Psychological

Assessments

Approximately 20% of Canadians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Not all of these issues will require a psychological assessment, as there are situations where the presenting symptoms make the issue easily identifiable and treatment can begin immediately. However, in some cases, presenting issues can be complex and it may be difficult to separate one psychological issue from another. In these situations, it is prudent to complete a psychological (mental health) assessment to identify the issue(s) correctly and initiate the appropriate treatment protocol. 

In the areas of learning, cognition, executive functioning and developmental challenges, assessments are essential as it is difficult to accurately identify difficulties in these areas without the benefit of psychometric measures and the clinician observing the client’s behaviour. 

During the past 18 years, difficulties with learning, cognition, executive functioning and development have become more readily identified and the need for assessments has never been more important. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, more children have been identified with a learning disability than all other disabilities combined. At present, it is estimated that 3% of children meet the criteria for a learning disability, while approximately 500,000 adults have a learning disability but are unaware.  

According to statistics from the DSM-V (the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders), approximately 3 – 7% of children experience difficulties with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Based on these numbers, one child in every classroom of 25 – 30 students will experience difficulties with this issue.

In the area of Autism, approximately 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At present, Autism is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in Canada. Unfortunately, this issue can go undiagnosed and according to the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of 42 boys and 1 out of 189 girls will go undiagnosed. 

Injuries to the brain are far more common than most people realize and currently represent the number one cause of disability in children and adolescents. Brain injuries can also be caused by a medical condition or illness such as a stroke, tumor or infection, or can be present from birth and related to a medical or genetic condition. Even mild brain injuries can lead to difficulties with attention, thinking, learning, memory, language and emotions. A Neuropsychological assessment can help assess brain functioning and to help identify if there are any deficits, areas of weakness or problems in thinking skills, emotions or behaviours.

Why Participate in a Psychological Assessment?

At Sullivan + Associates, we conduct several different psychological assessments to help find the answer to important questions.

Assessments are typically required when an important clinical question needs to be answered for one of the following purposes:

  • self-discovery
  • to determine appropriate treatment planning for psychotherapy/counselling
  • establish recommendations and accommodations for school
  • secure funding for support at school or in the community
  • provide diagnostic information for physicians so the correct medication can be prescribed when clients are interested in using medication to help treat their symptoms  
  • provide diagnostic  information for an insurance provider

Types of

Psychological Assessments

At Sullivan + Associates, we typically complete 5 types of assessments: Psychological (mental health), Psychoeducational, ADHD, Autism and Neuropsychological assessments.

With all assessments, the overall format is relatively similar, as we typically follow a 5-step process.

The Psychological Assessment Process

1. Clinical Interview

A clinical interview typically lasts 1-2 hours and involves answering questions about the following:

  • the presenting problem
  • history of the issue
  • psychological treatment history
  • past medical history 
  • psychosocial history
  • etc.

Before the interview is completed, the Psychologist will provide their recommendations for assessment/testing. These recommendations typically align with what is discussed during the initial intake with the assessment team. On occasion, the Psychologist will discover during the course of the interview that there are other areas they wish to explore to provide a fuller clinical picture and better answer the referral question. In these situations, the client (or the client’s guardian) will meet with the Assessment Coordinator to discuss additional costs that would be associated with additional testing. If the client wishes to pursue the additional testing, these measures will be added to the assessment. If not, it’s noted in the report that these measures weren’t completed but they could be helpful in providing a fuller answer to the referral question.

2. Psychometric Testing

This step involves completing self-report questionnaires or performance-based psychological tests that help the assessor to better understand the issue that is being investigated. Psychometric testing can vary between 1 hour for a Psychological (mental health) assessment and upwards of 6 hours for a Neuropsychological assessment.

3. Test Scoring Data Analysis and Clinical Interpretation

During this stage of the assessment process, test data is scored, analyzed and compared with the Psychologist’s clinical impressions and interpretation. If the assessment question hasn’t been answered fully at this stage, further testing may be completed if the client is interested.

4. Report Writing

A psychological report is written to discuss the information obtained in the clinical interview, test results, diagnoses and treatment recommendations. We aim to keep our reports in the 6 – 8 page range for psychological (mental health reports) and 10 – 12 pages for more specialized reports, such as Psychoeducational, ADHD, Autism and Neuropsychological assessments, to help avoid overwhelming the reader with information. We also strive to write in a plain, easily understandable writing style, so the report can be understood and the recommendations can be utilized. With children and adolescents in particular, we do our best to highlight their strengths in the report. Despite the significant amount of time and complexity involved in completing psychological reports, we understand the importance of being timely. With Psychological (mental health) assessments, reports are generally completed within 1 – 2 weeks. With more specialized assessments, such as Psychoeducational, ADHD, Autism or Neuropsychological assessments, reports are typically completed within 6 weeks. 

5. Feedback

The last step of a psychological assessment is communicating the findings and discussing treatment recommendations and/or accommodations to utilize at home, or in some cases at school or work. During the feedback session, the Psychologist will explain the results of the psychometric tests, their diagnostic impressions and explain how to utilize treatment recommendations and accommodations discussed in the report.