Finding an assessment psychologist is not always as simple as searching online and clicking on the office closest to you. In this blog, you can explore some of the factors that may play into finding the right assessment psychologist to provide testing for you or your child. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Norther Colorado Assessment Center team if you have questions about our psychologists or available assessment options.
What Types of Testing Are Offered?
This is an easy one. If the assessment psychologist doesn’t offer the type of testing you or your loved one needs, they aren’t the right person for you. In most cases, you can find this information on a psychologist’s website or by making a quick call to their office. Keep in mind that assessments typical involve a whole battery of tests that are customized for the individual, so there’s no one right test for Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Instead, the assessment psychologist will select a number of tests and evaluative methods to gather the necessary information to create a thorough report. However, if they don’t do testing for ADHD and this is one of your main referral questions, you may want to work with a different provider. Additionally, many assessment professionals specialize in testing for specific age groups (children, adolescents, adults). While these clinicians may offer testing for other age groups, if they focus on one, this is likely where they are the most knowledgeable.
What Is Their Training & Experience?
This one is really important. Assessment psychology is always evolving. We’re still learning more about diagnoses, testing styles, and recommended resources and support services, so even if an assessment psychologist has a degree and is properly licensed, it’s still important to know that they are committed to ongoing training and continuing education. This ensures your psychologist will utilize the most recent and evidence-supported testing methods and diagnostic criteria. In addition to education and training, experience matters. Assessment is a unique skill that can take many years to master, and those years of experience lead to more nuanced and comprehensive testing and evaluative reports that help clients clearly and completely answer their referral questions.
Do They Make You Feel Comfortable?
This one can be hard to gauge before you actually visit an assessment office, but you can usually get an idea of whether or not you’ll feel comfortable working with a clinician simply by chatting with them or their staff for a few minutes over the phone and asking questions as you schedule your visit. You can also read reviews of the site to find out what other clients are saying about them. Another great way to ensure you find the right assessment psychologist is to ask for recommendations from your friends, physicians, school educators or administrators, and others who have experience working with these individuals.
Will They Help You Understand the Results?
Following your assessment, the testing psychologist should provide a report that details the results of the evaluation. These reports may confirm a diagnosis, outline possible support needs, and describe strengths that can help individuals overcome any areas of struggle. Some assessment professionals create reports that are easy to understand, but others may be difficult to comprehend and full of complicated jargon. In addition to providing clearly written assessment reports, many assessment professionals will schedule a follow up visit to review their reports with you, and many even offer consultations where you can review your report and plan for resource meetings and other steps to make use of the information gained through assessment. This is another factor that will be difficult to determine in advance, but you can always ask what their reporting looks like, whether they review the materials with you, and in some cases, you can even request a sample report.
Consider Working with Us at Northern Colorado Assessment Center
The Northern Colorado Assessment Center team understands that you have a variety of testing and assessment practitioners to choose from in the Fort Collins area. We hope you’ll take the time to get to know us a little better and consider scheduling testing services with our knowledgeable team of assessment professionals. To get started working with us, simply take a few moments to contact us over the phone, via email, or using our secure online form.