Whenever you go to the doctor with symptoms, additional tests are often ordered like imaging or blood work to help better understand what is contributing to those symptoms. Psychological evaluations serve a similar purpose.
Psychologists use various assessments and tools to help conceptualize their client’s mental health symptoms so they can determine a diagnosis and recommendations to guide the client’s treatment plan. Although a psychologist can do a thorough diagnostic assessment in the first session of therapy, it is not quite the same as undergoing a battery of tests that have been validated and normed in which we can compare an individual’s results to.
Psychological assessments are a critical tool in client care, but the overall effectiveness of the evaluation is heavily dependent upon the skill and knowledge base of the evaluator.
I entered a doctoral program with an emphasis on assessment and has been providing psychological evaluations since 2013.
Psychological assessment can reveal a significant amount of data in a fairly short amount of time, which includes personal behaviors, personality function, and personality traits.
It provides in depth information about the client’s current level of function, their problematic behaviors, mental health symptoms, where they need additional support, their strengths and weaknesses, and personalized treatment recommendations.
Some examples of when a psychological evaluation may be helpful:
- You have been in therapy for awhile but don’t feel like you are making progress
- You are looking to start therapy and are unsure what might be the best treatment for you
- There has been a significant decline in your ability to function in day-to-day activities, work, or relationships
- You are in therapy and struggle with multiple, complex issues and it feels hard to tackle them all at once
- You think there may be something else impacting your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
- You want to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses
- You want to better understand your personal struggles and the options available to address them
Interested in learning more about psychological assessment? Schedule a free 15-minute phone call.
What to Expect
There are several types of psychological evaluations including IQ, adaptive, learning, neuropsychological, and personality assessments. Elevated Psychotherapy Services can provide online personality assessments in the comfort of your home. A psychological assessment for personality functioning begins with a 60 minute clinical interview in order to obtain information about your background and the types of symptoms you experience.
During the testing portion, you will be asked to complete computerized questionnaires or merely say what comes to mind or is observed from the comfort of your home. I will then score and interpret the data, and write up a comprehensive report that answers the individual referral question. The results are then reviewed and recommendations are discussed.
I also work with Brain and Body Integration in Colorado Springs and Denver Colorado to provide other types of neuropsychological assessments. A quick phone call can help determine what might be the best fit for you.
