Psychological Testing

Faith-Based Psychological Testing

To understand what lies at the root of any mental health issues you may be experiencing, your therapist or counselor may make use of the information provided by neuropsychological testing to inform their diagnoses and come up with a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.

Irvine Christian Counseling offers a variety of psychological tests and assessments for people of all ages. Test results will be discussed with you from a Christian worldview, and your counselor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that specifically addresses the issues you are struggling with so you can find the mental health and peace that you desire.

What is Psychological Testing?

The term neuropsychological testing may be unfamiliar to some, but simply put, it is a type of specialized psychological analysis that will provide a wealth of information to your counselor about your symptoms and what effect they are having on you as a person. The information gained will help your counselor provide a more accurate diagnosis and decide on the next steps toward recovery.

Counselors employ many types of neuropsychological tests, including:

  • Specific clinical tests
  • Personality tests
  • Intelligence tests
  • Aptitude tests
  • Achievement tests
  • Career and interest tests
  • Occupational tests

Depending on your symptoms and your needs, the counselor will assess:

  • Personality
  • Mood
  • Language skills
  • Concentration levels
  • Attention span
  • Reasoning / problem-solving
  • Intellectual processing
  • Cognitive functioning

Psychological testing is useful to help diagnose the problems at the root of all sorts of emotional and behavioral issues, and even problems at work or school. The tests can help you and your therapist understand both what you are struggling with and why, ultimately helping to chart a course toward mental health.

Irvine Christian Counseling uses psychological testing to provide diagnosis and treatment for:

  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Child and Adolescent Behavior Problems
  • Early Childhood and Learning Disabilities
  • Mood Disorders
  • OCD
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Thought Disorders
  • Traumatic Experience

Are you tired of struggling with problematic thoughts and behaviors? Are you having trouble controlling your mood? Is your child struggling with concentration issues, impulse control, or school?

Irvine Christian Counseling works with children, teens, and adults to help them find the answers and relief that they need. Testing not only pinpoints your abilities, but it also shows you how to best use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses.

Everyone has their own reason for pursuing psychological testing. Perhaps your symptoms are interfering with how you function at home or in the workplace. Maybe your child is failing to thrive at school. Psychological tests and assessments provide your therapists with an accurate picture of your symptoms so that they can help you heal.

Psychological testing can:

  • Address a lack of direction and goals
  • Diagnose complex symptoms
  • Diagnose relationship difficulties
  • Evaluate intellectual functioning
  • Evaluate work or school struggles or impulsive behavior
  • Identify learning styles
  • Screen for learning disorders, developmental delays, or autism
  • Test for intellectual giftedness

The idea of being psychologically tested can be a fearful thing for some, but the reality is that it is relatively simple and mundane. These tests require no study or preparation and there are no right or wrong answers. It can help to think of it as a quiz that you will be guaranteed to pass.

Some tests are done on the computer, while others are more of a question and answer style conducted by your counselor. Either way, the questions are typically simple and straight forward, and the test instructions clear.

The testing process is ultimately for your benefit. It is one more toolby which your counselor can collect information that will help them provide you with the best care possible.

The Four Phases of Psychological Testing

All psychological assessments at Irvine Christian Counseling consist of four phases that may be composed of severaldifferent assessments relative to your needs.

Clinical Interview: A clinical interview will provide your counselor with important information about you such as your personal and family histories and professional background, including questions about various parts of your life and any mental health issues in your family history.

Assessment of Intellectual Functioning (IQ): IQ tests are well known and measure intellectual functioning, useful for helping to diagnose developmental delays or learning disabilities.

Personality Assessment: Contrary to what the name might suggest, personality tests do not test whether one has a personality. Rather, they help both you and your counselor to better understand your personality and can be good indicators ofpersonality dysfunctions and disorders.

Behavioral Assessment: Behavioral assessments help your counselor toput together a fullerpicture of your behaviors, thoughts, and any triggers. He or she will observe you and may even ask you to note down your moods, reactions, etc.

At your intake interview, a therapist will go over any concerns you might have and ask you about any symptoms you may be experiencing, along with any other information that may assist the neuropsychologist in administering the test.

Testing can include such things as written tests, puzzles, questionnaires, problem-solving exercises, etc. The testing varies in intensity and difficulty and can require anywhere from three to seven hours to complete, depending on whether it is evaluating cognitive and memory issues or testing for learning disabilities.

Once complete, the test results will be recorded, evaluated, and interpreted before being put into the form of a written report along with recommendations from the neuropsychologist. It is common for this to take several weeks. When it is complete the neuropsychologist will meet with you a final time to discuss the test results and work out a treatment plan.

Discussing Your Test Results

Your therapist will set up an appointment with you to review the results of your completed evaluation. Based on the results, they will discuss possible options for treatment. This may include such things as Christian counseling or even medication. Whatever the case, the treatment plan will be one that respects your faith and values.

Though you might be hesitant to pursue psychological testing and any subsequent treatment, Irvine Christian Counseling offers a safe and understanding environment. We will support you at each point in the process.

Faith-Based Treatment You Can Trust

Are you concerned that psychiatric care might conflict with your faith? The trained counselors at Irvine Christian Counseling will respect and honor your values. The holistic approach to healing is designed to help you enjoy lasting results that meet your needs and respect your faith commitments.

For more information about Christian psychological testing in Irvine, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!