Moving Beyond Homework Battles and Daily Frustration
You know your child is bright, curious, and full of potential, yet daily life can feel much harder than it should. Parents often reach out when they notice a painful disconnect between their child’s obvious intelligence and their everyday struggles. Simple homework assignments may turn into hours of procrastination and tears, while morning routines become constant scrambles.
Many bright children daydream or lose focus in class yet concentrate for hours on topics they love. Others struggle to build lasting friendships, misread social dynamics, or experience overwhelming anxiety about making mistakes. You do not need to know a specific diagnosis before reaching out. If your child’s daily experiences do not seem to reflect their capabilities, a thoughtful evaluation can provide greater clarity and a grounded next step.
Our practical, compassionate, and neuroaffirming evaluations look beyond isolated symptoms to understand how your child thinks, learns, regulates, connects, and uses their strengths.
Gifted children can use advanced reasoning and knowledge to compensate for ADHD, autism, processing differences, or executive-functioning friction. These differences may become more visible in middle school or high school, when organization, independence, social interpretation, and sustained workload begin to exceed the child’s available bandwidth.
When twice-exceptionality remains unidentified, a capable child may experience chronic stress, self-doubt, perfectionism, or school burnout. Standard checklists rarely explain the full pattern because strengths can mask areas of difficulty and difficulties can obscure genuine gifts.
Families may also seek evaluation to better understand giftedness or twice-exceptionality itself, including uneven development, differences between ability and achievement, educational fit, and how a student’s strengths interact with learning, executive functioning, or emotional development.
High ability can conceal genuine support needs until environmental demands outgrow the strategies a child has been using to compensate.
We evaluate the whole person. Depending on the referral questions, a comprehensive evaluation may integrate cognitive, academic, attention, executive-functioning, autism, social-emotional, personality, character-strength, and qualitative information.
The purpose is not merely to identify symptoms, but to develop differential diagnostic clarity and a neuroaffirming, actionable understanding of what helps your child thrive and where support may be needed.
Assessment should be broad enough to answer the important questions and focused enough to remain purposeful. The appropriate pathway depends on your child’s history, current concerns, strengths, and the decisions the evaluation needs to inform.
Streamlined Clarity for Attention and Daily Organization
This targeted evaluation is designed for families seeking focused, practical answers about attention regulation, working memory, time management, and task initiation. The assessment examines core executive skills and translates the findings into recommendations for home routines and school supports without automatically expanding into a broader battery when it is not needed.
Differential Clarity for Complex Profiles
When a broader investigation is needed, this comprehensive evaluation examines the interplay among high cognitive potential, autism, ADHD, learning differences, executive functioning, and social-emotional concerns. Cognitive strengths are considered alongside social reciprocity, pragmatic language, regulation, academic functioning, and the child’s developmental context to build an integrated profile.
Finding the Right Path Together
You do not need to determine the right evaluation path on your own. During the intake process, we listen to your family’s history, concerns, and goals, then recommend an individualized plan designed to answer the questions that matter without adding testing that does not serve those questions.
A meaningful evaluation examines how abilities, relationships, emotions, and executive skills work together. The goal is to understand the whole child rather than reduce a complex profile to a single score or label.
How Your Child Thinks and Executes Tasks
We examine how your child approaches complex problems, abstract concepts, and visual reasoning. At the same time, the evaluation considers task initiation, working memory, shifting between activities, planning, inhibition, processing efficiency, and the ways these skills operate under everyday demands.
How Your Child Relates to Others
We assess the nuances of pragmatic language, nonverbal communication, and social reciprocity. The evaluation considers how your child manages back-and-forth conversation, interprets peer dynamics, responds to sensory or environmental expectations, and connects with others across settings.
Core Virtues and Emotional Well-Being
We consider whether anxiety, perfectionism, low mood, or emotional strain reflects a primary concern, the chronic stress of feeling different from peers, or an interaction of several factors. Character strengths such as curiosity, kindness, perseverance, and creativity are also considered so that the profile reflects sources of confidence and resilience as well as areas needing support.
Practical Recommendations for Daily Life
You receive a thorough, approachable evaluation report that translates complex findings into clear brain-behavior insights. Comprehensive evaluations include individualized recommendations that may support 504 or IEP planning, practical home and executive-functioning routines, therapeutic goals when appropriate, a relaxed forty-five-minute parent feedback session, and selected readings and resources tailored to your child’s profile.
School teams make their own eligibility and accommodation decisions. Our reports are designed to provide useful clinical information and specific recommendations that can inform those conversations.
Consultation may also continue beyond the report when families would like help interpreting findings, considering school placement or programming, preparing for conversations with educators, or translating recommendations into practical next steps.
Do we need a referral? Parents may contact us directly when persistent struggles arise; a physician or school referral is not required to begin the intake process.
How is this different from a school-district assessment? District evaluations address educational eligibility and school-based needs. A private evaluation can examine broader diagnostic, developmental, cognitive, emotional, and everyday-functioning questions while offering recommendations for both home and school.
What about insurance? When appropriate, we can provide detailed superbills with standard CPT and ICD-10 codes for families seeking possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage varies by plan, and reimbursement is not guaranteed.
“Every parent thinks (rightly so) that their child is special. But the minute you say your child is gifted, you feel like you're being snobbish and overly blinded by your parental love. This was us for many years. From an early age, our daughter exhibited various qualities that made us think she was gifted, so we assumed she was gifted, and we were right about this. But what we got wrong was not thinking ahead of how much her needs might vary from the majority of the population. We only recently started this journey of understanding the needs of gifted children like ours and were glad Dr. Siu was available to help us comprehend, from a more objective and professional perspective, where our child's cognitive relative strengths were and where she may need some support. His nuanced perspective on some of the gifted schools in the Bay Area was also very helpful. I'd encourage any parent of a gifted child who may be on the sidelines like we were to connect with Dr. Siu as early as possible.”
J.P. “We had an excellent experience with Gifted Support Services. We were guided well for what to expect, and felt very comfortable sending our child for the IQ test. The teacher was very kind and incredibly helpful. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for support for a gifted child.”
P.S. “We had a wonderful experience with Gifted Support Services. Dr Siu was extremely patient, welcoming, warm and kind. He was very responsive to answer any questions on scheduling via email. Online scheduling was also very convenient. We opted for the feedback session and found it very useful as he was able to explain to us the results and even gave guidance on supporting our child. The office location was great . We had no parking issues at 9am appointment and after the session, there were many great places to eat or even pick up a snack from the bakeries.”
Anonymous “Like many parents navigating private school admissions, we were initially anxious about IQ testing requirements. We were fortunate to discover Bradley at Gifted Support Services, whose expertise and warm approach transformed what could have been a stressful experience into an enlightening one. From our first interaction, Bradley put our minds at ease about the Wechsler assessment process. His remarkable ability to connect with children shone through as our daughter engaged enthusiastically in their 30-minute session. Bradley's extraordinary talent for transforming evaluation into engaging play created an environment where our daughter could truly demonstrate her capabilities. While we understood that IQ testing at age 3 years and 10 months provides just one snapshot, Bradley's comprehensive report offered invaluable insights into both our daughter's strengths and areas for growth. The assessment validated our play-based educational approach and provided clear direction for supporting our daughter's development. We cannot recommend his services highly enough for families seeking pre-K gifted assessments—he truly excels at making this important process both comfortable and illuminating. P.S. When visiting Bradley’s office, check out his extensive bookshelf of gifted education resources.”
E.W. “Very easy to schedule an assessment. Turnaround time is quick.”
S.F. “It was a pleasure working with Dr. Brad. I scheduled an appointment with him for my son’s IQ test about a month ago, and even though my son hadn’t slept well the night before, Dr. Brad was able to help him stay relaxed and focused throughout the 1.5-hour test. My son even mentioned that he enjoyed the entire process. The next day, we received a thorough report with thoughtful, professional recommendations. I would highly recommend Dr. Brad’s services to families seeking support for their gifted children.”
T.X. “We worked with Dr. Siu on an IQ test for my son's school admission process. The process could not have gone smoother! First off, my son enjoyed the experience, he found the questions interesting and engaging. He said he was completely relaxed during the test and was given the time and space to focus on the questions at hand during the test. Second, it was very easy to sign up for the test and provide information back and forth for Dr. Siu. Everything was digitized and self-service. We had an additional scheduling request and Dr. Siu was able to accommodate. Last but not the least, the report came out very detailed and fast. The report was in our school's hand within a day! Dr. Siu obviously have done this many times and knows what he's doing. Again, couldn't be more happier with the process! Highly recommend Dr. Siu for similar needs.”
L.C. “Dr. Brad is very approachable and my son enjoyed the IQ assessment. Highly recommend Dr. Brad.”
K.L. “Our daughter (age 12) felt very comfortable working with Dr Brad for an achievement assessment. She beat her previous scores done with another provider and I think partly it was because she was more calm and comfortable this time. I appreciated that Dr Brad was familiar with our target schools and suggested appropriate sub-tests for my daughter's areas of strength. I also like that the office location is in downtown San Mateo.”
E.M. “It was easy to schedule the appointment and Dr. Brad was quite prompt in responding emails. The highlight was that our son was quite comfortable with the whole process. Despite our son has always reservation towards new people and new environment, Dr. Brad made is very pleasant for him.”
B.S. “I highly recommend Bradley's Gifted Support Services! My child underwent the WISC-V assessment at his San Mateo office in November 2024, and we were thoroughly impressed. Bradley's excellent communication made us feel comfortable throughout. He facilitated arrival with a guided phone call. The detailed report was promptly delivered within a day and sent to requested schools. Bradley's professionalism, efficiency, and dedication are exceptional!”
L.L. “Dr. Siu is professional, friendly, and well-organized. Booking the assessment for our child was easy, and everything went smoothly on the day of the test. The environment was warm and welcoming, creating a comfortable space for our child. We received the results promptly.”
T.H. “The location of the office is great, at the center of San Mateo downtown. Parking was very easy early in the morning. The office was very clean and welcoming. It felt more like a friend’s home. Dr. Brad was approachable and he started the session with my son right away. When it was done, my son came out with a smile. He seemed to enjoy the meeting and was not scared or nervous at all. The results we got were very thorough and informative. Dr. Brad sent the results to the school on the same day at night. I’d definitely recommend Dr. Brad.”
J.N. “I recently had my child take an IQ test with Dr. Siu, and the entire experience was exceptional. Dr. Siu handled the process with the utmost professionalism, creating a welcoming and supportive environment that immediately put both my child and me at ease. Dr. Siu’s patience and expertise in working with children made the testing process smooth and stress-free. The environment was outstanding—clean, calm, and thoughtfully arranged to help my child focus. It’s evident that Dr. Siu takes great care to provide a setting that is both comfortable and conducive to accurate testing. Additionally, the responses were prompt and thorough. We received the results quickly, along with a detailed explanation that helped us understand the findings. I highly recommend Dr. Siu for anyone seeking a professional and reliable IQ testing service for their child. The entire experience exceeded our expectations!”
Y.W. “We have to say we are lucky we found Dr. Bradley to administer the tests for our twins. He did his best to arrange schedules at a busy time for all of us. He is very friendly and patiently answered each one of our many questions. The office is comfortable and relaxed, and they offered kid-friendly drinks and snacks. The kids didn’t feel bored waiting as they have many books and magazines to read. Overall, we had a great experience with Dr. Bradley and his staff.”
G.T. “We were very happy with Dr. Brad's services. It was easy to schedule an appointment for our son's school admission assessment, even though we waited until the last minute to do so. Dr. Brad was able to engage with our son and provided us with a thorough and helpful report shortly after the assessment. The office was also easy to find with plenty of parking nearby and coffee shops, etc., where I could wait while the assessment was ongoing. We would definitely recommend Dr. Brad.”
A.W. “We wanted to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Bradley for conducting the Weschler assessment for our 5-year-old, this was a part of the school admissions process and our own curiosity about her development. From the initial inquiry through to receiving our child’s report, his responsiveness and support were truly invaluable. He patiently answered all our questions as we navigated this unfamiliar process, and you made sure our child felt comfortable and at ease during the assessment itself. We were especially impressed with how quickly he shared the report with the schools, which was incredibly helpful for our application timelines. Navigating IQ assessments for a young child can feel overwhelming, but his guidance and expertise made the entire experience much smoother than we anticipated. We truly appreciate his professionalism and kindness throughout.”
D.K. “It was a very pleasant experience completing the test. My 5-year-old child has some vision issues, and Dr. Siu took the time to make her feel comfortable first. He encouraged my child throughout the test and thoughtfully provided a short 5-minute break when my child became tired and expressed a desire to go home.”
B.S. “We had such a great experience with Dr. Brad at Gifted Support Services. Both of my kids completed IQ testing, and not only was the process outstanding, but they actually had fun doing it. Dr. Brad was so communicative, responsive, and made the entire experience smooth and positive for our family. I truly recommend him to anyone considering testing for their children.”
A.G. “Working with Dr. Siu to support my children’s development has been the easiest. Dr. Siu has the right structure and deep knowledge to measure and help us understand the kids’ strengths and areas for development. His report was the most thorough, which truly reflected his attentiveness to all the details during the testing and playing. I trust Dr. Siu in continuing to support my family and beyond.”
L.C. “I had a great experience working with Dr. Brad for my child's cognitive assessment. He is very responsive and professional, while being approachable and accommodating. Highly recommended.”
A.C. “We recently had our son evaluated by Dr. Bradley, and the experience was excellent. He made our son feel comfortable and at ease throughout the testing process, which really helped him do his best. The assessment was conducted thoroughly and with great care, and the results were very detailed, giving us a clear picture of his strengths and areas for growth.”
Anonymity Requested “Dr. Siu was wonderful to work with. He made the assessment process smooth and welcoming for our child, and the report he provided was clear, thorough, and very helpful. His professionalism and thoughtful guidance gave us confidence moving forward with school applications.”
L.L. “We really enjoyed working with Gifted Support Services. They are experts in understanding the gifted child and we found the process to be extremely professional and well-organized. Most importantly, we were able to better understand our children's learning profiles to support them more effectively across academic, social and emotional learning. We could more clearly understand their areas of strength and opportunity, and use that as a starting point to have a more in-depth conversation with teachers and educators on how to partner together. Highly recommend!!”
Anonymous “Dr. Brad is professional, communicative, and considerate. My daughter was at ease during the testing despite being in an unfamiliar environment, with a new person, doing something that she had never done before. Thank you Dr. Brad!”
A.D. “Bradley was wonderful with our son. Super patient and understanding and my son loved working with him. We highly recommend anyone to test with him.”
A.L. “My son recently completed a Wechsler assessment with Dr. Brad and had an incredibly positive experience. He expressed how much he enjoyed the process and felt comfortable throughout. Dr. Brad’s calm and patient demeanor helped him relax, which made a big difference. It was clear to me that Dr. Brad has extensive experience working with gifted children. His observations and approach during the assessment were insightful and reassuring. I truly appreciate the care and professionalism he brought to the session. I highly recommend Dr. Brad to any parent seeking a thoughtful and experienced professional for cognitive assessments. He creates a supportive environment that brings out the best in children.”
I.C. “My son had to do an IQ test for his school application, and we booked a session with Bradley Siu, PsyD. My son enjoyed working with Bradley. Bradley was kind and supportive. The session lasted for approximately 2 hours, and my son looked happy after completing it. He shared that the tasks were interesting and engaging. I received the report in 3 days after completing the test, which is very fast. Overall, the session went easily. Highly recommend this center.”
E.K. “Our son conducted IQ test at Dr Siu's place. It was a pleasant and fun experience. Our son really enjoyed it.”
Y.D. “A Smooth and Positive IQ Testing Experience I had a very positive experience with Dr. Bradley Siu at Gifted Support Services for my child's IQ testing. The entire process was seamless, from the initial contact where Dr. Siu promptly and satisfactorily answered all my questions, to the easy and flexible scheduling via Calendly. He was even able to open up a Saturday slot for us upon request. The introductory video and advice on how to prepare my child were incredibly helpful, making them feel comfortable before the appointment. The testing office in downtown San Mateo was cozy and welcoming, and my child warmed up quickly. We were impressed by the quick turnaround, receiving a detailed and easy-to-understand report just two days after the test. I highly recommend their services.”
J.L. “We had a wonderful experience with Dr. Bradley Siu in San Mateo. He conducted the WPPSI-IV assessment for our child and made the entire process calm, engaging, and enjoyable. Dr. Siu has a warm and approachable manner that immediately put our child at ease, helping him stay focused and confident throughout the session. He took time to explain the process clearly, answered all our questions with patience, and provided thoughtful insights afterward. We truly appreciated his professionalism, kindness, and understanding of young children. Highly recommend Dr. Siu to any family looking for a skilled and compassionate psychologist for early childhood assessments.”
P.R. “From scheduling to delivery of the report, the experience was seamless. The testing day ran on time and our child felt comfortable throughout. Professional and personable—highly recommended.”
A.W. “We had a great experience working with Dr. Siu. He was kind, thoughtful, and made our child feel comfortable during testing. His report was detailed and insightful, and his recommendations were practical and helpful. We’re very grateful for his support and would definitely recommend him.”
B.N. “We recently had our child's IQ test scheduled at Dr. Siu's practice. While I wasn’t present for the testing itself, the process was smooth and professional. Rescheduling and adjusting appointments was easy, and Dr. Siu was very responsive to emails, which made the experience comfortable for first-timers. The final report was comprehensive and highly informative. Overall, the service was efficient, accommodating, and reassuring.”
Y.L. “Dr. Brad was very accomodating and friendly. His friendly demeanors helped my son to relax and did well in the IQ test. His office is spacious and comfortable which allowed me to do some work calls while I waited for my son. He has snack, tea, coffee, and water in the office so it was very comfortable. Dr. Brad is awesome and I highly recommend him.”
L.B. “We worked with Dr. Siu on the IQ assessment for my 4 year old son. Dr. Siu was quick to respond and was very accommodating with our tight schedule since we were traveling. After the assessment, he promptly sent over the results and detailed report. He also managed all the communications with the school flawlessly. A year later when we wanted to submit the results again to the school, Dr. Siu quickly responded and sent the information over without any hesitation. It was a very easy process working with Dr. Siu!”
Anonymous “We enjoyed working with Dr Siu and Erin. My son was a bit intimidated at the beginning but Dr Erin was very nice and warm-welcoming so soon my son became comfortable about it. Overall we had a good experience.”
S.D. “Dr. Brad is welcoming and kind: Kids are immediately put at ease around him. His work is detailed and thoughtful. Wonderful to work with.”
C.S. “I took my daughter for her evaluation with Dr. Siu and had a very positive experience. He greeted us warmly, gave my daughter a gentle introduction to what they would be doing, and even showed us the testing room so I knew what to expect. The whole process was smooth and efficient. We received the feedback quickly, and when I asked Dr. Siu to submit the report for school admissions, he submitted it the same day. He is very responsive and professional. Highly recommend.”
S.R. “Dr. Siu is very professional and thorough, and we appreciated receiving the report and feedback within just two days. My child had a very good experience overall and gently mentioned that the office could feel even nicer if the atmosphere were just a little more relaxed.”
K.L. “Dr Brad and Dr Erin are amazing! My kids both had IQ Tests here, and they loved it! Highly recommend to anyone who need help for gifted education.”
E.W.
“We had an extremely positive experience with Dr. Brad. The process was seamless—he was super responsive, and booking our appointment was efficient and transparent. We got an appointment quickly, and Dr. Brad had the results of the WISC assessment back to us within two days. Dr. Brad put my child at ease immediately, establishing a strong rapport that enabled my child to relax and be himself, and we are confident that my child’s WISC results accurately reflect his abilities and the way his mind works. And best of all, my kid had a great couple of hours playing, talking, and working on puzzles with Dr. Brad.”
A.C.