14 Jan Psychological Testing Used in Treatment Center
When their teen enters a treatment program for crisis intervention, many families are overwhelmed about what to do next. They may understand that reaching out for help was a positive first step, but may realize that their child was struggling more than they thought they were. It’s possible that your child may have been hiding some of their struggles from them or that they were not aware that they had been impacted as negatively as they were by some of the events that they have experienced. Psychological testing used in a treatment center can help clarify your teen’s diagnosis during a critical turning point in their recovery process. Each piece of the puzzle is important in understanding how to help your child.
What is psychological testing?
The goals of a psychological assessment are to better understand a person’s strengths and weaknesses, identify potential problems with negative thoughts and coping mechanisms, and make treatment recommendations. Psychological testing is not one single test, but a series of scientifically developed tests and procedures that assess various aspects of a person’s psychological functioning and the way it impacts different areas of their everyday life.
Why might my child need a comprehensive assessment?
Sometimes a diagnosis given in an outpatient setting doesn’t give families a full picture of what they can do to help their child. It is common to recognize your child might be struggling with their mental health, but it may be harder to understand how their emotions are tied to the ways they’ve tried to cope.
Rather than looking just at problem behaviors and giving a quick fix, a thorough behavior assessment takes into account:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Background
- Family dynamics
- Home and school environments
- Risk behaviors
Types of tests and procedures might include:
- Interviews with the teen and their parents can offer insight into what issues stand out to them. Interviews allow for observation of social, language, and communication skills.
- Behavioral Observations refer to monitoring the teen’s behavior during the assessment and in other more natural environments, like in the classroom, with friends, with authority figures, or with family.
- Informal Assessment Procedures may include supplementary information like school records, grades, medical records, informal background questionnaires, and personal documents.
What are the benefits of psychological testing in a treatment center?
- Your teen is in a supportive environment to process difficult topics that may be brought up by psychological testing.
- They may have been admitted to the program for a different reason than some of the underlying issues that may have been building up for a period of time.
- Testing can involve ongoing assessments in multiple settings to better understand how their behavior changes in different environments.
- Professionals can use this information to make appropriate treatment recommendations when they have a better picture of your child’s long-term needs.
ViewPoint Center Can Help
ViewPoint Center is a specialty hospital for teens who struggle with depression and other mental health issues. ViewPoint Center a comprehensive therapeutic assessment facility that is licensed and provides 24-hour nursing. Viewpoint offers comprehensive assessments. Post evaluation, treatment plans are established to meet the unique needs of each student. By the end of the treatment period at ViewPoint, families have a clear understanding of the child’s diagnoses and are offered full guidance on how to move forward and seek proper treatment.
For more information about the psychological testing offered at our treatment center, call 855-290-9682.