What is psychological assessment?
Psychological assessment is a process that includes a comprehensive clinical interview and typically the completion of tests that measure a number of different areas of functioning such as:
- Cognition: Attention, memory, speed of processing, problem solving, ability to learn
- Academic achievement: Reading, writing, mathematics
- Personality and emotions: Self esteem, mood, stress tolerance, interpersonal style, quality of relationships, motivation, and distress.
Psychological assessment is helpful in situations where your therapy may not be moving along the way you would like. It can also be helpful in finding out what your strengths are and where you could improve.
What is neuropsychological assessment?
A neuropsychological assessment may have many features of a typical psychological assessment, but focuses on brain related behavior in the context of:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders: The way a brain develops can take a different course than what is typical. Sometimes this can present as difficulties with attention, concentration, and hyperactivity. It could be difficulties with organization, planning, or learning. These difficulties have been present since childhood and cause distress in areas of work, school, and relationships.
- Brain injuries: Difficulties that follow a head injury or repeated head injuries are assessed to see if brain functioning has been impaired. This could be due to a car accident, a fall, or sports related injuries. In addition to head injuries, brain functioning can be impacted by a stroke, a tumor, exposure to toxic substances, or as a result chemotherapy. These are the more common ways that brain injuries can be acquired.
- Neurological diseases: One of the most common category of brain disease is dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. Other brain diseases are considered depending on what has changed with the person’s ability to think, how quickly it has progressed, and if the impairment is consistent.
I provide a number of different kinds of psychological assessment which you can learn about by clicking on the appropriate link.
Child and adolescent assessment – This assessment focuses on an age range of 4-18. These evaluations are done when there are behavioral concerns; problems at school with learning, attention, or work completion; and other emotional or cognitive difficulties.
Neuropsychological assessment – This type of assessment is helpful in understanding if there is a neurodevelopmental disorder or acquired cognitive dysfunction. This kind of assessment is often recommended for people who have difficulties in school, have had a head injury, or if there is suspicion of a cognitive decline that is outside of normal age expectations.
Some common referral questions include:
- Why do I struggle in school?
- Do I have a learning disability?
- Do I have a memory problem?
- Do I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
- Why do I have trouble in my relationships?
Assessment is a targeted and time-limited endeavor. We meet for a few sessions that typically last several hours to complete interviews and testing. Once I complete scoring and interpretation of these measures, I invite you back to provide feedback and recommendations. A report or feedback letter will be provided thereafter for reference or to provide to a therapist you’re working with, or school you would like to get accommodations from.
I have experience with more specific forms of evaluation including (but not limited to):
- Learning disorders and accommodations for standardized testing and school: Some individuals meet criteria for a learning disorder in reading, writing, or mathematics. There are accommodations that allow people to engage in regular education or exams.
- Forensic evaluations: These including competency evaluations and assessment for both criminal and personal injury cases. I have experience with both juveniles and adults.
- Fitness for duty evaluations: These evaluations are helpful in determining whether an employee is fit to return to work. These are often requested by a human resources professional or an attorney.