Psychological Evaluation

Psychological evaluations may be comprehensive or aim to answer a specific referral question regarding diagnosis, level of functioning, strengths and weaknesses, capacity, or appropriateness for a surgical procedure (such as bariatric surgery, cochlear implant, organ transplant, or pain management implant). Evaluations typically involve a clinical interview in combination with assessment measures. Evaluations may provide personality/emotional functioning assessment, cognitive assessment, diagnostic impressions and recommendation.

Psychological evaluations frequently serve an important role in the establishment of an accurate diagnosis of a client’s particular difficulty. Clinical psychologists, in particular, are trained as diagnostic specialists for mental health concerns, and place a great emphasis on properly diagnosing patients, providing a detailed explanation of the presenting issues, and formulating a treatment plan based on these findings.

Accurate diagnosis is vital for effective treatment for any condition. Psychological evaluations are perhaps best thought of as a way to learn a great deal about a person in a very short time, assuring that the right issues are being addressed with the proper techniques as quickly as possible. After all, the goal of therapy is to get people out of therapy, and back into the lives they want to live.