What is a psychological assessment?

Psychological assessments include tests and measures used by psychologists to assess and potentially diagnose clients in an impartial manner. While an assessment can be done prior to therapy, there are a wide range of assessments that are a one-time assessment, or used for other reasons, such as legal or vocational development purposes. 

The psychological assessment tools used by psychologists can generate objective results  for the purpose of diagnosing the conditions and planning the required treatments.  Individuals who have difficulty with school, work, and social or intimate relationships often experience  bouts of emotional dysregulation, confusion, absence of motivation, anger, fear, anxiety or panic. Psychology uses assessment tools to better understand what may be causing behavioural, emotional, or cognitive symptoms, as it is not always clear what is underlying them. Parents, teachers, employers, and health professionals use the results to provide intervention and accommodations to help each individual reach their potential. 

What does a psychological assessment consist of?

Rather than using a single assessment tool for everyone, assessment tools are carefully chosen to meet the individual's needs and answer the referral question. Unless the nature of the problem  is understood correctly, the risk of  misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment, and poor outcome is  high.

A psychological assessment typically consists of:

  • An interview to gather pertinent historical and familial information

  • Behavioural observations

  • Administration of tests

  • Debriefing the results of the assessment and review of the written report

What types of assessments does Red River offer?

•    Psychoeducational Assessments

•    Emotional, Psycho-social, and Behavioural Assessments

•    Personality Assessments

•    Forensic Assessments

•    Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments

•    Parenting Assessments

•    Neuropsychological Screening Assessments

•    Psycho-social Assessments

What should I expect?

What children and adolescents can expect:

Testing may take two to ten hours, depending on the referral question. It is possible to complete the testing in one sitting or over the course of several sessions to meet the individual's needs. A test can include questions, puzzles, drawings, and stories in addition to some school-like activities like reading, writing, and math. Although your child will be challenged, they are likely to find some of the tasks fun. Some children experience anxiety while taking a test. Therefore, we ensure that the testing environment is comfortable for children and youth, as well as implementing breaks. It can be as simple as playing a short game, taking a short walk, or eating a snack to avoid fatigue.

What adults can expect:

Testing can involve anywhere between 2 and 10 hours of direct interaction, depending on the referral question. The psychologist will conduct a clinical interview during which the client will discuss their concerns and history. A client's assessment may also include interviews with teachers, coworkers, and family members (these interviews would only be performed with the client's written consent). Formal tests such as questionnaires or checklists will also be used.

There is no failure or success in psychological testing. Instead, psychologists use these tests and assessments to make recommendations, inform treatment plans, or sometimes a diagnosis n. Peoplemay  try to prepare themselves ahead of time for tests and may look online for a practice test of a particular problem if they suspect they have one. Practicing before the test usually leads to skewed results; when you try to take the test in a particular way, your answers may be inconsistent and make you appear to have more problems than you actually have.

When to see a Psychologist:

The purpose of psychological testing is to help outline your areas of strength and areas of need to help you. While we also sometimes use assessments as a diagnosis tool, we can continue to use assessments when needed throughout therapy as an individual grows, changes, or reaches a new phase. Either way, these assessments are built to give us the best possible approach to good mental health and treatment.