Are you in therapy, thinking about attending therapy, or curious about your mental health symptoms and what they mean? Your therapist or primary care physician might recommend a psychological assessment.

You may be anxious or scared to take steps toward a psychological assessment, but we are here to ease your anxiety. Many people take psychological assessments every day. They are meant to test your strengths and weakness but, as long as you give true effort, you can never fail it! Not only can these tests not be failed, but they are also not harder than any regular school test that you’ve taken before.

Most people are afraid of being evaluated and participating in a psychological test, but we are here to guide you through the process so it feels stress free and you know what to expect along the way.

What is Psychological Testing?

Most psychological assessments are a battery of assessments (meaning several tests). They include looking at your personality traits, cognitive abilities, neurocognitive concerns, learning concepts, attention and behavioral assessments, and self-report of your symptoms.  That means that you will spend most of your time talking with a psychologist or psychology assistant and answering questions and performing tasks. Psychological testing cover topics such as, but not limited to, mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, personality and behavioral concerns, ADHD, learning disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and trouble sleeping.

When the testing is complete, the Psychologist will score and analyze the findings. A report is written about the findings to include recommendations. You will meet with the Psychologist, in person or online, to hear the results, be provided a copy of the report and ask questions. At times, therapy with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist is recommended along with other recommendations.

Topics Covered in a Psychological Test

Your Psychologist will ask you an array of questions that you should answer honestly. They will discuss your current concerns in life, including anything that is bothering you, and what puts you on edge. Depending on your age and abilities, at times we ask others in your life to also share their concerns.

Your Psychologist or psychology assistant will also ask how often you feel happy, your levels of stress, if you feel you worry too much, or if you struggle to cope with any other problems or concerns. They also go over medical information with you during your psychological testing. There is always a chance that medications, hormones, or other medical conditions could be impacting your behavior, so it is important to be as honest as you can when answering these questions.

Other topics that your therapist will ask are your education and work life, history of substance abuse, and trauma you’ve encountered.

Once there is a clear understanding of your concerns and you have shared the details verbally or through answering assessment questions on a computer, you will also be given a cognitive test (sometimes referred to as IQ testing), and other tests necessary based off what you shared.

Interpreting Feedback and Results

Within 2-8 week of testing, your Psychologist will set up a brief follow-up interview where they will deliver your results. You will have time to discuss your report and any diagnoses and/or recommendations. They could recommend that you see a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, anxiety counseling, stress management counseling, PTSD treatment or other trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, depression therapy, dietician guidance, or another health care treatment.

You will also be given coping strategies that you can use at home, work, or school, and books or podcasts that will inform you about the findings.

Your Psychologist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Psychological Testing and Your Psychologist

Getting a psychological test is easy and very informative. It may help you discern problems you were not aware you had.

Schedule a hassle-free consultation with a psychologist today and feel free to contact us with any other mental health questions you may have.