A psychological evaluation provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual from many different avenues. The information obtained can be used by a number of professionals for a variety of purposes.
They are individualized and client-centered. Depending on the purpose and plan, they may run over multiple sessions or take multiple hours to complete. As physical health and mental health problems continue to advance, this type of assessment can be a golden educational opportunity.
Here are five benefits of a psychological evaluation.
Gaining a Better Understanding of Yourself
How often do you question why, or even think about why, you behave the way you do? Or maybe you wonder why you excel in some areas, but struggle in others? Many attribute behaviors to personality, but that doesn’t really explain the why. Others never even consider the why.
A psychological assessment is one way to dive deeper into learning about what makes you tick. It allows you to get to know yourself better, especially if you suffer from a mood disorder. The assessment process can include personal interviews, educational testing, aptitude testing, cognitive testing, behavior assessments, personality assessments, and neuropsychological testing. All of these can provide a full examination of what makes you you.
Screening for Mental Health
A psychological evaluation can also be an effective tool to screen for any mental health disorders or concerns. By participating in the evaluation, any symptoms or patterns of behavior can be identified.
Common disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can be detected for further investigation using other tools. A psychological evaluation should not be used as a sole measure for diagnosing these disorders but rather as a guideline or roadmap forward.
This evaluation, in conjunction with other measures, can also help detect neurological disorders (for example, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, MS, Huntington’s Disease, and traumatic brain injuries) or neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, autism). It also allows for guidance on treatment to reduce symptoms and provide needed support.
Testing Cognitive Function
An important benefit of participating in a psychological evaluation is gaining a better understanding of your cognitive abilities and functioning. If there are no glaring issues, you may not think about the level your brain is operating at. Through this assessment, you can gather information on whether your brain is working to properly process information and emotions in a healthy way.
Knowledge is power, so this type of evaluation can detect possible future concerns early and allow time to address it with a professional. Preventative care for health issues is key.
Emphasizing Strengths
Having a psychological evaluation may seem like it is pointing out “negative” things, but there are positive benefits. One of those is to learn more about your strengths and be able to hone in on them.
No one is good at everything; that’s just a fact. This assessment can identify where your strengths lie, especially if there are unconventional ways where you shine.
Receiving Treatment
A psychological evaluation has the potential to uncover areas of concern or traits needing to be addressed that you may not be aware of. It can also give you the answers you need for a problem you knew existed but couldn’t quite put a finger on.
By receiving these results, you can take that information and find the appropriate help, especially if current methods haven’t been giving you the results you need. A proper diagnosis leads to proper support. A more detailed picture allows for more effective compensations and adaptations.
If you’re interested in learning more about yourself or hope to find better answers to ongoing questions, a psychological evaluation can be a good option. Contact us today to make an appointment to learn more about psychological evaluations and how they can be a great complement to your anxiety or depression therapy sessions.
