Receiving answers about our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are invaluable to help us understand ourselves better. Whether you are looking for clarity on why you may have difficulties concentrating on tasks or communicating with others, psychological assessments can provide us with these answers.

What are Psychological Assessments?

Psychological assessments include the use of screeners, comprehensive testing, and diagnostic tools to create an understanding of your challenges, strengths, and symptoms. This helps to provide you with answers and diagnoses of your mental health status, social functioning, and cognitive abilities. Receiving answers can not only help you to understand yourself, but they can be validating and support you in your day-to-day life.

The goal of formal assessments is to build a clear picture of how you are doing in different areas, such as your mental health, thinking skills, emotions, school or work functioning, and daily life. The results can help guide next steps to creating a treatment plan by identifying your strengths and challenges, or, in some cases, making a diagnosis. 

Why Might I Need an Assessment?

Assessments can be useful for many reasons. You may have noticed patterns of fatigue, low energy, challenges focusing, regulating your emotions, and retaining memories. When these symptoms begin to affect your ability to engage with others and be present at school or work, receiving a psychological assessment may be beneficial.

Some common psychological assessments include adult ADHD assessments with a Registered Psychologist and psychoeducational assessments, such as disability evaluation, ADHD therapy, giftedness, and mood disorders, to learn more about their child’s unique strengths and challenges. 

Getting an assessment as an adult provides you with more than a diagnosis, it explains your lived experience and can validate challenges that you may have been navigating on your own. Assessments can also support your medical team to provide treatment options and utilize your strengths so that you can engage with others and yourself in ways that suit your unique needs. 

How do I Receive an Assessment?

Receiving a psychological assessment can be confusing and stressful at times, but know that there are resources in place to support you through the process. Your family physician can offer referrals to providers who can offer you formal psychological testing. If you are already working with a psychologist or counsellor, you can inquire with them about the process of receiving an assessment.

Many psychologists can offer general assessments to provide their clinical judgment about what you may be experiencing. If further formal assessments are necessary, they can also offer a referral to a specialized provider who can conduct an assessment for formal diagnosing. This is especially helpful when receiving a psychoeducational diagnosis to support accommodations for school and work.

How much do Psychological Assessments Cost?

For children and adolescents under 18 years old, families can speak with their family doctor or pediatrician to explore eligibility for psychological assessments covered through Alberta Health Services. In some cases, referrals may also be made to private practice clinics for more specialized or timely services. For adults, there are generally fewer publicly funded options available for comprehensive psychological assessments, and many individuals are referred to private practice clinics, where assessment costs can range from approximately $1,200 to over $3,000 depending on the type and complexity of the assessment being completed.

What Happens During the Assessment Process?

After receiving a referral from your family doctor, school counsellors, or self-referral, the first appointment is typically an intake appointment where your symptoms, family history, and medical backgrounds are discussed. Sessions also cover goal-setting, psychological testing, and gathering information from other sources (e.g., teachers, partners, parents, etc.). Once information has been gathered, the psychologist will review and interpret the test results to identify strengths and challenges. A feedback session is scheduled to explain your results, discuss any potential diagnosis, and highlight areas of growth and strengths. The report would include recommendations and intervention for treatments, this could include accommodation for school or request for funding.

Feelings of anxiety during the assessment process are completely normal. Your psychologist is there to support you in each step of the way. Remember to check in with and care for yourself throughout the process.

Reaching out for guidance is a courageous and brave step; you also don’t have to take it alone. There are providers there to advocate for you, explore your lived experiences, and provide you with insight on how to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

This blog post was written by the team at Innerlogue Therapy & Psychology, including Priscilla Lee, Priyanka Minhas, and Jessica Simpson. Innerlogue Therapy & Psychology offers psychological services and assessments for children, adolescents, and adults at their Calgary Kensington and Midnapore locations.