Psychological Testing for Children and Teenagers
A psychological evaluation, or psychological testing, is a thorough process of assessment and screening administered by a psychologist. The methods used for the evaluation will depend on you or your family member’s needs.
The role of the psychologist doing the evaluation is similar to a detective looking for clues to solve a mystery. The more clues that can be identified, the more information you'll have to understand what's going on and decide what options are best suited to help them.
A psychological evaluation should be considered in cases where there is uncertainty about the reasons you or a loved one is having problems with mood, social relationships, behavior, emotions, or learning. In clinically complex cases and/or cases in which it is difficult for someone to identify the problem or articulate one’s own experiences, a full psychological evaluation can be an invaluable resource for providing diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations.
A psychological evaluation can be used to diagnose a variety of mental health conditions or disorders that impact memory, thought processes, functioning, and behaviors, including:
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Anxiety
- OCD
- Personality Disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder
- ADHD
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Trauma
- Other mood or cognitive disorders
Wynns Family Psychology also offers a number of evaluations helpful when there are court-ordered or court-involved cases.
What Can Be Expected During Psychological Evaluations?
A psychological evaluation may consist of a series of formal or structured psychological or neuropsychological tests as well as clinical interviews designed to identify and describe emotional, behavioral, or learning problems.
Psychological assessments may be written, given orally, or administered via a computer. They may involve a series of questions to determine how often you or a loved one experience certain symptoms, or you may be prompted to choose statements that best describe how you think, feel, and behave.
Depending on the test, the process can take several hours to a full day, and may be completed during several different sessions.
We Can Help with Psychological Testing
Wynns Family Psychology has a menu of options for psychological evaluations. Scheduling the initial consultation (or parent consultation) is a helpful first step. The psychologist will provide recommendations about testing after hearing your concerns and goals. Trauma, substance abuse, autism, and others assessments are not included, but can be added on.