OUR STORY
Mind Matters began with a simple yet powerful vision:
To provide comprehensive psychological assessments and testing services that help children & families thrive.
Founded by Dr. Rebecca MurrayMetzger, our practice has grown to include offices in both San Francisco & Berkeley.
Our team consists of both Licensed Psychologists and Licensed Educational Psychologists, each bringing unique expertise while sharing our core commitment to understanding the whole child.
What sets us apart is our dedication to seeing beyond labels. We recognize each child has a unique cognitive and emotional profile with both strengths and challenges.
Our assessments aim to illuminate this complete picture, helping parents and educators understand not just where a child might be struggling, but why – and most importantly, how to support them effectively.
OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN
At Mind Matters, we believe an effective assessment requires looking at the whole child.
We consider cognitive abilities, academic skills, social-emotional functioning, and the environments where children learn and grow. We recognize each child has their own pattern of strengths and challenges. Some children may have differences in how they learn, focus, or process information – whether that's ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or other learning differences.
We don't view these as disorders, but as different ways that brains can function.
Our Collaborative
Approach to Assessment
We believe meaningful assessment is inherently collaborative. No single test, observation, or perspective can tell the complete story of a child's development and needs. Our process typically includes:
In-depth interviews with parents/caregivers to understand developmental history, concerns, and strengths observed at home, and unearth questions that family members have about the child
Standardized Questionnaires to provide another avenue for parent and teacher perspectives
Engaging assessment sessions where children work one-on-one with our clinicians, including direct testing and conversation about how they view themselves, and what they would like to know
Direct observation of the child in their learning environment when possible
Consultation with teachers to gain insight into classroom performance and social dynamics, and gather questions that the school team would like us to answer
Review of previous evaluations, medical records, and school reports
Throughout this process, we prioritize making children feel comfortable and understood.
For many children, testing sessions become positive experiences where they feel truly seen – sometimes for the first time – as we acknowledge both their struggles and their unique abilities.
The Mind Matters Difference
When we assess a child who struggles with reading, we're not just identifying a potential diagnosis.
We're uncovering how their brain processes language, what environmental factors might be helping or hindering, and what specific approaches will help them develop literacy skills while maintaining their confidence and love of learning.
→ Practical, Actionable Recommendations
A diagnosis alone rarely changes outcomes. That's why our reports go beyond identifying conditions to provide specific, practical recommendations for home, school, and therapeutic settings. We translate complex psychological findings into clear strategies that parents, teachers, and therapists can implement immediately.
→ Collaborative Team Approach
While your family works with one primary clinician, our psychologists meet regularly to discuss cases, share expertise, and learn from each other. This means your family benefits from our collective knowledge, not just one provider's perspective.
As a clinic, we're committed to staying current with the latest research and best practices. We regularly seek out consultation with specialists and allied professionals to enhance our understanding of complex cases.
→ Comprehensive & Individualized Evaluations
No two evaluations at Mind Matters are exactly alike. We start by carefully identifying the specific questions that parents, teachers, and even the children themselves have about learning and development. We tailor our assessment approach to address these questions, selecting from a wide range of assessment tools to create a complete picture of your child's cognitive profile, academic skills, social-emotional functioning, and learning processes. Rather than applying a standard battery of tests, we customize our approach to uncover what's most important for understanding your unique child.
→ Ongoing Support & Advocacy
Our relationship with families often extends beyond the evaluation itself.
We can attend IEP meetings, consult with schools about appropriate accommodations, connect you with specialized tutors and therapists, and provide follow-up parent consultations to help you navigate next steps.
→ Clear Communication
We believe in making psychological concepts accessible. Our clinicians explain assessment results in straightforward language, answer your questions thoroughly, and ensure you understand both the "what" and the "why" behind our findings. Our reports are comprehensive yet readable, designed to be useful tools for both families and educators.
→ Child-Centered Feedback
Another aspect that sets us apart is our commitment to helping children understand themselves. We develop illustrated stories for younger children and thoughtful letters for teens, then meet with them personally to explain their unique profile of strengths and challenges.
This child-centered approach helps build self-awareness, self-advocacy skills, and a positive sense of identity. Many children tell us that finally understanding how their mind works brings tremendous relief and helps them feel more confident at school and home.
Our Commitment to Equity & Inclusion
We recognize that traditional psychological assessment often fails to account for cultural differences, linguistic diversity, and socioeconomic factors. At Mind Matters, we actively work to address these biases through:
Culturally responsive assessment practices that consider a child's background and experiences
Careful selection of assessment tools that have been validated with diverse populations
Contextual interpretation that considers cultural factors when analyzing results
Flexible approaches for bilingual children and English language learners
We believe every child deserves to be understood accurately and supported effectively, regardless of their background or identity. Our clinicians continuously educate themselves on issues of bias in testing and strive to provide equitable services to all families.
Our Neurodiversity-Informed Perspective
As part of our inclusive approach, we recognize and respect neurodiversity – the natural variation in how human brains work. Rather than viewing conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, or autism solely as deficits, we acknowledge the unique perspectives and abilities that can come with these different brain styles.
This perspective allows us to build upon strengths while addressing challenges, helping children develop effective strategies that work with, rather than against, their natural thinking styles. We find this balanced approach leads to better outcomes and supports children's self-esteem and confidence.
Take the first step toward growth.
We're here to make the process as clear and supportive as possible.