Invision Psychology can assist with the evaluation of various psychological conditions, encompassing mental health issues, developmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism, and learning difficulties.
Our assessment procedures utilise evidence-based psychometric tools complemented by clinical expertise, resulting in comprehensive findings and recommendations presented in the form of a report that will guide further clinical decision-making.
What are psychological assessments and how can they help?
Assessments can be invaluable for gaining insights into the root causes of psychological difficulties, formulating effective treatment plans, and or accessing supplementary services.
In most cases, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, typically involving an initial consultation with your general practitioner (GP) and a review of the final report by a treating physician, such as a psychiatrist or paediatrician. This collaboration ensures a clinical diagnosis and recommendations for treatment that may include options complementary to psychology intervention such as pharmacotherapy.
The assessment Process
Step 1. A consultation with your GP is recommended to review your initial concerns and you may be eligible for a Medicare mental health care plan for assessment and treatment of mental health conditions.
Step 2. Contact our office to start the intake process. This will involve completing our intake form and reviewing our information sheet and consent form.
Step 3. Your initial appointment will be a 1.5 hour interview to review your symptoms and history related to your presenting problem.
Step 4. During of following your initial consultation, assessment questionnaires will either be administered or emailed to you to complete at home.
Step 5. Assessments of autism, cognitive functioning and learning difficulties involve an additional in-person session to complete performance tests.
Step 6. All of the assessment information will be reviewed and compiled into a report.
Step 7. Your psychologist will schedule a feedback session to review the assessment results and recommendations.
Step 8. You may wish to have your results reviewed by a treating physician to obtain a formal diagnosis and receive information regarding other forms of treatment such as medication.
Types of Assessment Available
Mental Health: assessment of symptoms and their severity, related to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD or sleep disorders.
Cognitive Functioning: Commonly called an IQ test. Assesses various areas of cognitive abilities compared to a normed population. Required for a diagnosis of intellectual disability.
Learning Difficulties: Compares results of cognitive test with test of academic achievement, a significantly lower result for achievement can indicate a specific learning disorder (e.g., dyslexia)
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Requires input from multiple sources and various assessment tools (clinical interview, reports from parent, teacher, observation and performance test) and input from other health care providers.
ADHD: Requires input from multiple sources (clinical interview, reports from parent, teacher, observation) and review by paediatrician or psychiatrist to understand options for medication.
