What is assessment?

Psychological and neuropsychological assessment are both processes used to understand an individual's mental health, cognitive abilities, and emotional functioning. They typically involve a combination of interviews, self-report questionnaires, and standardized tests. The goal is to gain insight into various aspects of a person's psychological state, how brain function affects behavior and cognitive abilities, as well as diagnose disorders, assist in educational and vocational planning, provide a baseline for future comparisons, and to inform treatment or intervention strategies. Here are some common components:

Clinical Interviews: Conversations between the psychologist and the individual to gather personal history, current concerns, and overall mental state.

Standardized Tests: These are formal tests that measure specific aspects of psychological functioning, such as intelligence, memory, attention and concentration, executive functioning, language skills, problem-solving, personality traits, or emotional functioning. They are designed to be administered and scored in a consistent manner.

Self-Report Questionnaires: These are surveys or questionnaires where individuals provide information about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Behavioral Observations: Observing how a person behaves in different situations can provide additional information about their psychological state.

Collateral Information: Information from family members, teachers, or other relevant individuals can provide additional context and support the assessment findings.

Assessment has three appointments: The first is an intake appointment, which is a clinical interview that lasts about an hour. The second is the testing session, which includes administering the tests and questionnaires. This can take 2-3 hours or more depending on what tests are needed. The third appointment is the feedback session, when we talk about test results, any diagnoses, and recommendations.