backgrounds of our clients. In certain cases, education consultants join our team and assist with placement in higher levels of care, when appropriate.
The arts
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Because artistic expression is an important avenue for teens, we prioritize an art therapy assessment with an expert in the field.
Family
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Because teens live in families and because families constitute the primary environment in which teens live and learn, we focus on family-based assessments. Each family engages a parenting assessment, and each parent engages a brief psychiatric evaluation as part of the cumulative family-based assessment. Family assessments entail a home visit, and the information gathered is synthesized in a report that synergistically informs the additional assessments.
Executive Summary
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
Because our interdisciplinary team of experts generate discrete reports, the team leader generates an executive summary that integrates findings and recommendations into a single document that serves to organize and mobilize teens and families into next steps.
Diagnostic Meeting
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
At the conclusion of the interdisciplinary assessment procedure the team hosts a supportive meeting for teens and families to gain insight into their respective diagnoses and begin to think about engaging treatment. When possible, outpatient clinicians and referents are invited to the meeting.
Deliverable
Conventional Assessment
Psychological report
The Krasner Institute Assessment
The Krasner Institute Assessment deliverable is an impressive compendium of individual reports, psycho-education, resources, and specific treatment plans. Instead of saying ‘patient should engage in psychotherapy’ the team will identify specific therapists, speak with them prior to referral, and ensure that the recommendations are followed.
Post Assessment Case Management
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
All of our cases will be prospectively followed, and our case manager will ensure that the treatment plan is followed up with fidelity by meeting with the client and calling the receiving clinician to ensure adherence. When indicated, our case management can coordinate referrals for a higher level of care.
Access to experts
Conventional Assessment
None
The Krasner Institute Assessment
We have aggregated a loose affiliation of internationally renowned mental health experts capable of consulting on diagnostic procedures as well as receiving clients as referrers.