Getting Ready for a Psychological Evaluation
A helpful guide to help you learn about the process & testing activities.
3 min read
What You'll Learn
The Process
Testing Activities
Maintaining Current Routines
Getting a psychological evaluation can be intimidating. Even merely mentioning the word “test” can be incredibly stressful for some people, which is why we tend to avoid that word altogether. To help get you situated for your upcoming appointment, please consider the following:
1.
Learn about the process.
While use a variety of test batteries, tailored to each person, here are some components common to most psychological assessments we complete. These include:
A meeting between one of our psychologists and person (or the child’s parents), to discuss the developmental history, strengths, and the nature of current concerns [approximately 90 minutes].
Meetings between the psychologist and the person participating in the assessment, to complete psychological testing. This involves two (or more) sessions, each about three hours in length.
Interviews with teachers, therapists and/or other important people in the person’s life, if indicated.
Review of any relevant medical, mental health, and/or school records.
One or more debriefing meetings with the person participating in the assessment and/or with his/her parents.
Consultation with school personnel, treatment providers, or other people in the person’s life, if requested.
By integrating information from so many different sources, we are often able to gain a robust and sophisticated understanding of a person’s needs, gifts, and/or struggles.
2.
These are not your traditional “tests”.
Maybe you're thinking of the kinds of tests we all took in school? Or perhaps you're worried you’ll have to write an essay? Try to think of a psychological evaluation as a doctor’s appointment with games, puzzles, and other kinds of activities.
These assessments are centered around the individual and custom-tailored for each person. They allow us to get a better understanding of how your mind works and identify your specific needs and psychological strengths!
Testing can look different for different people but may consist of activities like:
Answering questions out loud and on the computer
Building designs & completing puzzles
Reading, writing, spelling, and math
Drawing
Memory “games”
3.
You don’t need to change anything!
That’s right. When it comes to prepping for a psychological assessment, you don't need to change anything in your daily routine. Any medication should be taken as usual on the testing day unless your clinician says otherwise.
Simply making sure that you get a good night's sleep and decent breakfast prior to the appointment are the most important things you can do. You may even want to bring a snack or bottle of water to your appointment. In fact, we encourage that!
Being alert and ready is the priority here, sometimes these appointments can last a few hours, so adequate rest and food are essential.
Also know that there are many places nearby for lunch (on the same block), or you may bring a lunch with you
4.
Take a deep breath.
Seriously, it goes a long way. It's super common to feel anxiety or stress when it comes to these assessments, but it’s important to remember that none of these activities are things you can study for.
We simply want to get to know you. We are here to help and we’ll be present every step of the way. If you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to ask!
In the end, you're here because you're seeking information and we want to provide that!
All we ask in return is that you the patient try their best.
We look forward to meeting you!
Schedule an Appointment with Sarah Smead or Taylor Shirkey Today!
We accept your online inquiries 7 days a week and have specific office hours for in-person engagements. Outside of normal office hours you can receive immediate assistance at a local Urgent Care facility or, if necessary, please dial 911 for emergency services.