Private, confidential psycho-educational evaluations that look past the label to the child you actually know — to understand how they learn and what they need to thrive.
A private evaluation, on your terms — outside the school and insurance systems.
Maybe you've read an assessment that doesn't sound like the child you know — one that sorted them into a category, or missed the parts that make them them. Or maybe you simply want answers of your own: a thorough, private look at how your child learns, kept outside insurance systems and the school until you chose to share.
Either way, you're looking for two things at once: expertise that carries real weight, and someone who will take the time to understand your child as an individual.
That's the work I do. You're in the right place.
Why families come to me.
I'm a Licensed Educational Psychologist and a Board Certified Diplomate in School Neuropsychology, fully independent of any school district — with more than two decades of practice and over 500 evaluations behind every conclusion.
Every evaluation starts from your specific child — their strengths, their struggles, and the full picture behind them. When a diagnosis is part of the answer, it's made carefully and accurately using multiple sources of data, never just boxes checked in a hurry.
This is a personal, confidential process — not an assembly line. You know your child better than anyone, and your perspective is part of the work from our first conversation. Children tend to feel at ease with me; the process is thorough and not something to fear.
About Molly
I got into this work to uncover what holds a student back from accessing their education — and from the joy of learning and growing. Through all of it, I try never to lose sight of what it's like to be in the shoes of a frustrated student, or a worried parent.
For more than two decades I've evaluated, counseled, and supported students across every kind of setting — completing well over 500 evaluations — and trained other psychologists in how to do the work well. Above all, I'm on the child's side.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences — the state body that licenses educational psychologists — has retained me as an expert consultant on professional standards. I bring the same rigor to every evaluation.
The Evaluation
A psycho-educational evaluation is a comprehensive, standardized assessment of how your child learns. It looks deeply at their history, how they think, learn, act and relate, to understand not just what is happening, but why.
Conducted privately, by a licensed professional independent of your school district, it gives you a clear, usable picture of your child — and, when it's warranted, an accurate diagnosis made with care.
We start with you.
A first conversation about your child and your concerns — what you're seeing, and what you're hoping to better understand.
A thorough, individualized assessment.
I evaluate your child directly, drawing on school neuropsychology to understand not just what is happening, but why.
A clear, usable report.
You receive a written evaluation you can actually understand and use — with findings and recommendations grounded in who your child is.
I'm available to explain it.
I'll walk you through the results, and I can consult further with you, the school, and other providers if your situation calls for it.
Molly is highly gifted, and has helped two of our children over the years. Much of their success we can link back to her work. Highly recommended.
When our daughter's school district refused to provide her with reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services per her IEP, we went through every channel to remedy the situation. We found oursevles in a litigation with the district, at which time we requested an independent evaluation, which led us to Molly Harrison.
Working with Molly was a very positive experience for our family. Having been treated so poorly by the district, we were reluctant about another evaluation. But Molly made us feel comfortable right away. She listened to our concerns and treated my daugther with kindness and respect. Whereas our concerns had been dismissed by the IEP team at the school, Molly took them very seriously. It was a very affirming experience.
I think what stood out most to me, as a parent, is how Molly really saw my daughter. She recognized the nuances in her processing issues that the evaluator at the district dismissed as problems with focus. Molly's thoroughness and attention to detail resulted in a report that was a true reflection of my daughter, however inconvenient that was to the district.
I would most definitely recommend Molly to any family that is looking for an independent evaluation so that they can better understand their child or if, like my family, they feel that their school district is not acting in their child's best interest. Our situation was time-sensitive, and she was able to see us right away. I appreciated her patience, as well as the fact that she communicated with us throughout the process. She completed a fairly robust report in a short time, so that it would not delay our litigation with the school district. Molly's evaluation definitely contributed to the positive outcome of our case, which helped our daughter get the services she was entitled to.
As a parent, it was heartbreaking to watch my daughter struggle while being told by the school district that her challenges weren’t “significant enough” to qualify for an IEP. Trusting my instincts, I sought an independent evaluation, and it was one of the best decisions I could have made.
From the very beginning, Molly made us feel heard, supported, and understood. She listened with compassion, answered my questions honestly, and treated my daughter with incredible patience and kindness. She created a safe, welcoming environment where my daughter felt comfortable being herself.
I wholeheartedly recommend Molly to any family looking for answers and support. Her genuine care, warmth, and dedication make an overwhelming process feel hopeful, and I will always be grateful for the difference she made in our lives.
After years of wondering about our teen’s neurotype, we sought an independent evaluation with Molly Harrison when our child was in the 8th grade. Molly's evaluation process is thorough and yet our child was always at ease and relaxed with her (a somewhat rare occurrence). She was positive, patient, and welcoming throughout each of our interactions. Molly offered support to us as parents in understanding what the evaluation process identified, as well as advice for further guidance with neurodivergence and understanding our child’s areas of strength and challenges. Molly's background as a credentialed school psychologist was incredibly valuable as well. She helped us be informed so that we could advocate for child’s needs in academic settings. We have recommended her to friends seeking clarity and a better understanding of their child’s neurotype with the knowledge that her expertise and compassion are a unique gift to the entire family.
I was looking for an experienced licensed educational psychologist. I selected Molly Harrison because she has decades of experience in education and has worked with children and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder. My adult son suffers from severe depression and, anxiety. He struggles with daily living activities, communication, social norms and maintaining a job. Working with Molly was a wonderful experience; we absolutely felt heard and understood during the evaluation process. I was especially impressed by Molly's kind and thoughtful approach when interviewing and testing my son. I would highly recommend Molly to other families because she is thorough and communicates each step of the process.
The first step is a short, secure intake form. It tells me about your child and your situation, so our first conversation can start from a real understanding — not a blank page.
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