Why psychological testing is important

Psychological testing requires a clinically trained examiner. All psychological tests should be administered, scored, and interpreted by a trained professional, preferably a psychologist or psychiatrist with expertise in the appropriate area. Psychological tests are only one element of a psychological assessment. They should never be used as the sole basis for a diagnosis. A detailed clinical and personal history of the child and a review of psychological, medical, educational, or other relevant records are required to lay the groundwork for interpreting the results of any psychological measurement.

Cultural and language differences among children may affect test performance and may result in inaccurate test results. In addition, the child's level of motivation may also affect test results. Prior to the administration of any psychological test, the administrator should provide the child and the child's parent with information on the nature of the test and its intended use, complete standardized instructions for taking the test including any time limits and penalties for incorrect responses , and information on the confidentiality of the results.

After these disclosures are made, informed consent should be obtained from the child as appropriate and the child's parent before testing begins. All psychological and neuropsychological assessments should be administered, scored, and interpreted by a trained professional. When interpreting test results, the test administrator will review with parents what the test evaluates, its precision in evaluation, any margins of error involved in scoring, and what the individual scores mean in the context of overall test norms and the specific background of the individual child.

Test anxiety can have an impact on a child's performance, so parents should not place undue emphasis on the importance of any psychological testing. They should speak with their child before any scheduled tests and reassure them that their best effort is all that is required.

Parents can also ensure that their children are well-rested on the testing day and have a nutritious meal beforehand. Norms —A fixed or ideal standard; a normative or mean score for a particular age group.

Psychopathology —The study of mental disorders or illnesses, such as schizophrenia, personality disorder, or major depressive disorder.

Quantifiable —A result or measurement that can be expressed as a number. The results of quantifiable psychological tests can be translated into numerical values, or scores. My professional experience of using therapeutic psychological assessments is extremely positive. I find they bring an insight, clarity of focus and opportunity to engage with patients in an open and powerful way that I have not found in any other way or method of working.

We are able to keep a clear focus on what we are working on and why. Poston, J. The Hub is a platform to share ideas, cases and concepts that bridge the gap between academia and the real world. Think about it as the real world textbook, a platform rich with experiences.

Many brilliant solutions, the so called tacit knowledge, is embedded in the brains of people that do not have the platform to express them or at least reach a wider audience. The Hub is a device to unlock this knowledge and share it with the wider world. The Hub gives you an opportunity to make a difference. If they suspect they may have a particular problem, they may look online for a practice test of that problem.

In fact, practicing ahead of time usually backfires — when you try to take the test in a certain way, the answers may be inconsistent and make you appear to have more problems than you actually do. The best thing you can do is find a licensed clinical psychologist that you trust. Then be yourself, answer their questions honestly, and trust them to help you appropriately. At LifeStance Health , we have been committed to creating an agency our community can trust and know they can find the individualized support they need.

Our clinical staff highlights our diverse skills and specialties as well as our ability to provide guidance and insight across an array of important issues that may be touching your life. Please call us to set up an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting in any way we can. Truth be told, it is constant work for professionals to with the ever-changing lingo.

After reading this article, we hope you will better understand the basics of psychological assessment, who administers psychological testing, the subspecialties of psychological testing and what sort of testing you or your child might need.

Formal psychological testing is conducted by licensed clinical psychologists, typically within one of three specialties:.

Ask questions of the psychologist who will conduct the testing before you commit your child or yourself to the process. Todd Corelli received his Ph. His extensive experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families includes a large private therapy practice working in the community. For the past 18 years, Todd has worked across the country and internationally as an independent consultant for all types of referring professionals.

He has worked in a variety of settings, including homes, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and wilderness therapy programs. Todd Corelli, Ph. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Abby Jenkins is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in psychological testing. Abby Jenkins, Ph. Back to the Blog Autism. Boarding Schools. Eating Disorders. Gap Year Career Counseling.

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