About Assessments

About Psychological Testing and Assessments

Image for About Psychological Assessments Page

Psychological testing provides comprehensive data to definitively establish diagnosis, personality structure, addiction potential, intellectual functioning, and treatment planning. These Evaluations provide accurate and objective data to assist in answering a variety of complex questions.

Specifically, Psychological Assessments provide the following types of information:

General Information:

  • Important information that may be difficult for a person to express directly;
  • Reliable and valid data based on comparisons with research;
  • Measurement of personality, addictive, intellectual, and neuropsychological characteristics;
  • Integrated information from multiple sources;
  • Information related to a person’s relationship patterns.

Diagnostic Clarification:

  • Evaluation and history of psychological issues;
  • Validation of current diagnosis;
  • Clarification of differential diagnoses;
  • Detection of potential neuropsychological involvement;
  • Identification of personality structure and functioning.

Substance Abuse Assessment:

  • Amount, frequency, and consequences of alcohol & drug use;
  • Addiction potential;
  • Stage of addition;
  • Information regarding the context in which the addiction process developed and continues to persist;
  • Level of treatment needed;
  • Treatment needs & most effective approach;
  • Assessment of dual diagnosis;
  • Clarification of issues underlying addictive behavior;
  • Obstacles to recovery;
  • Potential risk of relapse.

Intellectual/Psychoeducational/Employment:

  • Identification and classification of intellectual functioning;
  • Identification of intellectual strengths & weaknesses;
  • Adult ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder);
  • Learning Disabilities;
  • Diagnosis of intellectual limitations that may qualify for ADA accommodation;
  • Detection of potential neuropsychological involvement.

Pre-Surgical Assessment:

  • Assess general psychological functioning and rule-out diagnoses that could obstruct successful surgical outcomes;
  • Assess coping methods;
  • Assess cognitive style related to health behavior;
  • Evaluate the patient’s understanding of the reasons for, and potential outcomes of surgery;
  • Assess baseline levels of depression and anxiety;
  • Provide a patient’s pain profile.

Treatment:

  • Evaluation of a person’s ability to function in, and benefit from psychotherapy or other forms of treatment;
  • Treatment matching and clarification of treatment needs and goals;
  • Clarification of reasons why someone may not have benefited from treatment in the past;
  • A baseline against which the progress of treatment can be measured;
  • Assessment of motivation for treatment;
  • Treatment recommendations.