Understanding Your Evaluation Options

We often receive questions about the different types of evaluations offered by mental health professionals. With so many options, it can be hard to know which is the best choice. It’s important to consider what you hope to learn, how much time you have, and how you’d like to use the results - these areas vary from one type of assessment to another. Below are brief descriptions of a few common types of assessments. While not comprehensive, we hope this provides a starting point for asking questions when choosing an evaluator.

At the Carolinas Center, we strive to create the most comprehensive and cohesive picture possible and specialize in providing psychological evaluations.

Psychological Evaluation

A psychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. While a client may come in with suspicions of a particular diagnosis, the evaluator will cast a wide net to ensure that all possible factors are considered. These evaluations utilize multiple sources of information that include, at a minimum, psychological testing and detailed interviews with the person being evaluated.

Specialized education and training in administering and interpreting psychological testing are needed to conduct a psychological evaluation. Most psychologists with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology are automatically qualified nationwide (with licensure), while those with a doctoral-level degree in another specialty (such as counseling, school, health, etc.) may be qualified if they meet state-specific training/experience criteria. In North Carolina, a mental health professional with a Master’s degree can complete evaluations if they hold the appropriate training and experience to become a Licensed Psychological Associate.

Before beginning an evaluation, it’s helpful to ask the following:

  • Will I be meeting with the same person for all appointments, or is testing administered by someone else in the office?

  • What kind of testing will be completed? Are there any types of testing that cannot be included? Examples include educational, cognitive, neurological, or vocational testing.

  • Are there any conditions that you will not diagnose?

  • What kinds of information do you rely on or gather when completing the evaluation?

  • Will the evaluation meet the minimum standards for obtaining accommodations with school, work, and/or standardized testing boards? If your evaluator is unsure, you should check with the overseeing agency or organization for this information.

Diagnosis-Specific Evaluations

Evaluations can be focused on assessing for a specific diagnosis or condition, such as ADHD, Autism, PTSD, or a Substance Use Disorder, to name a few. These assessments tend to require fewer appointments and can often be completed faster than a psychological evaluation. Psychological testing may or may not be included, and will depend on the qualifications of your evaluator.

We recommend asking the following questions before beginning this type of assessment:

  • Will you offer diagnoses for other mental health conditions that may be either in addition to or in place of the specific focus? For example, an adult woman may meet the criteria for Autism while also exhibiting symptoms consistent with PTSD.

  • What kind of psychological testing will be completed, if any?

  • Will the evaluation meet the minimum standards for obtaining accommodations with school, work, and/or standardized testing boards? If your evaluator is unsure, you should check with the overseeing agency or organization for this information.

 

Clinical Assessments

Sometimes called a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment (CCA), these assessments include a detailed interview to identify any mental health conditions that may be present and can be completed by any licensed clinician. Treatment recommendations are also offered. Typically, additional sources of information like records or collateral interviews aren’t gathered. A clinical assessment can be completed in one appointment that is often no more than 90 minutes in length, and the findings are available quickly. However, the assessor may recommend following up with a psychological evaluation if testing is needed to rule out multiple possible diagnoses.

Helpful questions include:

  • Are there any conditions that you will not diagnose?

  • If a psychological evaluation is recommended, can this be done at the same practice to expedite completion and avoid starting over?