Evaluation Services
Evaluations and assessments are some of the many adult services offered by Psychological Associates of North Jersey. These tools are very useful in helping identify and confirm both problem areas and areas of strength, and can be used to refine recommended treatment or rehabilitation strategies.
What questions/issues can an adult evaluation address?
- We’re interested in adopting a child. Are we considered appropriate candidates?
- I’m experiencing a lot of physical pain. What are my psychological strengths and challenges that could impact the success of managing my pain?
- My physician, chiropractor etc. suggests I have a psychological evaluation before he/she approves a more intensive or invasive approach to my problem or pain management regiment.
- It seems that since having had a stroke, concussion, brain injury, seizure disorder, lyme disease or experiencing aging, I, my family or my physician suspect that there has been a change in my thinking, memory, behavior or emotions.
Adoption Evaluations
An adoption evaluation generally refers to the process of evaluating an individual or a couple for readiness and/or appropriateness for adoption. When required by an adoption agency, the evaluation is conducted to conform to the particular needs of that agency. For example, most adoption agencies require a psychological evaluation of the individuals while also addressing the quality of the relationship between the parties involved. This may, or may not, require the use of objective personality tests.
Neuropsychological Evaluations
A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of cognitive (brain-related) and behavioral functioning. It includes a non-invasive assessment of the domains of attention, memory, learning, general intelligence, thinking, language, executive functions including planning and organizing, sensory motor skills, spatial abilities and psychological state. A neuropsychological evaluation for an adult can be particularly helpful for rehabilitation planning and disability evaluations.
Pain Management Evaluations
Pain management evaluations are developed for the particular individual and circumstances. Such evaluations are often conducted to assess whether an individual is a good candidate for a particular medical proceedure. Other times an individual who has been experiencing unexplained chronic pain may benefit by an evaluation of any underlying psychological distress that could be contributing to the pain experience. There is a significant interrelationship between our mind and our body, each impacting the other. For example, a heightened state of anxiety can lead to an increase in the experience of pain. Evaluations addressing these areas can provide insight and action plans that can lead to effective pain management.
Personality Evaluations
A personality, or psychological, evaluation is an assessment of an individual’s psychological well being. It provides an examination of an individual’s personality, determines the existence and severity of symptoms of emotional distress, and can assess the psychological impact of stress and trauma. Most commonly, such an evaluation includes both personal interviews and objective paper-and-pencil tests, as appropriate.
The evaluation process is primarily determined by the type of assessment that is conducted and the particular referral question. For example, we typically begin psychological evaluations with an in-person meeting, to gather relevant history and information. The process of an assessment related to adoption, however, may be primarily driven by that particular adoption agency’s needs and required documentation. There may be one, or more than one, testing session required. After completion of the testing, or assessment, phase, a written report will be provided which will summarize the findings and highlight the recommendations. Many times a feedback session will be conducted, during which findings will be discussed, recommendations will be reviewed and questions will be addressed.
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