Measuring Minds

In honor of National School Psychology Week, I wanted to share a little more about me—the person behind Measuring Minds—and what drives the work I do every day. 💙

A few years ago, back when I still lived in Texas, I read The Road Back to You and completely fell in love with the Enneagram. I dove deep into studying it, and—no surprise here—I’m an Enneagram One.

Enneagram Ones are often called The Perfectionists or The Reformers. At our core, we’re driven by a deep desire to be good, to do things “right,” and to make the world better. That drive is a gift—but it can also feel like a heavy weight when “good” starts to mean “never enough.”

Over the years, I’ve learned that the work of being a healthy One isn’t about striving harder—it’s about allowing myself to be enough, giving myself grace, and remembering that growth doesn’t require perfection. 💫

A few ways I try to live as the best version of a One:
✨ Practicing self-compassion instead of self-criticism
✨ Pausing before fixing or improving something
✨ Allowing space for rest, joy, and flexibility

Once I understood myself through this lens, I began using the Enneagram to understand others—my family, my spouse, and even my coworkers—(and the follow-up book, The Path Between Us by the same authors, was an incredible resource for that!). It’s helped me connect with people on a deeper, more empathetic level.

To this day, the Enneagram remains my favorite framework for understanding human motivation and behavior—a professional tool that continues to shape how I see both myself and the world around me.

It’s time for another Ask Phillip Anything!

One of the first things I ask parents when they call is: "What’s going on that makes you feel like an evaluation might help?" Sometimes we talk it through and realize an evaluation might not be needed right now. Other times, it’s clear we need answers to move forward.

Evaluations can serve a lot of different purposes—like assessing for IEP or 504 eligibility, making sure a student qualifies for testing accommodations, or even consideration for gifted placement or grade advancement. And sometimes, parents just want clarity on what’s really going on with learning or attention.

No matter the reason, the goal is the same: to get answers that actually help you take the next step for your child.

💬 Got a question you’d like me to answer next time? Drop it below—I’d love to hear it.

📚 Shelf-Care with Sally

I’m so excited to share that as the CE Coordinator for the Palm Beach Association of School Psychologists (PBASP), I’ll be participating in our first book club! We’re kicking things off with Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago, the NASP Social Justice Committee’s Book of the Year.

This powerful collection highlights the stories of immigrant and refugee students in the U.S.—stories filled with courage, resilience, and hope. For me, it’s a reminder that behind every evaluation and every IEP meeting, there’s a child navigating experiences that go far beyond school walls.

💬 Who was your favorite story in the book? We’ll be discussing Green Card Youth Voices Green Card Voices together on November 5th as part of National School Psychology Week. Join the conversation and share your reflections below!