Polly Blake Dunn PHD

Welcome to the Psychological Assessment Center, where we strive to provide a comprehensive understanding of our clients' cognitive and psychological functioning. With over 37 years of clinical experience, our founder, Dr. Bridget Finlen Smith, is dedicated to offering a broad array of psychological services for children, adolescents, college students, and adults. At the Psychological Assessment Center, we believe that evaluations should be an integral part of understanding an individual's unique strengths and weaknesses, enabling us to determine the most beneficial psychological, medical, and educational interventions.

Dr. Smith holds a B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University, a M.S. and Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University with a specialty in Child and Adolescent Psychology. She completed her Doctoral Clinical Internship at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, and is currently a licensed psychologist in the state of Alabama. With her extensive clinical experience, Dr. Smith offers an eclectic approach to therapy, utilizing research-based treatment plans tailored to the needs of each client.

Services for Children

At the Psychological Assessment Center, we provide comprehensive psychological evaluations for children and adolescents. Dr. Smith meets with each child to obtain comprehensive background information and determine the best approach to the evaluation. We do not utilize psychometricians or psychological technicians, ensuring that a highly experienced clinician is involved in all phases of the evaluation, including testing, interpretation, diagnosis, recommendations, and advocacy. These evaluations can help identify learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual giftedness, and other developmental, emotional, or behavioral issues.

Services for College Students

Dr. Smith offers comprehensive psychological evaluations for college students to identify learning disabilities, ADHD, and other cognitive or psychological barriers that may impact academic performance. Assessments are tailored to meet the specific needs of each student, ensuring they receive appropriate accommodations and support during their academic career.

Services for Adults

Our assessment services for adults aim to provide a complete understanding of cognitive and psychological strengths and weaknesses. Dr. Smith offers evaluations for various concerns, such as learning disabilities, ADHD, dementia, and other cognitive or psychological challenges. We work closely with each client to determine the most effective interventions, accommodations, and treatment recommendations.

Individual, Marital, and Family Therapy

Dr. Smith provides individual, marital, and family therapy services using a research-based, eclectic approach. Our therapeutic services include intake (interview), psychological screening and assessment if indicated, and subsequent therapy sessions. We also facilitate group therapy and conduct psychoeducational groups/workshops on various clinical topics, such as stress management, anger management, communication skills development, sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and parenting classes.

Our Approach

At the Psychological Assessment Center, our goal is to complete your evaluation in a timely manner, ensuring you gain a thorough understanding of your diagnosis, receive needed accommodations, and implement treatment recommendations without delay. We believe that a comprehensive evaluation is the foundation for developing effective interventions and support strategies, and our team is dedicated to helping each client achieve success in their everyday lives.