Properly Assess Your Mental Health with Psychological Testing
Psychological testing may sound intimidating, but it’s designed to help you. Psychological testing services are available for assessing learning disabilities, ADHD, personality, career interests and premarital compatibility, to name a few. Through psychological testing, we can assess our clients’ behaviors, emotions and thoughts, giving us a clearer, more objective picture of how counseling or neurotherapy services can be structured to better help achieve their therapy goals. Call Chapin & Russell Associates for more information or to speak to one of our licensed clinical psychologists to arrange an evaluation.
What is Psychological Testing?
In many ways, psychological testing and assessment are similar to medical tests. If an individual has physical symptoms, a primary care provider may order X-rays or blood tests to understand what’s causing those symptoms. The results of the tests will help inform them on the best treatment plan. Psychological tests and assessments serve the same purpose. Psychologists use tests and other tools to measure and observe a client’s behavior and functioning to better understand the nature of a client’s presenting problems and to figure out the best approach to go about addressing them. Tests and assessments are two separate but related components of a psychological evaluation. Psychologists use both types of tools to help them arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. When administered and evaluated properly, psychological tests help to more accurately and objectively determine the underlying issues, develop the treatment plan and assess the progress of treatment as it continues.
What Does Testing Measure?
Psychological testing is a valuable tool for counselors assessing a client with potential mental health issues. The data gathered during psychological testing helps determine what affects a client’s mental health and what might be done to resolve any problems. In addition to mental health, Chapin & Russell most commonly uses psychological testing to measure:
- Behavior – We measure the social and practical skills of a client. Such testing determines an individual’s ability to function within a home, school or work environment.
- Aptitude – We measure a client’s ability to perform specific tasks. Such testing determines the areas where an individual excels or is weakest (language, math, reasoning, creativity).
- Cognitive Ability – We measure a client’s ability to problem solve, reason, comprehend and memorize. Such testing helps determine an individual’s intelligence and the learning subjects they potentially struggle with.
- Personality – We measure the characteristic patterns of traits that clients exhibit in different life situations. Such testing helps determine whether an individual is spontaneous or reserved, introverted or extroverted, etc.
The Benefits of Psychological Testing
Overall, psychological testing helps paint a better picture of a client’s mental health, ability, and personality. Chapin & Russell will often have clients undergo psychological testing when looking to diagnose a mental health disorder or determine how to best address mental health concerns. Some of psychological testing’s most valuable benefits include:
- Increased accuracy of mental health disorder diagnoses
- A greater understanding of treatment options that will work best
- Pinpointing a client’s strengths and weaknesses
- A proper assessment of a client’s level of functioning
- An understanding of problematic behaviors
- More complete understanding of one’s self
Give Us a Call
To maximize the effectiveness of therapy and treatment from our counselors, allow Chapin & Russell’s clinical psychologists to perform psychological testing for you or a loved one. Learn more about testing options and our specialized areas of counseling by contacting Chapin & Russell Associates today at 309-681-5850. We are located at 3020 W Willow Knolls Dr, Suite 2, Peoria, IL 61614. We offer general counseling services and telehealth therapy for clients in Peoria, East Peoria, Dunlap, Washington, and communities throughout Central Illinois.
