PATHFINDER CLINIC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• The structure of our assessments has changed to accommodate COVID-19 safety measures, with all parent interview, consultation, and feedback meetings done via phone instead of in person.
• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, for all in-person assessments, we ask that only one parent/guardian accompany a child to the office. Please leave siblings and other family members at home unless absolutely unavoidable. Masks are no longer required, but still strongly recommended in our office, especially for those who are immunocompromised.

• Dr. Gibbins is currently providing ASD and Combined (ASD and Psychoeducational) assessments, and the occasional Psychoeducational assessment.
• Dr. Sachdeva is currently providing Psychoeducational assessments, ASD assessments, and Combined (ASD & Psychoeducational) assessments.
• To add your child to our wait list, please provide the information requested at the end of the FAQ.

What assessments does the Pathfinder Clinic offer?

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment
• Psychoeducational (PsychEd) assessment
• Combined Autism and Psychoeducational assessment
• Adaptive Functioning assessment

Does the Pathfinder Clinic offer counseling services?

• Not at this time. As there is a shortage of specialists who do ASD assessment in BC, our clinic focuses solely on assessment.

How much does an assessment cost?

• Note that the BC government requires that all children under 6 need a pediatric consultation report and a Speech Language Pathology (SLP) assessment report in order to complete an ASD assessment. We do not provide these services, you must see these specialists separately and have them forward their reports to our office.
  Pricing as of January 1, 2025
  • An ASD assessment for children 3 and under costs $2750.
  • An ASD assessment for children 4 and older costs $3125.
  • A Psychoeducational assessment for children 15 and under costs $3375.
  • A Psychoeducational assessment for children 16 and over costs $3875.
  • A Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment 15 and under costs $4937.50.
  • A Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment 16 and older costs $5437.50.
  • An Adaptive Functioning assessment costs $1125.
  • An Adaptive Functioning assessment Add-On (to a Psychoeducational assessment) costs $375
  • A one hour consultation (by phone or in-person) costs $250.
  • A Disability Tax Credit form (DTC) costs $125
  • A Disability Tax Credit form (DTC) - if over 1 year since we have seen the patient costs $250
  • Confirmation of Previous Diagnosis (From Out-Of-Province) costs $125-$250
  • A one hour feedback meeting is included in all ASD and Psychoeducational assessments at no additional cost. This usually takes place roughly 5 weeks after the final assessment appointment.

Why is another clinic offering assessments at a drastically different price?

• Some larger clinics have a team of specialists on staff. If your child is under 6, there are certain requirements to complete an ASD assessment, including seeing a pediatrician and a speech language pathologist (SLP).
• These clinics may be including things like a pediatric consultation, SLP assessment, or other services such as a consultation with an Occupational Therapist (OT). If your child has already seen these specialists, let the clinic know and see if that changes the price that they quote to you. There is no need to pay for the same service twice.
• Usually, pediatric consultation reports and SLP assessments are considered valid if done within 18 months of an ASD assessment. If your child will be under 6, and your report will be more than 18 months old at the time of assessment, your child may need a reassessment by the specialist.
• Our clinic is quite small, and we do not have these specialists in-house, so we do not offer these services.

What does an assessment look like?

• Note: For all assessments that contain both an in-person direct assessment and a parent interview, either portion may take place first, depending on the schedule and patient availability.
• Note: Dr. Sachdeva sometimes does one of the two sessions of a psychoeducational assessment using a virtual link, and the other session in-person. She may also do the full assessment in person for younger children, or those whose parents feel they would perform best doing the sessions in person.

• An ASD assessment for children 3 and under is used to determine if a child meets the requirements for a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment. If they meet the requirements for an ASD diagnosis, we will also provide the diagnosis forms and information on how to submit an application for ASD funding from MCFD.
  • There are strict guidelines that must be followed in an ASD assessment. An ADOS (direct assessment of the child in-person) and an ADIR (parent interview) must be performed. There are also questionnaires sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • For all children under 6, a report from a pediatrician and one from an SLP are required in order to complete a diagnosis. These services are not provided in our clinic, you must seek out these professionals separately, and ask them to forward their reports to our office.
  • For children in this age group, the ADOS is primarily play-based. There is some cognitive testing to determine if a global developmental delay is present.

• An ASD assessment for children 4-5 is used to determine if a child meets the requirements for a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.
  • There will be one-two hour in-person session with the child, followed by a two-hour parent interview via phone.
  • There is usually a cognitive component to an ASD assessment in this age group to determine if a global developmental delay is present. A separate Psychoeducational assessment is highly unlikely to be necessary at this age.
  • For all children under 6, a report from a pediatrician and one from an SLP are required in order to complete a diagnosis. These services are not provided in our clinic, you must seek out these professionals separately, and ask them to forward their reports to our office.
  • There are strict guidelines that must be followed in an ASD assessment. An ADOS (direct assessment of the child in-person) and an ADIR (parent interview) must be performed. There are also questionnaires sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment. If they meet the requirements for an ASD diagnosis, we will also provide the diagnosis forms and information on how to submit an application for ASD funding from MCFD.

• An ASD assessment for children 6 and older is used to determine if a child meets the requirements for a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.
  • There will be one two-hour in-person session with the child, followed by a two-hour parent interview via phone.
  • Once a child turns 6, pediatric and SLP reports are no longer necessary to complete a diagnosis.
  • There are strict guidelines that must be followed in an ASD assessment. An ADOS (direct assessment of the child in-person) and an ADIR (parent interview) must be performed. There are also questionnaires sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment. If they meet the requirements for an ASD diagnosis, we will also provide the diagnosis forms and information on how to submit an application for ASD funding from MCFD.
  • Cognitive testing is not included in the usual process of an ASD assessment over 6, so if your child's current academic functioning is a concern, you may wish to consider a combined assessment.

• A Psychoeducational assessment for children 15 and under
  • A Psychoeducational assessment examines all areas of academic functioning of a child.
  • ADHD, learning disorders, and giftedness may be diagnosed in this assessment, and the results may be used to set up an Individual Education Plan (IEP) at the child’s school.
  • For children 15 and under, this takes place in two in-person sessions, two hours each, either on the same day with an hour break for lunch, or on two separate days.  If Dr. Sachdeva is administering the assessment, one of the sessions may be done using a virtual health video call, while the other session will be in person.
  • There will also be a one hour parent interview via phone.
  • Questionnaires will be sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment.

• A Psychoeducational assessment for children 16 and over
  • A PsychEd assessment examines all areas of academic functioning of a child.
  • ADHD, learning disorders, and giftedness may be diagnosed in this assessment, and the results may be used to set up an Individual Education Plan (IEP) at the child’s school.
  • For children 16 and over, this takes place in two in-person sessions, one two hours and one three hours, either on the same day with an hour break for lunch, or on two separate days. If Dr, Sachdeva is administering the assessment, one of the sessions may be done using a virtual health video call, while the three hour session will be in person.
  • There will also be a one-hour parent interview via phone.
  • Questionnaires will be sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment.

• A Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment 15 & Under can be done for children aged 6-15 who need both assessment types.
  • For preschool aged children there is a cognitive component to an ASD assessment, so a Psychoeducational assessment is unlikely to be necessary if they are 5 or younger.
  • A combined assessment costs less than two separate assessments as there is some overlap in testing, and only one report needs to be written instead of two.
  • A combined assessment usually takes place in two in-person sessions, one three hours and one two hours, which are either done on the same day with an hour lunch break, or on two separate days. This is followed by a two-hour parent interview via phone. There are also questionnaires sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment. If they meet the requirements for an ASD diagnosis, we will also provide the diagnosis forms and information on how to submit an application for ASD funding from MCFD.

• A Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment 16 & Older can be done for children aged 16 and older who need both assessment types.
  • A combined assessment costs less than two separate assessments as there is some overlap in testing, and only one report needs to be written instead of two.
  • A combined assessment usually takes place in two three-hour in-person sessions, which are either done on the same day with an hour lunch break, or on two separate days. There is also a two-hour parent interview via phone. There are also questionnaires sent out for parents and teachers to fill out.
  • You will receive a detailed report a few weeks after your child’s assessment. If they meet the requirements for an ASD diagnosis, we will also provide the diagnosis forms and information on how to submit an application for ASD funding from MCFD.

• An Adaptive Functioning assessment is needed when a child who meets the requirements for CLBC support is about to age out of the system and turn 19.
  • This can be done in preparation as early as 16 years old. If your teenager was recently diagnosed, the adaptive functioning portion of their ASD assessment report may be sufficient to meet this requirement.
  • If they were diagnosed more than two years ago, a separate Adaptive Functioning assessment may be required in order to complete the application process.
  • Usually this takes place in one 2-hour in-person interview with both the individual being assessed, and a parent/guardian, with a report to follow.
  • This interview is designed to determine what their current level of Adaptive Functioning is, and if they meet the CLBC requirements for adult funding. The goal is to determine what the person actually does day-to-day, not what they are capable of doing... for example, your 16-year-old is likely capable of brushing their teeth, but do they do this regularly without any help or reminders to do so?
  • If your 16 or older child is booked for a psychoeducational assessment, and they have a previous diagnosis that suggests they are expected to meet CLBC funding requirements, you may add on an Adaptive Functioning assessment interview with an extra one hour of interview time.

• A one hour consultation is a chance to speak to the clinician and ask any questions you may have. You are paying for an hour of the psychologist’s time, what is discussed in this session is up to you.

• A feedback meeting is a chance to go over the report with the clinician and ask any questions that you may have about the report or assessment results. This usually takes place roughly 5 weeks after the assessment.

• A Confirmation of Diagnosis is used to determine if a previous out of province diagnosis is valid in BC. If the original report is in English and shows that the testing measures used were sufficient to meet MCFD standards, then this is usually a rather straightforward process.

• When an assessment involves direct assessment of the child and a parent interview, the order in which they take place will be determined by schedule availability. The parent interview may take place before or after the direct assessment of the child.

Can my child be put on your wait list?

• Please provide the information requested at the end of this FAQ to add your child to our wait list.

 Can my child be put on your cancellation list?

• We do not have a separate cancellation list. Our wait list also serves as a cancellation list. If we have a cancellation, we start at the top of the wait list and work our way down until we find someone who is able to take the appointment.

What are your current wait times for an assessment?

• Currently we have over 125 appointments on our wait list, with about 30% of those waiting for Dr. Sachdeva and 70% waiting for Dr. Gibbins. The patients we are currently booking for Dr. Gibbins have been waiting around 7 months for assessment, as the wait has been shortening somewhat recently as Dr. Sachdeva takes on more ASD assessments. Dr. Gibbins only sees patients in our Vancouver office. The patients we are currently booking for Dr. Sachdeva have been waiting a couple of months for assessment, as there are several patients on the wait list who are waiting for funding to be approved, or pediatric appointments for children under 6, that have shortened her wait times for others on the wait list. If you are able to travel to Langley for the assessment, she may be able to see you sooner than if you wish to see her in our Vancouver office.
• Usually people are on more than one clinic’s wait lists, so we have cancellations that shorten the wait time for those remaining. If you no longer need an assessment, please let us know so that our wait time estimates will be more accurate.
• Prior to the pandemic, our estimated wait time was 12 months, but with cancellations it usually ended up being closer to 7-9 months wait. The wait list has grown significantly in the last two years, as the dynamics have changed and more families are realizing their children require assessment. Variety and other organizations have started funding ASD and Psychoeducational assessments, opening up private assessment options to those who would otherwise be unable to afford them, which has also contributed to longer wait lists.
• If you see a missed call from our office, try calling back, we may be trying to fill a cancellation.
• We are only booking one to two months in advance at this time.
• Unfortunately, there is a shortage of qualified specialists in BC who do ASD assessments, and even fewer who see younger children as Dr. Gibbins does. Our wait list is reflective of this, and the fact that currently Dr. Gibbins is the only full-time psychologist in our clinic. We are happy that Dr. Sachdeva has joined our practice, and hope that she can help alleviate our wait times.
• Wait times may fluctuate from clinic to clinic, but most will have substantial wait times for ASD assessment.
• Psychologists do not need the same specialized degree of training to do psychoeducational assessment as they do for ASD assessment, so there is a much larger number of psychologists who can do psychoeducational assessments, and their wait times will likely be significantly shorter than Dr. Gibbins' as a result.
• Dr. Sachdeva's wait list is currently significantly shorter than Dr. Gibbins' as many patients on the wait list are specifically waiting to see Dr. Gibbins.
• Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty of the current pandemic situation, and growing wait lists, we cannot guarantee accurate wait estimates at this time.

Can the doctor who diagnosed my child fill out a Disability Tax Credit (DTC) form?

• Yes, if one of our psychologists diagnosed your child and they qualify for a DTC, the doctor can fill out the form for a small fee which can be claimed as a medical expense on your tax return. Once the form is completed, it will be mailed to you.
• If your child has not seen the doctor in over a year, they may need to schedule a 45 minute consultation appointment via phone in order for the psychologist to get an update on the child's progress, and to get the necessary information to fill out the form accurately.
• For Autism, DTC benefits are backdated to when the child was one year old, or up to ten years ago, whichever period is shorter.
• There have been some recent changes to the DTC form, so it may look a little different if your family has encountered the form before.

What is a Pediatric Consult Report?

• When a child sees a pediatrician, they usually type up their observations and keep a copy in the child’s file, as well as forwarding a copy to the GP on file. This is the report that we need if your child is under 6 at the time of an ASD assessment. This letter does not need to mention ASD. It is to rule out any medical reasons that may contribute to symptoms or behaviour.
• This is not a letter of referral.

What is an SLP Report?

• Children under 6 at the time of an ASD assessment must have an assessment by a speech language pathologist (SLP). The report that the SLP produces after this assessment is what we require to complete an ASD assessment for any child under 6 years old.

Do we need a referral to get an appointment?

• No. We do not require a referral. However, if your child is under 6 at the time of assessment, the BC government requires that they see a pediatrician and a speech language pathologist and that those reports be included in the assessment.
• If you are applying for Variety funding, they do require a letter of referral, as do some other funding organizations.

Do I need to provide any previous reports?

• If your child has had previous assessments, or an IEP in school, these reports can be helpful in providing a more comprehensive picture of their current functioning and needs. These reports can also illustrate areas where a child’s needs or abilities have changed. Our clinicians will usually wait until after they have done the in-person session with the child to look at these documents, so that they have an unbiased view of the child during the assessment.

Do you do Adult assessments?

• o Dr. Sachdeva is starting to see some young adults (up to early twenties so far) for assessment, but this is a new area for her, so if your case is complex or “high-masking” you may wish to pursue an assessment with someone with more of an adult-focus to assessment, like those below.
• o While Dr. Gibbins is technically able to assess adults, his specialty is children, and we have an extensive wait list because of this. Adults will likely find that going to a clinic that specializes in adult assessment may be a better fit. They will be more familiar with adult presentations, will be able to provide more acute recommendations for workplace and post-secondary education adaptations, and will likely have shorter wait times.
• Adults will likely find that going to a clinic that specializes in adult assessment may be a better fit. They will be more familiar with adult presentations, will be able to provide more acute recommendations for workplace and post-secondary education adaptations, and will likely have shorter wait times.
• Spectrumworks Consulting is a branch of Westcoast Child Development Group that focuses on adult assessment and treatment. RelatedMinds is another clinic focusing on adult assessment. You might want to contact them about adult ASD assessment, or there are other local clinics that specialize in adults that may be a better fit for you. While she specializes in children and youth, Dr. Carmen Caelian at Southpoint will sometimes assess young women up to 22 years old.
• If you are looking for an adult psychoeducational assessment, UBC has an adult assessment clinic, (https://ecps.educ.ubc.ca/sacp/related-clinics-and-program/adult-assessment-clinic/). Westcoast Psychological Services also does Post-Secondary focused psychoeducational assessments: (https://www.westcoastpsychological.com/), as do a number of other clinics.
• Jeanie can provide more information about search options for adult assessment upon request.

Can you diagnose ADHD?

• Yes. ADHD can be diagnosed in the course of an ASD or Psychoeducational assessment. However, this is not the sole focus of either of these assessments. If ADHD is your primary concern, you may find it more expedient to speak to your child's pediatrician to see if they can diagnose ADHD, rather than going through extensive and costly testing that may not be necessary.

Can your clinic prescribe ADHD medication? 

• No. Psychologists are not able to prescribe medication. Medical doctors (GP’s, MD’s, Pediatricians) and Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication.
• It is important to work with your doctor to find the right medication, as what works for one person may not work for another, doses may differ, and when multiple medications are involved, it is important to find the right balance of medications to meet the patients needs.
• Do not be discouraged if the first medication or dose doesn’t have the desired results. There are different types of medication that affect different people in different ways. Some take time to take full effect. What works for one may not work for another, but there are other options available. Your medical doctor or psychiatrist will work closely with you to find the right fit. There are both stimulant and non-stimulant medications available for ADHD symptoms. Some people do not need medication to alleviate their ADHD symptoms, while others may find that meds make a world of difference in their lives.
• ADHD meds can make a difference, but they are to be used in combination with Behaviour Therapy, not instead of it. Behaviour Therapy to develop skills and healthy coping mechanisms is always the first recommended treatment for ADHD.

I have a missed call from your office. What should I do?

• If you have a missed call from our office and we did not leave a message, we are likely trying to fill a cancellation. Call us back and you might reach us before we’ve found someone else to take the spot.
• If we are booking the next batch of appointments, we will leave a message.

How does the COVID-19 pandemic affect the assessment process?

• Due to the ever-changing public health orders, the testing process is subject to change with little notice.
• We are following all public health orders, WorkSafe BC regulations, and the BC College of Psychology’s guidelines.
• We may need to postpone assessments if public health orders become more restrictive, or if our psychologists become ill and we need to shut down for a while.
• If we need to shut down our office to in-person sessions (due to public health mandate or illness), as long as is possible we will make an effort to reschedule upcoming parent phone interviews during the closure, and we will reschedule all in-person sessions for when we are able to reopen. This may mean that your scheduled appointments will be changed on short notice.
• If your child or a member of your household is sick, please contact the office via email ASAP to reschedule your in-person appointments. Anyone presenting with Covid related symptoms will be denied entry to our office.

Currently we have taken the following measures to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

• Our staff are all fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and have received booster shots.
• Masks are no longer required, but still encouraged for adults visiting our office. If Public Health orders change again, so will our mask policy.
• An automated health survey is sent 24 hours before all appointments to ensure that the patient and their family are healthy. You can ignore this survey if your appointment is virtual or via phone.
• All cancellation fees are being waived at this time, but we encourage you to give as much notice as possible so that we may offer the space to someone who is available to take it. We will reschedule any cancelled appointments when everyone has a clear bill of health.
• We ask that only one parent/guardian accompany their child to the in-person portion of all assessments.
• All parent interviews, feedback meetings, and consultations are currently being done via phone to limit the number of people in the office and the length of time spent there. We can conference call in a second parent/caregiver to these sessions upon request. Zoom is also an option for these sessions.
• Some materials from the testing kits have been swapped out for similar items that are easier to clean between patients.
• Our psychologists are working from home when doing phone sessions and writing reports, only working in the office on days when patients are scheduled for in-person assessment, as is our office manager Jeanie.
• Our psychologists are following current mandates regarding PPE. As mandates change, they will adapt to the most current requirements.
• All toys and materials used in assessment are being sanitized between patients.
• Sanitizer is available at the entrances and elevator in the building, and in our office.
• Our office has a handwashing station that is available for use.

What happens to our booked appointments if COVID-19 restrictions increase, or your staff get sick, and your office must close?

• If the Public Health Officer increases restrictions to a degree that we are unable to do in-person assessment, or our staff become ill and we need to close our office, we will make every effort to reschedule in-person assessments for when we are able to reopen. If this happens, we may change the date of your phone interview as well to take place when an in-person appointment was previously scheduled. If our staff get sick, the final report may be delayed.

What if someone in our household gets sick or is exposed to COVID-19 before our appointment?

• We will send out a survey 24 hours before your appointment. If you have any of the symptoms on the checklist (not explained by a pre-existing condition), or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, we will reschedule for a time when everyone is healthy.
• All cancellation fees will be waived at this time, but please give us as much notice as possible.
• If someone in your household is sick, please let us know with as much notice as possible so that we may offer the appointments to someone who is able to attend them.
• If our doctors get sick, nobody will be assessed, and if Jeanie gets sick, final reports and paperwork may be delayed, so please do not come into our office if you are ill.
• We will reschedule all appointments that need to be cancelled due to illness or possible COVID-19 exposure in the next batch of appointments to be booked.

Variety/my child’s school/another organization is going to pay for part or all of the assessment. What do we need to do?

• If a school or other organization is going to pay for an assessment, we need them to provide written confirmation prior to the first assessment date that they will be paying $X towards the assessment.
• If we do not have this written confirmation, the parents will be responsible for paying the full cost of the assessment.
• If a school is paying for part or all of the cost of an assessment, they will receive a copy of the report.
• If you receive funding for less than the full amount of the assessment fee, you will be responsible for paying the difference.
• Variety is now offering funding for psychoeducational assessment, and are offering funding for ASD assessments of children 4 and younger, for families that meet financial need requirements (they are currently accepting requests from families with an annual income up to $85000). Variety is not accepting ASD assessment funding applications at this time. If you think your family may qualify, contact Variety to see what your options are. https://www.variety.bc.ca/autism-assessments/ . Variety does require a letter of referral.
• If Variety will be paying for your assessment, we need to know this prior to booking an appointment. We cannot book an appointment for an assessment funded through Variety until the funding grant has been approved.
• If you are applying to Variety for an ASD assessment, we will need to know if you require an SLP assessment as part of the assessment or not before we can provide a quote for Variety. We have an SLP at another clinic who will provide SLP assessments for Variety patients only, as part of our agreement with Variety to provide special pricing for Variety grant recipients. If you do not receive a grant, you will be responsible for finding an SLP separately, and our regular private pricing will apply. (Not currently applicable, but if/when Variety reopens ASD funding applications, this will apply.)
• Once your child is on the wait list, if you are applying to Variety for funding, let us know and we can send you an email verifying that your child is on the wait list, and what assessment type they are on the wait list for. Provide a copy of this email to Variety along with your application.
• Jordan's Principle provides funding towards assessments for First Nations Children. If you think your child may qualify, go to their website for more information. https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1568396042341/1568396159824

We have extended insurance coverage for Psychological Services. How do we get them to pay for the assessment?

• We do not deal with insurance companies directly. Parents pay us for the assessment and then submit their receipts for reimbursement.
• Upon request, once we receive full payment, we can type up a split invoice for insurance purposes that separates the child and parent portions of the assessment and breaks down the hourly rate ($250/hr) of each component. If each member of your family has separate coverage, this may allow you to get a larger reimbursement from your insurance company. We will need the legal names of each claimant (parent/guardian(s) and the child) to provide this document. Other family members, such as siblings cannot be listed on these claims.

What if we no longer need an appointment?

• Please let us know by phone or email that you no longer require our services so that we may remove your child from our wait list and have a more accurate picture of our estimated wait times. Every person that cancels means someone else can get in earlier, we promise that we won’t be upset!
• Last minute cancellations for booked appointments, not due to illness, would normally have a $60 cancellation fee. This fee is waived during the pandemic, but please be considerate when cancelling.
• Please give as much notice as possible, so that we have time to offer the space to another patient.

Who gets a copy of my child’s report when the assessment is completed?

• If your child is being assessed privately, only the parents/guardians will receive the report, and may distribute it as they see fit.
• If your child is being assessed through BCAAN/Sunny Hill, then they will receive a copy of the report, as will the referring doctor, and the parents/guardians.
• If your child’s assessment is being paid for by a school, then the school will receive a copy of the report, as well as the parents/guardians.
• If your child is diagnosed with ASD, only the parents/guardians will receive a copy of the non-BCAAN Diagnosis form (private) or PANTER form (BCAAN). You must complete the parent/guardian section of this form and submit it to MCFD for ASD funding to be approved.
• You will receive a pdf copy of the report and any associated paperwork, as well as paper copies that will be nailed out to you.

What if I have a question that is not answered here?

• You can email Jeanie at info@pathfinderclinic.ca or call our clinic at 604-736-1011 for more information.

 What do I need to do to put my child on your wait list for an assessment? 

• • • Dr. Gibbins currently offers ASD assessment, Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment, and the occasional Psychoeducational assessment.
    • Dr. Sachdeva currently offers Psychoeducational assessment, ASD assessment, and Combined ASD and Psychoeducational assessment.
    • If you choose “no preference”  you will be contacted if any clinician has availability for your appointment type. If you choose a specific clinician, you will only be contacted when that clinician has availability for your appointment type. If another clinician joins the practice, they will draw from those on the wait list who chose "no preference" in clinician. 
    • If you are seeing Dr. Sachdeva in Langley, the appointment will take place at State of MIND Counseling Services LTD. 200-20218 Fraser Hwy, Langley, BC V3A 4E6
    • If your child's case is quite complex and you are seeking an ASD assessment (e.g.: they have other medical diagnoses that make their pattern of ASD symptoms more complex to diagnose) you may wish to wait to see Dr. Gibbins, as he has more experience with deciphering these more complicated ASD cases.
    • If your child needs a Psychoeducational assessment you may wish to see Dr. Sachdeva as she has shorter wait times and has over 12 years of experience doing Psychoeducational assessments through the school system in Ontario prior to moving to BC. 
    • If your child has a very complex medical profile (blind, deaf, neuro-motor condition, etc.) you may wish to look up Dr. Roberta Heaven (https://drrobertaheaven.com/about.html) as she has experience with assessing ASD in more complex medical patients. 

• To place your child on our wait list and enter them into our booking system JANE, we will need ALL OF THE FOLLOWING information. Patients are added to our wait list in the order in which we receive this information via email. The intake of these wait list requests is processed roughly once a month. You will not receive an email until your info has been added to our booking program, at which time you will receive a notification email. Please copy and paste this section and send the required information to info@pathfinderclinic.ca.:

• *  Child’s first name:
• *  Child’s middle name (if any):
• *  Child’s last name:
• *  Child’s preferred name (if different than first name):
• *  Child's sex (M/F) and gender if different (M/F/non-binary):
• *  Child's preferred pronouns (he/she/they):
• *  Your email:
• *  Your phone number(s):
• *  Your mailing address (including postal code):
• *  Parent/Guardian(s) name(s):
• *  Child’s birth date dd/mm/yyyy:
• *  Assessment type (ASD/Psychoeducational/Combined ASD & PE):
• *  Clinician you wish to see (Dr. Gibbins/Dr. Sachdeva/No Preference):
• *  If you chose Dr. Sachdeva or No Preference, do you prefer our Vancouver office (available once per month) or her Langley office (weekly) for the in-person session(s)? Dr. Gibbins only sees patients in Vancouver. (Vancouver/Langley/either):
• * If your child will be under 6 at the time of assessment, do you already have a pediatrician? Have you already had an SLP assessment and report? :
• *  Has your child already seen a pediatrician? (Y/N/we expect this to be completed by __:
• *  Has your child already seen an SLP for assessment with a report? (Y/N/we expect this to be completed by __:
• *  Are you applying to Variety or another organization/school for funding (please specify which one):
• *  If you are applying to Variety for an ASD assessment (4 & under) do you need an SLP assessment as part of your assessment? (We are only able to offer SLP assessment for Variety Grant patients, through a collaboration with Advantage SLP.) (Variety is not currently accepting ASD funding applications, only Psychoeducational assessment applications.)

*If you add your name to our wait list and later find you no longer need our services, please let us know so that we may remove you from the list and have a more accurate picture of our current wait times.

**Please note that all time estimates are only that, broad estimates based on the number of people already on the wait list at the time this was written. With the unpredictability of the Covid-19 pandemic, these wait times may change with little notice. For the foreseeable future, all parent interviews, consultations, and feedback meetings will be done via phone to limit the time people spend in the office.**

This page was updated June 17, 2025.