PSYCHOLOGICAL & COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS
Psychological assessments are used to better understand what is happening for a person and can be requested by doctors, schools, employers, government agencies, and solicitors. One of the most common reasons for conducting an assessment is to diagnose a mental health condition or learning difficulty. When performing an assessment, Psychologists employ a combination of techniques to evaluate the mental wellbeing, behaviour, and capacities of the person being assessed. These techniques include interviews, clinical observations, self- and other-informant questionnaires, and psychometric testing. The information is then summarised into a report that provides a comprehensive picture of the person and may be used to identify the underlying cause of any problems he or she is experiencing.
Psychological reports also include a set of recommendations to help the person overcome difficulties, manage challenging behaviours, and improve their current level of functioning. These reports can then be shared with others, including GPs, Psychiatrist, allied health professionals, education providers, and work places, in order to ensure the correct supports can be provided for the individual.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CHILD / ADOLESCENT ASSESSMENTS?
A comprehensive assessment involves a detailed history (from the individual and/or where available, caregivers. This will involve both parents or guardians. The involvement of both guardians is particularly important if the child in question is required to live between two households. This part of the assessment will focus on:
Observations of your child in multiple settings (e.g., home, school, extra-curricular activities)
Family history of psychiatric or other medical conditions
Past medical history of the child in question (taking a “bio-psycho-social approach” including developmental and medical history)
Interventional strategies that have been trialed to date by caregivers and professionals
Psychologists will also request collateral information from prior treatment providers (e.g., GP, Paediatrician, Psychologist) as well as school (teacher, guidance officer or school chaplain).
The second part of the assessment will involve an interview with your child. Your child may be interviewed alone, which is common practice. Whilst taking a history, your Psychologist may also make recommendations for additional screening assessments with a Paediatrician, Neurologist, or Allied Health services (e.g., Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist) to screen your child for any co-existing medical, sensory, hearing, or language problems which might impact on their capacity to self-soothe and participate in school-or peer-based activities.
Depending on the history, your Specialist may recommend blood tests to exclude possible co-existing medical conditions that can typically manifest with anxiety symptoms. This is particularly important if you are considering medication.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN ADULT ASSESSMENTS?
Essentially, the assessment process is similar to that for child assessments. The difference is that Psychologists are more likely to conduct interviews directly with the client to gather any relevant information about the presenting problem and background history. Where needed the client's own caregiver, partner, children, employer/co-worker, or close family and friends may be interviewed and asked to complete psychological questionnaires about the client; this is to gather comprehensive information about the problem & history across different contexts. Information and previous reports may also be requested from other health care providers of the client.
All relevant information and assessment results are then summarised in a psychological / cognitive assessment report.
WHAT KINDS OF ASSESSMENTS?
Cognitive assessments
Intelligence assessments are helpful in determining a person’s learning capabilities and thinking skills by identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Intelligence assessments are often used to understand a person’s learning difficulties and inform recommendations for improving educational outcomes, including school-based interventions and support.Personality assessments
Personality assessments provide a detailed picture of a person’s personal characteristics, including traits, attitudes, and beliefs. This information can be useful for tailoring psychological treatment and predicting behaviour in a variety of contexts, such as school, work, and the general community.
Neurocognitive assessments
Please note Dr Nat does NOT provide neurocognitive assessments. Neurocognitive assessments are used to understand a person’s mental ability, including strengths and difficulties when performing tasks that require attention, memory, verbal comprehension, and problem solving. They are often used to understand the impact of brain injury or determine the extent to which a person is experiencing cognitive decline associated with neurological conditions.
REPORTS & LETTERS
Upon request and with sufficient notice, Natalja can either prepare a letter during or outside of consultation time with a client.
Psychological & cognitive assessment and Psychotherapy treatment progress reports for GPs and other referral sources are prepared once assessments have been completed. Turn-around time and a time estimate will be discussed in consultation.