Psychological testing generates a wide variety of responses from patients seeking to enhance their mental health, a majority of which are not positive responses. However, psychological assessments represent a highly effective tool that provides keen insight into someone’s mental condition. The versatility of psychological testing is apparent in the large number of ways therapists utilize the assessments, such as analyzing personality traits and mental health conditions, as well as measuring cognitive and adaptive behavior skills.
What is Psychological Testing?
Psychological testing is a series of tests conducted by a properly credentialed therapist who gathers and organizes information about how a patient feels, thinks, and reacts to different stimuli. The results of a psychological assessment help a therapist develop an extensive game plan to give a patient the tools necessary to address one or more mental health issues. Psychological testing is not just implemented to measure the mental health condition of a patient undergoing child or adult therapy sessions. The tests also work well to determine the ideal career choice for a client. Therapists use a variety of tools to conduct psychological testing, which includes interviews, observations, and the completion of written tests.
Let’s review the five circumstances when psychological testing benefits the entire family.
Diagnose Depression
Families can be torn apart by one member who suffers from depression or even acute anxiety. Depression symptoms can produce a level of stress among other family members that destroys a tight interactive dynamic. Conducting a series of psychological assessments not only diagnoses the presence of depression symptoms, but also helps therapists devise a plan of action to mitigate the symptoms of the mental health condition.
Prevent Child Mental Health Issues
Children encounter a large number of obstacles that can be detrimental to the promotion of strong mental health. Whether it is conducted at school or in a more private area of an office, psychological testing helps parents make better-informed decisions about how to address the mental health issue that harms children and adolescents. A standard psychological test can diagnose the presence of one or more learning disabilities.
Discover Neurological Disorders
If left untreated, a neurological disorder can develop into a debilitating mental health condition that makes it difficult for a patient to be self-sufficient. A series of psychological assessments can detect the presence of a neurological disorder in just about any stage of development. After completing a series of psychological tests, a therapist decides whether to refer the patient for additional evaluations.
Detect a Developmental Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a serious developmental condition that inhibits the personal and professional growth of patients living with the condition. Psychological assessments can uncover a patient’s inability to interact with other people, which gives a therapist insight into the types of treatments and therapies that should improve symptoms.
Analyze Cognitive Ability
Knowing your cognitive ability can help you improve the way you process images, emotions, and negative events in a healthy way. Victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) benefit from having cognitive issues revealed, which EMDR therapy can help them address. Analyzing cognitive abilities also allows a therapist to provide advice on how a patient can take the right preventive steps to develop a healthy functioning brain.