Kennedy Counseling
Approach to Assessment
I view psychological assessment as a collaborative process to understand the particular strengths and weaknesses of each person, and to answer questions about the possible causes of problems or distress that you may be currently experiencing. The assessment process is designed to answer questions about how cognitive abilities, behavior, and emotions may be influencing the client's ability to function in school, work, and interpersonal relationships. The assessment will both highlight strengths within the individual that can be drawn on, as well as areas that may be causing difficulty, resulting in concrete recommendations. Assessment is not meant to be psychotherapy, and will be brief and focused on the questions raised in your referral.
Types of Assessments
Assessments can focus on the following issues, dependent on the referral question:
- Learning Disability & ADHD
- Autism Spectrum
- Mental Health - Court Ordered, Parenting
- Risk of Violence - School, Employer
- Treatment Planning & Diagnostic Clarification
- Cognitive Impairment - Brain Injury, Dementia
Assessment Process
The assessment process has two parts that require your participation; a structured interview and the administration of psychological testing. In the first meeting, I will address any questions you may have and provide information of what the assessment process will look like. The first meeting also includes an extensive interview to gain relevant background information. During the administration phase, clients will be asked to complete a variety of tasks and assessment measures. In some cases a collateral contact may be contacted to gain more information. This process is tailored to the needs of the client, such as shorter testing sessions or more frequent breaks if necessary. The assessment process typically takes 6-10 hours, depending on the referral question and the amount of required testing. Once all the testing is complete, I will provide a feedback session to discuss results and recommendations for the future. In most cases, a copy of the written report will be provided at the end of the evaluation.