Psychological Assessment Services
I provide comprehensive psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. My evaluations consider the individual, the family, and the community in the evaluation process and provide detailed treatment recommendations.
When you get sick or feel an out-of-the-ordinary pain, one of the first things you do is make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor will ask you questions and run tests to figure out why you’re not feeling well – and how best to treat you.
Psychological assessments or evaluations work in much the same way. If you’re feeling off, or if you’ve noticed your child or loved one behaving out-of-the-ordinary, a psych assessment will help determine what’s causing the problem – and how to treat it.
What Is a Psychological Assessment?
A psych assessment is a process performed by a licensed and trained professional to find the answer to these three questions:
- What is going on?
- Why is it happening?
- What can we do about it?
The reason for a psychologist to perform an assessment is simple: to gain information about the person being tested. The information gathered will help inform a treatment plan to get that person the help they need.
How an Assessment is Completed
Assessments, or evaluations, are performed in a few different ways: using formal, written (norm-referenced) tests, clinical interviews (with the affected individual and/or those around them), behavioral observations, and informal tests or surveys.
Written Tests
Standardized tests are often given in order to find out where an individual falls within a predetermined scale, which gives psychologists a way to compare results among the standard population.
For example, for a child who is being tested for reading difficulties, tests would be given to see how well they read, or to what grade level.
Interviews
Interviews are exactly what they sound like. A mental health professional will talk to the person who is being evaluated, as well as others who have either witnessed, or been affected by, that person’s behavior. This part of assessment is less structured and more anecdotal, allowing those being interviewed to use their own words rather than choosing from predetermined answers.
For example, if an adult is the subject of an assessment, the assessor might also interview their family or coworkers (with their written permission, of course). Or for a child, their teacher.
An interview also allows the psychologist to ask questions and see how the individual thinks, reasons, and reacts.
Observations
During an observation, the psychologist observes the individual in their natural setting. This type of assessment often applies to children, to see how they behave in school, around their friends, or at home with siblings.
Informal Tests & Surveys
These types of assessments can include things like career testing, projective tests, or even something created by a teacher. While they provide valuable information, informal tests do provide less scientific validity than standardized, norm-referenced tests.
Right Treatment for the Right Problem
Once a psychological assessment has been completed, you’ll have a better understanding about what’s going on with you or your loved one – and what your treatment options are.
Remember, the goal of an assessment is to understand what underlying issue is causing your symptoms, and then coming up with a plan to treat that issue.
There may be times when more information is needed – your psychologist might request a physical or some other medical tests – before a diagnosis can be made. In the end, you and your psychologist will work together to come up with the best options for you.
Schedule An Assessment
If you, a loved one, or your child are in need of a professional psychological assessment, we’re here to help. Our experienced and knowledgeable team will work with you to figure out what’s going and the best way to help you get back on track and feeling better.
