Psychological Evaluation and Testing
What is a Psychological Evaluation?
A psychological evaluation can reveal underlying cognitive, psychological, and emotional aspects of a person using scientifically validated and reliable measures.
Psychological evaluation is a sophisticated process that uses multiple methods (e.g., clinical interviews, collateral information, psychological tests) to uncover information about a person’s unique abilities and needs that may not otherwise be known. For example, a psychological evaluation can help:
Illuminate a person’s cognitive strengths and struggles in such areas as general intelligence (IQ), verbal ability, perceptual reasoning, attention, executive functioning, processing speed, memory, and the ability to benefit from formal education or instruction.
Uncover a person’s emotional traits and tendencies, psychological needs, and patterns of relating to others
Formally diagnose or clarify psychological disorders. Testing is not always necessary for this purpose—trained mental health providers often diagnose DSM-5 mental health disorders without formal psychological testing. However, a psychological evaluation with testing can be used to clarify and confirm diagnoses, deepen understanding about a particular person’s mental health and psychology, and help with planning next steps in treatment.
What is the Purpose of Psychological Testing?
Psychological testing can be used for the following reasons:
You wish to understand yourself better to help you reach your personal goals
Your therapist or psychiatrist would like psychological testing to help guide your treatment
You are interested in learning more about your aptitude, underlying attitudes, and preferences to help you make decisions about future goals
You are seeking academic accommodations and need to learn if you qualify due to a diagnoses (e.g., of ADHD or learning disability)
You or a professional you work with—your therapist, psychiatrist, teacher—is seeking clarification about whether you meet the criteria one or more DSM-5 mental health diagnoses
You are a therapist, psychiatrist, or other professional seeking psychological testing for a client/patient. (I only offer testing for clinical purposes. I do not offer forensic testing services at this time.)
Psychological testing can be used to formally diagnose the following:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Specific Learning Disabilities:
Reading Disorder
Writing Disorder
Math Disorder
Intellectual Disability
Personality Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder
Mood Disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder I/II)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Dissociative Disorders including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Psychological Evaluation with Dr. Cover-Briggs
Dr. Cover-Briggs provides formal psychological evaluation and testing for adults and children over age 8. Formal diagnostic testing is not always necessary to diagnose a psychological disorder but is sometimes a useful component of psychological treatment. Even if formal testing is not used, only a trained mental health professional can diagnose a mental health disorder.
Some testing cases are most appropriately performed by a board certified professionals with advanced training in neuropsychology. Dr. Cover-Briggs does not provide diagnostic testing for the following conditions: Dementia, Korsakoff Syndrome, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other specific neurological conditions. If appropriate, clients who have received initial testing with Dr. Cover-Briggs may be referred to a neuropsychologist for further evaluation.