Assessment: What it is and what it is not
Assessment Process
Starting a psychological assessment can be a big step in your mental health journey, and it may feel a bit daunting! Here’s the good news: you’re not in this alone. Whether the assessment is for personal insight, school, work, or another reason, understanding what to expect and how to prepare can help ease worry and ensure you get the most out of the experience.
Before the assessment intake, take a moment to reflect on why you’ve chosen this step. What questions do you hope an assessment psychologist can answer? Is it to better understand your mental health, explore the potential of a diagnosis, find tools for personal growth, or all of the above.
You know yourself best, and sharing what’s going on for you is valuable for interpreting your assessment. Some questions you might want to consider are:
Your challenges: What areas feel difficult right now? How long have these been a challenge for you? When did you first notice them? How have they impacted you?
Patterns: When and where have you experienced these challenges?
Your strengths: What has been helpful for you in navigating challenges and life experiences?
On the day of the assessment, make sure to tell yourself that you are doing an incredible thing for yourself and investing in your mental health. Pack for the day with some snacks and any paperwork or previous reports your psychologist has asked you to bring. Make sure to tell the psychologist if you took medication prior to the assessment.
After the assessment you might have some questions and these are important for your psychologist to know. Please reach out to the assessing psychologist with questions and remember you’re not alone. Your psychologist is there to guide you every step of the way, answer your questions, and provide support. This is a collaborative process, and the psychologist is here to help you uncover valuable insights about yourself.
Your psychologist will reach out to you once all the testing, questionnaires, and write-up have been completed. An appointment will be scheduled to go over the results, findings, and recommendations in detail and to answer all your questions. A follow-up to this appointment is often scheduled approximately one-month later to answer any further follow-ups and to ensure the process has been helpful for you.
