There are many different types of psychological assessment. The type of assessment that someone is looking for (or might benefit from) depends entirely on the questions that the client and those involved would like to try and answer.
An assessment might be requested by an individual for themselves, by a family doctor, neurologist, physiatrist, psychiatrist, insurer, employer, parent, coach, trainer, family, or other people or parties involved in someone's care.
Some examples of questions that might lead to an assessment include:
An assessment might be requested by an individual for themselves, by a family doctor, neurologist, physiatrist, psychiatrist, insurer, employer, parent, coach, trainer, family, or other people or parties involved in someone's care.
Some examples of questions that might lead to an assessment include:
- Does this individual have dementia?
- Do I have depression or something else?
- Can I live on my own?
- Is this person experiencing deficits or impairments in their thinking abilities because of an accident (e.g., car accident), injury (e.g., concussion, loss of oxygen), or illness (e.g., tumor, Parkinson's disease)?
- Am I safe to go back to work following a head or brain injury?
- Does this individual have a psychiatric disorder (such as major depression, PTSD etc.)? What are the treatment recommendations? Return to work recommendations?
- What is this individual's level of intellectual ability? Do they qualify for services?
- What are my cognitive strengths and weaknesses?
- Is this athlete safe to return to play? Are there any treatment or RTP recommendations?
- Would this job applicant be a good fit for our team? Do their intellectual abilities and personality style fit what we are looking for?
How should I prepare? What should I bring?
You may be asked to print, review, and bring one or more of the consent / information forms on the Forms page...you will always have time to review these in person and ask as many questions as you may have.
Forms
Different assessments may have different requirements, please contact Dr. Owens if you have any questions. In general, however:
Dr. Owens typically supervises a senior PhD Clinical Psychology supervisee (3 days a week for a full year). As part of their training, these supervisees often administer sections of the assessments. They are bound by the same ethics and confidentiality as myself.
Forms
Different assessments may have different requirements, please contact Dr. Owens if you have any questions. In general, however:
- Try to get a good night's sleep the night before.
- Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment (time for travel, to find the location, and for parking).
- Eat something before you arrive so that you are comfortable until the lunch break.
- If you wear hearing aids or eyeglasses, bring them with you.
- If you were asked to print any forms, please complete them and bring them with you to your appointment.
- Take your medication(s) as you normally do, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
- There will be a meal break at noon, bring a snack, your lunch, or money to buy lunch.
- Bring picture ID and your health card.
- Bring medical records you might have that are related to your current illness or injury.
- Please bring a list of your current medications.
- If you are in school, bring current academic records.
Dr. Owens typically supervises a senior PhD Clinical Psychology supervisee (3 days a week for a full year). As part of their training, these supervisees often administer sections of the assessments. They are bound by the same ethics and confidentiality as myself.