★ South Bay’s Tween & Teen Specialist ★
Jessica Craig Psych Testing
Jessica Craig, LEP #4701 · PPS Credential · M.A. Clinical Psychology · M.Ed.
Real therapy. In-depth assessments. Evidence-based approaches. Someone who truly gets tweens and teens.
I’m Jessica Craig, a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #4701) specializing in neurodiversity-affirming therapy and evaluations for tweens, teens, and adults across the South Bay. My practice serves families in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and El Segundo.
I’m not just an evaluator who also does therapy. I am a fully trained clinician with years of experience conducting comprehensive assessments and providing mental health therapy in local high schools and middle schools. I’ve worked with kids and families with vastly different needs, from vastly different backgrounds — and what that experience has taught me is that no two children are alike. Autism, ADHD, learning differences, and anxiety present differently in every child, and they impact every part of a young person’s life: academically, socially, emotionally, in their self-esteem, and in their family relationships.
My evaluations are thorough, individualized, and designed to capture the full picture of how a child or adult learns, thinks, and functions. I conduct cognitive, academic, neurodevelopmental, adaptive, and mental health assessments — identifying not just areas of difficulty, but strengths, resilience, and untapped potential. Whether the question involves dyslexia, dysgraphia, auditory processing, ADHD, autism, mood disorders, or giftedness, I use current, validated instruments to build a clear, actionable profile that families and school teams can actually use.
I also know this: just when we think we finally understand our kids, they change again — leaving us desperate to help but unsure how. Children and teens don’t always wear their struggles on their sleeves. They mask. They push through. They don’t always have the language to describe the complex feelings they’re experiencing, and they rarely ask for help — even when they need it most.
- ✓ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — identifying and reframing unhelpful thought patterns, building coping skills, and creating lasting behavioral change
- ✓ Psychodynamic therapy — exploring the deeper patterns and underlying experiences that shape how we feel and relate to others
- ✓ Mindfulness-based techniques — grounding, present-moment awareness, and emotion regulation skills that teens and adults can actually use
- ✓ Strength-based & neurodiversity-affirming — meeting every client where they are, honoring their unique wiring
- ✓ Collaborative & goal-oriented — therapy is a partnership; we work together to understand what isn’t working and build practical strategies for change
- ✓ Psychoeducational evaluations
- ✓ ADHD & executive function assessment
- ✓ Autism evaluation (ADOS-2, GARS-3, CARS-2)
- ✓ ERMHS evaluations
- ✓ Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)
- ✓ Second opinion evaluations
- ✓ School district contracting
Jessica Craig, LEP #4701
Finally, a psychologist who
gets your kid.
Comprehensive psychological testing, therapy, and parent support for tweens, teens, and adults in Hermosa Beach and the South Bay. Specializing in ADHD, autism, school refusal, high-masking profiles, and the complicated emotional world of adolescence.
LEP #4701 · PPS Credential
Expert support for every stage of growing up
I specialize in the developmental window where challenges often first emerge — and where early, accurate assessment changes outcomes for life.
Tweens
Ages 9–12The tween years bring big social, emotional, and academic shifts. I help identify why school is harder than it should be, why friendships feel confusing, or why anxiety is showing up — before middle school magnifies everything.
Teenagers
Ages 13–18+High school pressure, identity questions, anxiety, and learning differences don’t wait. Whether your teen is struggling academically, socially, or emotionally — I provide clear answers and real support.
Young Adults & Adults
18+Many adults reach adulthood without ever receiving an accurate diagnosis. Late-identified ADHD and autism, life transitions, work and relationship challenges — I offer therapy and evaluation for adults ready for clarity.
Therapy for tweens, teens, adults & couples
With a clinical background spanning the full spectrum of mental health, I offer therapy that goes beyond surface coping strategies — grounded in real clinical depth and genuine understanding of adolescent development and adult life.
Anxiety & Worry
School anxiety, social anxiety, perfectionism, OCD tendencies, and generalized worry — including avoidance patterns that look like “not caring” but are really overwhelm.
Depression & Low Mood
Teen depression often looks different than adults expect. I help identify what’s underneath — and provide support that actually connects with how adolescents experience their inner world.
ADHD & Executive Function
Therapy for teens who have a diagnosis but still struggle with motivation, organization, time blindness, emotional regulation, and the social fallout of ADHD.
Social Struggles & Peer Relationships
Friendship difficulties, social rejection, loneliness, bullying, and the particular social complexity that comes with being neurodivergent in a neurotypical school environment.
Life Transitions
Divorce, school changes, college transitions, identity questions, grief, and family stress — the disruptions that knock kids and teens off course when they’re already navigating development.
Autism & Neurodiversity Support
Therapy that truly understands neurodivergent experience — masking fatigue, sensory overwhelm, executive function, and the emotional work of navigating a world not designed for you.
School Refusal & School Avoidance
School refusal is not defiance — it’s anxiety, overwhelm, or an unmet need that has reached a tipping point. I specialize in helping tweens and teens who are struggling to get through the school door, whether it’s morning panic, physical symptoms, or complete shutdown.
- ✓ Anxiety-based school avoidance
- ✓ Morning dread, panic & physical symptoms
- ✓ Social anxiety & peer struggles at school
- ✓ Gradual return-to-school planning
- ✓ Coordination with schools & IEP teams
- ✓ In-home sessions available for South Bay families when school feels too far
High-Performing & High-Masking Profiles
These are the kids — and adults — who look fine from the outside. Good grades (or at least passing). Functioning socially. Nobody suspects a thing. But underneath, they are exhausted from the effort of holding it all together. Masking is a survival strategy, and it costs a tremendous amount.
I specialize in identifying and supporting high-masking ADHD and autism — in tweens, teens, and adults who have been told they’re “too smart” to have ADHD, “too social” to be autistic, or simply “fine.” You are not fine if you’re burning out to appear fine.
- ✓ Girls & women with undiagnosed ADHD or autism
- ✓ High achievers who crash at home
- ✓ Twice-exceptional (2e) profiles
- ✓ Autistic burnout & masking fatigue
- ✓ “Too high-functioning” for support — but still struggling
- ✓ Late diagnosis evaluation & identity support
High-Functioning Adults — Something Still Feels Missing
You have the career, the relationship, the life that looks good from the outside. You’re capable, driven, and by most measures — successful. And yet there’s a quiet, persistent feeling that something isn’t quite right. A restlessness. A sense that you’re going through the motions. A gap between who you present to the world and how you actually feel inside.
This is more common than you think — and it’s exactly what therapy can help with. Together we explore what’s underneath the high-functioning exterior: unmet needs, old patterns, identity questions, burnout disguised as busyness, or a life that was built around what you should want rather than what you actually do. Many of my adult clients discover late-identified ADHD or autism is part of the picture — a missing piece that finally explains a lifetime of quietly working harder than everyone else just to keep up.
- ✓ Feeling successful but unfulfilled
- ✓ Anxiety or perfectionism masked as productivity
- ✓ Relationships that feel surface-level or disconnected
- ✓ Burnout, numbness, or a quiet loss of joy
- ✓ Imposter syndrome & chronic self-doubt
- ✓ “I should be happy — so why aren’t I?”
- ✓ Late-diagnosed ADHD or autism in adults
Not a diagnosis factory. A real relationship with someone who genuinely cares.
There’s a difference between getting a report and getting support. I built my practice around being the kind of psychologist I’d want for my own kids — someone who knows your family, answers the phone, and is still there after the paperwork is signed.
Therapy That Works on Your Terms
There is no one-size-fits-all timeline for getting help. Some people need focused, short-term work to find real, actionable solutions and get unstuck fast. Others benefit from longer-term exploration — going deeper into patterns, history, and identity. And some just need occasional booster sessions to stay on track between bigger life moments.
I work with you to figure out what actually fits your life, your goals, and your pace:
- ✓ Short-term / solution-focused — practical tools, clear goals, and real results in fewer sessions
- ✓ Long-term / exploratory — deeper work on patterns, relationships, identity, and underlying needs
- ✓ As-needed booster sessions — check back in during transitions, stressful seasons, or whenever support would help
Not sure what you need? That’s okay — we figure it out together.
Personalized, Tailored Care
Every child, teen, and adult I work with gets care that is built around them — not a template. I take time to understand the whole person: their strengths, their story, their family context, and what they actually need. My goal is never just to name what’s wrong. It’s to understand who you are and help you build a life that works for your unique brain and circumstances.
Real Relationships — I’m Always a Phone Call Away
You won’t get lost in a big group practice here. When you work with me, you work with me — directly, consistently, from the first conversation to the last follow-up. I pick up the phone. I respond to questions. I show up at IEP meetings. This is how I believe care should work, and it’s what sets a private practice apart from a clinic where you’re just a file.
Personalized Assessment Packages for Parents
Not sure what your child needs? I offer customized parent consulting & counseling packages that wrap around the full assessment journey:
- ✓ Before: Pre-assessment consultation — understanding your concerns, what to expect, and how to prepare your child
- ✓ During: Ongoing parent check-ins and support while assessment is in progress
- ✓ After: Results walkthrough, IEP advocacy coaching, school communication support, and follow-up counseling
Packages are tailored to what your family actually needs — ask about options during your free consultation.
Available to Start Next Week
No months-long waiting lists. When your child or teen needs support, now matters. I maintain availability so new clients can typically be seen within a week of their initial consultation. Reach out today and we can often get started right away.
Competitive Pricing & Flexible Payment Options
I offer competitive rates for the South Bay and am committed to making quality care accessible.
- ✓ Superbills provided for out-of-network insurance reimbursement
- ✓ Sliding scale fees available for qualified individuals
- ✓ Transparent pricing — no surprises
Contact me to discuss fees and sliding scale eligibility during your free 15-minute consultation.
Just Call — Seriously
Not sure if I’m the right fit? Not sure what your child needs? Just call. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation where we can talk through your concerns and figure out the best path forward together — no pressure, no commitment.
📞 (424) 254-6767ADHD & Autism — assessment and support that actually fits
I understand neurodivergent profiles from the inside out — as a clinician, a school psychologist, and a South Bay parent who navigated the IEP process firsthand.
ADHD Evaluation & Support
Comprehensive ADHD assessment for tweens, teens, and adults — including inattentive presentations that are frequently missed, especially in girls. Testing covers attention, executive function, processing speed, and emotional regulation.
- Inattentive ADHD
- Combined Type
- Executive Dysfunction
- Emotional Dysregulation
- School Accommodations
- 504 Plans & IEPs
Autism Evaluation & Support
Gold-standard autism assessment using ADOS-2 and comprehensive behavioral measures. I specialize in identifying autism in adolescents and adults — including those who have been missed, misdiagnosed, or are high-masking.
- Adolescent Autism
- Adult Autism
- High-Masking Profiles
- ASD + ADHD
- ADOS-2 Assessment
- Second Opinions
Support for the parents doing it all
Parenting a struggling child is one of the hardest things there is — especially when you’re fighting for answers, navigating school systems, or watching your child slip away. I offer counseling specifically for parents.
IEP Navigation
Understanding evaluations, advocating in IEP meetings, and knowing your child’s rights under IDEA and Section 504.
Child Addiction & Risky Behavior
When your teen is using substances, engaging in risky behavior, or you’re seeing warning signs — evidence-based parent support and guidance.
Parenting a Neurodivergent Child
Practical strategies and emotional support for parents raising kids with ADHD, autism, learning differences, or complex profiles.
Parenting Stress & Burnout
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Support for parents experiencing burnout, compassion fatigue, or overwhelm.
School Functioning Concerns
When something is clearly wrong at school but no one can explain it — I help parents understand what’s happening and what to do.
Family Communication
Improving connection with your teen, navigating high conflict, and rebuilding communication that actually works.
Gold-standard psychological testing
My evaluations go beyond a simple diagnosis. You’ll receive a comprehensive report that explains your child’s unique profile, informs the IEP team, and gives you a roadmap for support.
Psychoeducational Evaluation
Full assessment of cognitive ability, academic achievement, processing skills, and social-emotional functioning to identify learning disabilities, ADHD, and academic needs.
Autism Evaluation (ASD)
Comprehensive autism assessment using ADOS-2, GARS-3, CARS-2, and behavior rating scales. I specialize in adolescent and adult presentations including high-masking profiles.
ADHD & Executive Function
Multi-informant ADHD assessment including cognitive testing, rating scales, and clinical interview. Produces documentation for school accommodations, 504 plans, and IEPs.
ERMHS Evaluation
Educationally Related Mental Health Services evaluations to document when mental health, behavioral, or emotional needs are impacting a student’s access to education.
Second Opinion Evaluations
If you’ve received a report you disagree with or need independent review of a school district assessment, I provide thorough, objective second opinions.
School District Contracting
I contract with South Bay school districts and virtual academies for independent assessments, triennial evaluations, and ERMHS evaluations.
Three roles. One integrated perspective.
My background is unusual — and that depth directly benefits the families I serve.
Comprehensive Assessment Experience
As a credentialed school psychologist with a PPS credential, I have conducted hundreds of psychoeducational evaluations for school districts — giving me deep familiarity with how schools use assessment data, what IEP teams need, and how to write reports that drive real decisions.
School-Based Mental Health
I have worked as an ERMHS counselor — a school-based mental health therapist for students whose mental health, neurodevelopmental, or behavioral needs impact their access to education under IDEA. This role gives me direct insight into how mental health intersects with school placement and services.
Full Spectrum Clinical Depth
Before focusing on school psychology, I trained and worked as a clinical therapist — spanning anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, addiction, and complex presentations. That clinical foundation shapes every evaluation and every therapy relationship.
The Dual Perspective
My own children attended South Bay public schools and navigated the IEP process. I know what it feels like to sit across from a school team and try to advocate for your child. That experience — parent and professional — shapes every conversation I have with families.
Support beyond adolescence
Many adults arrive at my practice after years of wondering — about their attention, their relationships, their sense of being “different.” I offer evaluation and therapy for adults ready for real answers.
Adult ADHD Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment for adults who’ve always struggled but never received a formal diagnosis. Includes documentation for workplace accommodations and medication management.
Adult Autism Evaluation
Late-identified autism is more common than people realize — especially in women and high-masking individuals. I provide thorough, compassionate adult autism assessments.
Individual & Couples Therapy
Therapy for adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the aftermath of raising children through difficult years.
Conditions & concerns I work with
From the Blog
Expert guidance for South Bay families navigating evaluations, IEPs, ADHD, and autism
When the Light Dims: The Confident Autistic Kid Who Disappears at Puberty
Why your creative, outgoing child turns inward and how to stay connected.
Autism & NeurodiversityWhy Your Child Walks the Perimeter at Recess
Recognizing the subtle signs of autism on the playground.
ADHD & Learning DifferencesWhy Your Bright Kid Can’t Write That Essay
Understanding why high-IQ kids struggle with open-ended writing.
EvaluationsWhat to Expect During a Psychoeducational Evaluation
A guide for South Bay parents on the testing process and timeline.
School ServicesIEP vs. 504 Plan: Which Does My Child Need?
Key differences, eligibility, and which option fits your child.
ADHDADHD in Girls: Why It’s Often Missed
Why ADHD presents differently in girls and the signs often overlooked.
EvaluationsUnderstanding Your Child’s Evaluation Results
A parent-friendly guide to test scores, percentiles, and what they mean.
AutismAutistic Masking and Burnout: The Hidden Cost
Why many autistic individuals learn to hide their differences.
Mental HealthThe Danger of Instagram ADHD & Autism Assessments
Why social media quizzes can be harmful and why evaluation matters.
EvaluationsLEP vs. Neuropsychologist: Which Do You Need?
Which type of evaluation is right for your child’s needs.
Ready to take the first step?
Whether you’re looking for therapy for your teen, psychoeducational testing, an autism or ADHD evaluation, or support for yourself — reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. I serve Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, El Segundo, and the greater South Bay. Telehealth available throughout California.
Phone
(424) 254-6767Office
Hermosa Beach, CA
South Bay · In-Person & In-Home
Telehealth
Virtual therapy & testing throughout California
Service Area
Hermosa Beach · Manhattan Beach · Redondo Beach · Torrance · Palos Verdes · El Segundo
🎉 Free 15-min consultation — no pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation.