Cristina M. Olaechea, Ed.S. is a Licensed School Psychologist in Miami-Dade County with a passion for early intervention. She completed her undergraduate and graduate work at Florida International University, thus receiving an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology in 2003. Mrs. Olaechea is fluent in both Spanish and English. She has over 12 years of experience working with the public schools and has been in private practice since 2009. She received the “Miami-Dade County Public Schools Prekindergarten School Psychologist of the Year” Award in 2005.
Most recently, Mrs. Olaechea created a webpage (www.facebook.com/CristinaMOlaecheaEdS) through which she aims to help spread awareness about special needs and shares articles, workshops, and ideas with the community. She has also had her work published in several local parenting magazines.
Mrs. Olaechea is highly trained in administering psychological testing in order to assess cognitive, academic, processing, and social-emotional functioning. She conducts psychoeducational assessments with children and adolescents from Prekindergarten through Grade 12 and offers cutting-edge, digital administration of certain instruments via iPad. Observations of the child in the home or school setting are also incorporated when deemed necessary. These evaluations involve an in-depth interview, testing that is tailored to the individual, followed by a feedback session to collaboratively formulate a plan for maximizing the student’s educational experience. Mrs. Olaechea prepares integrated psychoeducational reports detailing her findings and includes recommendations for parents, teachers, and collaborating professionals.
Additionally, Mrs. Olaechea conducts gifted assessments when parents or teachers suspect that the child may benefit from a more challenging school experience. These assessments involve an interview with a parent and administration of an intelligence scale. Assessments are always conducted in a professional, timely, and cost-effective manner.
