Opening Doors That Should Never Be Closed - A Partnership with The Family Psychology Place

Imagine being told help exists… but you can’t have it.

Not because you don’t qualify.
Not because you don’t need it.
But because you can’t afford the assessment that proves you do.

For many children, youth and families, this is where the system quietly stops working.

At Trellis, we see this gap every day. Psychological and psychoeducational assessments are often the key to accessing school supports, mental health care, funding and stable housing. Without them, people are left waiting while doors remain closed. With costs starting at more than $2,000, these assessments are simply out of reach for many families.

When Partnership Changes What’s Possible

That is where partnership makes a difference.

Through a collaboration between Trellis, The Family Psychology Place and the University of Calgary, psychological assessments are becoming accessible to people who would otherwise go without.

PhD students from the University of Calgary complete their practicum placements within Trellis programs. The Family Psychology Place provides expert supervision. Together, students and supervising psychologists work alongside Trellis clinicians to deliver assessments directly to the people we support.

As Dr. Cheryl Gilbert MacLeod, owner and senior psychologist at The Family Psychology Place, explains:

“…unfortunately, access to any services (school services or community services) requires a diagnostic label. Our team has been able to work with practicum students to develop their skills in assessment, to work with the counsellors, to help figure out what is going on so that we can open doors and help Trellis clients flourish.”

One Assessment Can Change a Life

The impact of this partnership is real and immediate.

One young person who had spent years in foster care, group care and supported housing was hospitalized multiple times due to significant mental health challenges. During one hospital stay, they were facing discharge with nowhere to go. Their previous housing placement was no longer available and without a formal diagnosis their options were limited.

A practicum student conducted a full psychoeducational assessment directly in the hospital across several sessions. With a formal diagnosis in place, this young person was able to access supportive housing tailored to their needs rather than being discharged into homelessness.

That single assessment changed the trajectory of their life.

Why Collaboration Matters

Access to mental health assessments sits at the intersection of health care, education and housing. When systems operate in isolation, people fall through the cracks. When sectors work together, real change becomes possible.

As Amelia Larson, Clinical Director at Trellis, shares:

“…complex social problems such as inequity to mental health and psychoeducational assessments need to be solved by nonprofit, profit sector and academia coming together and working in tandem to be able to really move the needle.”

Growing What Works Together

This partnership shows what is possible when organizations align around a shared commitment to access and dignity. It is not just about assessments. It is about opening doors, creating stability and giving people the opportunity to move forward.

Because when access meets expertise, lives change.