Let’s Talk About Psychological Assessments: Why? When? & How?
Deciding to start therapy is a huge, brave step. But what happens when you’re in therapy (or thinking about it) and you feel like you just need more answers? Maybe you or your child are struggling, and you just can’t quite put your finger on why.
If that sounds familiar, you might benefit from a psychological assessment. Think of it as getting a detailed owner's manual for your brain!
What Is a Psychological Assessment, Really?
A psychological assessment is simply a focused, in-depth process where a trained psychologist gathers tons of information to understand how you or your child thinks, feels, and learns. It’s like being a detective for your own well-being.
Here’s the simple breakdown of what we do:
We Chat: We’ll talk to the client (and often parents/teachers) to hear the story from all angles.
We Observe: We watch how things are going in real time.
We Use Tools: We use specialized, scientific activities (tests, questionnaires, and tasks) that help us measure things like attention, memory, and mood.
We Deliver a Plan: The final result is a report that gives you a clear diagnosis (if one exists) and, most importantly, concrete, usable recommendations for moving forward.
The goal? To replace confusion with clarity, so therapy and daily life can finally click into place.
When Should You Consider This "Brain Manual"?
An assessment is usually recommended when the picture feels complicated or things just aren't adding up.
For the Kids (and Teens):
When we see kids struggling, it’s often hard to tell what’s causing the challenge. Is it a focus issue, a learning issue, or just big emotions?
School Struggles: They're smart, but their grades don’t show it. We can check for Learning Disabilities (like Dyslexia) or issues with ADHD.
Behavioral Puzzles: Sudden, intense mood swings or struggles to connect with others. We look for underlying conditions like Anxiety, Depression, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
No Progress: You've tried tutors, talked to teachers, and maybe even started therapy, but nothing is sticking. We can pinpoint what's getting in the way.
For the Adults:
Many adults come to us feeling like they’ve been fighting an uphill battle their whole lives without knowing why.
Lifelong Challenges: "I've always felt different, disorganized, or socially awkward." We can explore if Adult ADHD or Adult Autism are at play.
Therapy is Stalled: You know you're struggling with mood or focus, but your previous treatments haven't hit the mark. A deep dive helps refine the diagnosis.
Need for Support: You need official paperwork to get accommodations at college or work.
Four Simple Signs It Might Be Time
If you're still on the fence, here are four practical clues that an assessment could be your next best step:
Things Are Fuzzy: You’ve received conflicting advice from different professionals, and you still don't have a clear name for what's going on.
No Traction in Therapy: You’ve been putting in the work, but after a few months of therapy, you’re still feeling stuck in the same patterns.
The Effort/Result Gap: You or your child are working extremely hard, but the effort doesn't match the results (especially in school or work).
School/Work is Asking: You need formal, comprehensive documentation to get the necessary accommodations or special education services.
Take the Next Step for Clarity
If this information resonated with you, the best way to determine if an assessment is right is by having a brief, zero-pressure conversation.
We invite you to reach out to Kindred Roots Therapy in Okotoks today! You can book a free 15-minute consultation with Monica, a Registered Psychologist and Educator. Monica is ready to listen to your concerns and help you decide if a psychological assessment is the right "map" for your family’s journey.