What is a psychological assessment?
A psychological assessment is a structured process where an experienced psychologist gathers comprehensive information about a person’s cognitive, emotional, developmental and behavioural functioning – going well beyond what a standard consultation does.
It typically involves:
- standardised tests which measure what is happening for you
- clinical interviews
- questionnaires and self-report measures
- sometimes input from family members, partners, teachers or someone who is close to you
- review of relevant history, including medical, educational and developmental information
As a part of a psychological assessment, a detailed written report will be provided, outlining findings and includes personal actionable recommendations, along with recommended supports. For example, a report may highlight a diagnosis, treatment recommendations, workplace or study accommodations or clarity around how one functions.
Some common reasons why people seek a psychological assessment include ADHD, Autism (ASD) or specific learning disorders (SLD) – like dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
Who might benefit from a psychological assessment?
People seek assessments for many different reasons. Some of the most common reasons why people seek a psychological assessment are:
- long standing difficulties with attention, organisation or follow through
- wanting to understand a previous diagnosis more comprehensively
- a GP or specialist requesting a psychological opinion
- a young person struggling at school despite effort and support already in place
- requiring documentation for educational purposes to enable necessary allowances and support for one to reach their full potential
- experiencing ongoing difficulties with interpersonal relationships
If you are unsure whether an assessment is what you need, call our friendly reception team and we will help identify the right pathway – which may or may not include a formal assessment. Tailored help is available at Brisbane Counselling Centre from one of the professional psychologists who attend the centre.
How a psychological assessment worksstep by step
Whilst the specific tools vary depending on what is being assessed, all the assessments follow a similiar structured multi-method process.
- Initial enquiry and booking: Contact one of our friendly reception team to discuss what you are looking for, recommend the next step to take, confirm the fees and book you in for an initial appointment with an experienced psychologist to determine if an assessment is the appropriate course of action for you. An initial referral from a GP or specialist is not necessary to begin with, although it may assist with the cost, by claiming a rebate through Medicare for the initial appointment
- Clinical interview: Your psychologist with a detailed conversation covering your history, current concerns and how difficulties are affecting your daily life, relationships, work and/or education. This is not a test – it is a structured conversation and there are no right or wrong answers. For young people, depending upon their age, parents are often interviewed separately prior to meeting with the young person
- Standardised testing: Depending on the reason for assessment, you or your child will complete a range of validated psychological tests. These may include cognitive and intellectual tasks, attention and memory measures, academic achievement tests, or personality and mood inventories. Most tests are administered by your psychologist in a quiet, comfortable space. The tests that are used depends upon what you are being assessed for
- Scoring, integration and report writing: Your psychologist scores and interprets all results, integrates findings from every source and writes a comprehensive clinical report
- Feedback and recommendations: You meet with your psychologist to receive your written report and discuss the finding in plain language to make sure you understand all the conclusions and recommendations that have been reached. This session covers what the results mean for your everyday lift, any diagnosis, if any, that has been reached, along with a tailored set of recommendations. Recommendations may include therapy, referrals, strategies or allowances for work, university or school – creating a clear pathway forward for you
Each person’s assessment is individualised depending on your needs and what is happening for you.
How to prepare for your psychological assessment
A small amount of preparation makes a meaningful difference to the quality of the assessment and to how useful the outcome is for you.
Following are some suggestions about how you can prepare for the assessment:
- aim for a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast before the appointment
- bring or email through any prior reports, school records, specialist letters or previous assessments
- make a list of what the impacts are for you on your daily life, including day to day activities, relationships, work and education
- if you are requested to complete any questionnaires in your own time, complete these as soon as you can
- avoid scheduling anything demanding before or after the scheduled assessment time
Your psychologist will let you know if there are any other recommendations or requirements needed.
What a psychological assessmentprovides for you
A psychological assessment conducted at Brisbane Counselling Centre by a psychologist is not just about reaching a diagnosis. It is about understanding what is happening for you, to then be able to create valuable changes.
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- Answers to longstanding questions: Many people live for years with a sense that something is different without knowing what or why. A formal assessment replaces uncertainty with clarity
- Access to supports and services: A formal report from your psychologist can help with access to NDIS applications, university access plans, workplace adjustments, school-based funding and specialist referrals, all with thorough well-documented clinical evidence and a baseline of what is happening for you
- Better outcomes for families and partners: When parents, teachers or partners understand what is happening for a person, expectations, strategies and support can all be adjusted – leading to a reduction in frustration for all involved and improving the person’s experience at home, school, university or work
- A clear way to move forward: Specific actionable recommendations are an outcome from a psychological assessment, including therapy, allowances/adjustments required, or strategies that are clearly identified, so one can move forward, integrating real changes
- A decrease in self-blame:
Understanding a neurological or psychological basis for long-term difficulties shifts the narrative from personal failure to informed self-awareness – leading to a meaningful change for one’s mental health
If you require further information, feel free to call one of our friendly reception team members or send an email and we will be happy to help.
Help isavailable
If you think you may need a psychological assessment or you are unsure of what steps to take next, we can help support you at Brisbane Counselling Centre. Talking to a caring professional trained in psychological assessments will help to ease your mind and figure out what the next best steps are. Take the courageous step and reach out for help today.
If you are struggling or wondering about a psychological assessment, or are concerned about what is happening for yourself, it is important to seek assistance from a mental health professional to address what you are experiencing. Please call to speak with one of our friendly team members to discuss your needs further. The Brisbane psychologists and counsellors are available to help.
