It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is already underway. As we begin to move through this season, which can be filled with many emotions (from joy to grief), many people are already looking forward to the new year. If you’re beginning to make plans for self-improvement in the new year, the Northern Colorado Assessment Center team invites you to add one more thing to your new year’s resolution list – scheduling a consultation with our team or setting up that assessment you’ve been putting off. Many people feel conflicted about scheduling an assessment for themselves or a loved one. They worry about the stigma surrounding specific diagnoses, or they would rather not know exactly what’s “wrong” with them. Luckily, assessment is about so much more than receiving a diagnosis. It’s about gaining insight and developing self-awareness about your strengths as well as those areas where you may have a more difficult time. Most importantly, assessment empowers individuals to utilize their strengths and available resources to overcome areas where they may be struggling. If you’re interested in giving yourself the gift of insight in the new year, read our blog to find out a little more about why you may benefit from assessment with our team.
Why Should You Schedule Assessment?
Many people think that assessment is just one thing. A big test that tells your doctor, therapist, or school administrator what’s “wrong” with you, so they can provide you with treatment or resources. Assessments are actually nuanced, customizable testing batteries that may incorporate a wide range of evaluative tools, including rating scales, standardized tests, observation, and interviewing. Assessments may be recommend for a wide range of reasons, but some of the many reasons these assessments are recommended include:
- Receiving diagnosis for a range of conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
- Understanding an individual’s areas of strength and weakness.
- Clarifying which academic resources and support services are necessary to accommodate a student’s needs.
- Determining cognitive or emotional ability for legal or medical purposes.
- Gaining the necessary knowledge to self-advocate for your needs in academic, professional, or personal settings.
What are the Benefits of Assessment?
There are numerous benefits to receiving a professional assessment, including:
- Increasing understanding of strengths and areas of struggle
- Developing a plan to receive appropriate support and resources to achieve goals
- Establishing your baseline to see progress over time compared to future tests
- Clarifying therapy goals and best counseling approaches
- Determining whether or not medication or medical interventions could be helpful
- Uncovering information that will help resolve the questions that brought you to assessment
- Managing symptoms of various diagnoses
- Creating a plan to change problematic behaviors
- Improving self-worth by clearly seeing how your strengths can be used to overcome areas where you may be less skilled
Ready to Schedule Your First Session?
Whether you’re interested in scheduling an assessment for yourself or a child, the Northern Colorado Assessment Center team would love to hear from you. Take a few moments to reach out to learn more about everything we have to offer or schedule an intake session in our practice. We look forward to hearing from you.
