Psychological Evaluation

Have you ever taken your temperature with a thermometer and found that you had a fever? Did you then seek care or treatment shortly after?

The Purpose of Psychological Tests

The purpose of psychological evaluation is a similar process. Your providers, your doctors, and the clinicians that treat you need some form of measures or reference to know what to treat, and what other areas of functioning show some sign of needing treatment.

Psychological evaluations are conducted to gather the information about you.

Thoughtwise is becoming the go-to resource in Tallahassee for quality psychological, neuropsychological, medical, and forensic assessments and services. These tests serve many purposes.

What do psychological evaluations measure?

Psychological tests are important because they:

• Work as diagnostic tools to identify disorder(s).
• Reveal impairments.
• Provide a measure from developmental expectation.
• Identify which psychological issues exist and the severity.
• Help determine eligibility or fitness.
• Help determine which treatments would be effective.
• Help identify risk and protective factors.
• Help us monitor your health.
• Help identify if your current treatment is effective.
• Indicate problems that you may face in the future.
• Provide information that cannot be derived any other way.

What will I do when I take a psychological evaluation?

Psychological tests may ask you for:

• The reason that you have requested to be tested.
• The reasons that you have sought treatment.
• Background information.
• Health information.
• Reports on your health.
• Your everyday life.
• The problems that you recognize.

These types of tests are often conducted using computerized or paper and pencil testing, and interviews with a specialist, often a psychologist, doctor, or counselor.

Many of these tests ask for you to report on, check a checklist or fill in a bubble about your:

• Behavior.
• Thoughts.
• Involvement in certain activities.

The major requirement of a psychological test is that you answer the questions to the best of your ability. Many psychological screenings or tests do not take long to be completed.

Some neuropsychological screenings and evaluations ask that you engage in activities that require your brain and body to work together. These types of tests are a bit more comprehensive and involve a little more physical effort.

Why do I need to take a psychological evaluation?

Some reasons that you may need to take a psychological assessment, or have been referred to be evaluated with a psychological instrument is to determine:

• Eligibility for employment.
• Fitness for certain procedures.
• Eligibility for certain benefits.
• If you should be diagnosed and treated for a certain condition.
• If you should undergo further testing.
• For purposes of guardianship.
• Where you are may be struggling.
• How events have affected you.
• And formulate treatment.
• Among many others.

If you have been referred to us or are seeking a treatment provider that can readily conduct neuropsychological, psychological, or forensic evaluations and other clinical tests in Tallahassee, please contact us.