There are times when we realize that our behavior, thoughts or actions are repeatedly and negatively impacting our daily lives. Through psychological testing, an individual can undergo a series of assessments conducted by a trained practitioner to determine why these patterns are occurring. This explanation – or diagnosis – can then inform treatment options and next steps.
Children and adults of all ages can undergo psychological testing in order to identify difficulties within the cognitive, social-emotional, or behavioral domains. Autism, mood disorders (ex: depression, bi-polar), executive functioning disorders (ex: ADHD), and even giftedness are just a few of the diagnoses that can be made through psychological testing.
What does psychological testing look like?
To gain a comprehensive understanding of a patient, a psychologist will choose a customized set of tests and assessments that are most relevant to the client’s individual needs and concerns.
Psychologists will conduct an interview with the client and the client’s parents if they are a minor. A variety of assessment tools will also be utilized and could include cognitive or academic testing, observational data such as play-based evaluations, or rating scales. Completing psychological testing can require several hours and multiple meetings.
A client should neither prepare nor practice these assessments ahead of time. It’s important to provide authentic answers so that the most accurate diagnosis can be determined.
While our team at Simply Modern is available to provide therapy services, we do not provide psychological testing.
To be connected with local practices that do provide these services, please review our referral list below.