Meet Erica Salzman, M.S., LEP #4465
A bright student who's struggling isn't a problem to fix. They're a learner to understand.
I'm a Licensed Educational Psychologist in Pasadena. I do in-depth psychoeducational assessment: a clear picture of how your child learns, what they're strong at, and what's getting in the way. I also consult with families on the next steps, from IEPs and 504 plans to planning what comes next. I work in person across Pasadena and the Los Angeles area, and remotely throughout California.
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LEP #4465
Licensed Educational Psychologist, California.
Postgraduate certificate in Twice-Exceptional Education
Specialized postgraduate training in twice-exceptional (2e) learners.
12+ years inside public schools
Districts, charters, and a nonpublic school for students with autism — I've sat on the other side of the IEP table.
Why I do this work
For more than twelve years, I worked inside public schools — and saw how easily a bright, struggling student can slip through.
I've been an educational psychologist since 2014, working inside public school districts, charter schools, and, for three years, a nonpublic school for students with autism. In that time I've assessed students from the early grades through high school, for everything from ADHD, dyslexia, and autism to giftedness. More often than people expect, it's several of those at once.
What I kept seeing was bright kids who didn't fit the form — students who were capable and struggling at the same time, in ways the usual framework had no room for. So they got missed, or flattened into a single label.
That's why I went back for a postgraduate certificate in twice-exceptional education at Bridges Graduate School. I wanted to understand the learners whose strengths and challenges hide each other — and to build evaluations that finally account for both.
Underneath all of it is one conviction: the child is not the problem.My job isn't to find what's wrong with your child. It's to understand how they learn, name what's getting in the way, and give you a clear path forward.
The skills usually aren't missing — they're just inconsistent. My work is to find them.
When I'm not writing reports, you'll usually find me trying a new recipe, hiking a trail, planning the next trip, or curling up somewhere quiet with a good book and my family nearby.
How I see your child
I start every evaluation with a different question. Not “What's wrong?” but“Who is this student, and what are they capable of?”
Strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming
I lead with what's right. Every student has strengths, even when they're buried under frustration. I look closely until I find them, then place the challenges in context.
The whole student, every domain
Attention, memory, processing speed, executive functioning, academic skills, social-emotional wellbeing: I look at how they work together, not in isolation. This isn't narrow “ADHD testing” or “dyslexia testing.” It's the full picture of how your child learns.
A report you'll actually use
In-depth, in plain language, with specific recommendations a school and an IEP team can act on. You leave understanding your child and knowing exactly what to do next.
A special focus
Twice-exceptional (2e) learners
Gifted students who also have a learning, attention, or developmental difference are the profiles my postgraduate training was built for — and the ones I most love to untangle. When giftedness and a difference show up in the same child, each tends to hide the other, and the student ends up working twice as hard just to look “fine.” Seeing both at once is where I do my most careful work.
Explore 2e & gifted assessmentWhat working together is like
Testing can feel intimidating. It doesn't have to be, for your child or for you.
Your child won't feel like they're being tested.
I take the time to build rapport first, so kids feel comfortable enough to show me who they really are. Parents often tell me their anxious child actually enjoyed our sessions.
You'll understand every word.
I write for parents and IEP teams alike — plain language, concrete examples, none of the jargon that usually needs a degree to decode.
You'll leave with a plan, not just a diagnosis.
The recommendations are specific and school-ready, so you know what to ask for and where to go next.
“I realized we were in good hands when Erica told us she would be focusing on what our daughter can do instead of the things she can't. My daughter warmed to Erica immediately and really enjoyed their 3 sessions.”
— Parent of a student assessed for ADHD
How I can help
Comprehensive Assessment
One in-depth psychoeducational assessment that looks at the whole child — learning, attention, and development together — so nothing gets missed.
Remote Assessment
The full psychoeducational assessment conducted securely online, for any student anywhere in California.
IEP Consultation for Parents
Guidance for parents working through IEPs, 504 plans, and the special-education process, from someone who knows how schools operate.
Independent Educational Evaluations
When you disagree with the school's evaluation, an independent second opinion — requested in writing and, when granted, funded by the district.
Assessments for Schools
Contract psychoeducational and special-education assessments for schools and districts.
If you want a clearer picture of how your child learns, let's talk.
A free 20-minute consultation is enough for me to understand your concerns and help you figure out whether an assessment is the right next step.
Book your free consultation