PSYCHODIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS

Psychodiagnostic assessments are completed for a variety of reasons and can support individuals who are struggling with mental health difficulties. An assessment or a diagnosis are not required to start therapy! However, the assessment process can be helpful if you are unclear regarding what might be going on for you, or if you believe that formally obtaining a diagnosis might be beneficial for you in some way.

By assessing an individual’s presenting emotional, behavioural, and psychological symptoms, an assessment will explore diagnostic clarification, provide a diagnosis if one is warranted, and will provide recommendations to aid in the facilitation of treatment planning.

Completing a psychodiagnostics assessment does not mean that an individual will be diagnosed with a psychological disorder. In some cases, an individual’s symptoms will be described in the report along with why the symptoms do not meet DSM-5-TR criteria for diagnoses.

When your assessment is complete, your psychologist will provide you with a comprehensive report that contains information about your background, presenting problems, diagnoses, and recommendations for treatment. This information will then be shared with you in a follow-up “feedback” session that will include ample time to address any questions that you may have.

  • INTAKE

    You will discuss you concerns and goals for the assessment.

  • ASSESSMENT

    You will meet with your therapist for a clinical interview. This can vary in duration but typically it will last from 2-3 hours and may be split-up into more than one session. You will also be asked to complete some self-report measures which will provide further evidence for specific diagnoses or symptoms.

  • FEEDBACK

    Once the assessment is complete, you will meet with your therapist to review the results and recommendations.

  • REPORT

    You'll receive a detailed report including all the information that you provided in your diagnostic interview (assessment), your self-report measures and evidence-based recommendations for interventions you can seek out. Often, the clinician will also offer information on resources you can look into to better understand symptoms and/or diagnoses endorsed. You are encouraged to share your report with your circle of care (i.e., treatment team, family doctor, therapist, psychiatrist) to aid in the treatment of your symptoms, however, this is completely your choice who you share this report with.

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