Psychological Assessments

Psychological testing may sound intimidating, but it’s designed to help you. Psychologists use tests and other assessment tools (like questionnaires, rating scales, structured interviews, etc.) to measure and observe a patient’s behavior to arrive at a diagnosis and guide treatment.

Psychologists use tests and assessments for a wide variety of reasons. Children who are experiencing difficulty in school, for example, may undergo aptitude testing or tests for learning disabilities. If a person is having problems at work, or in personal relationships, tests can help a psychologist understand whether the person might have issues with anger management or interpersonal skills, or certain personality traits that contribute to the problem. Other tests evaluate whether patients are experiencing emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression.

Psychological tests and assessments allow a psychologist to understand the nature of the problem, and to figure out the best way to go about addressing it.