A program that will help you
Understanding an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, identifying emotional concerns and making therapy recommendations are the main goals of psychological assessments. Sydney offers a wealth of expertise in this area at Direct Focus Solutions (DFS). You can find our clinics situated in convenient locations across the city and beyond, and we also offer telehealth consultations so you can reach out to us from anywhere in Australia.
Psychological assessment is a process of testing whereby a combination of techniques are used to develop an understanding about an individual’s behaviour, personality and capabilities. It includes the use of interviews and specific psychometric tests to help establish a diagnosis and clarify symptoms, personality and coping style.
Each of the above components play a crucial role in a psychological assessment, but we understand the importance of using objective measures and combining them with interviews, self-reporting, and behavioural observations to determine the intervention and support you need. Additionally, we constantly monitor you and/or your child’s progress using our customised behavioural trackers.
A multitude of psychological tests assess an indefinite number of variables. Consequently, the proper means of assessment are crucial to supporting appropriate intervention strategies. For instance, your paediatrician may ask for your child to be cognitively assessed. In such a case, we would use a Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and a Weschler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT).
As another example, if you found yourself wondering why you have always found studying and staying on task difficult as an adult, we would recommend you undertake a Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) to begin screening for an ADHD diagnosis.
Our Support services are highly flexible!
The assessment process for both children and adults at DFS starts with a structured interview with either or both of our psychology and occupational therapy heads of team, depending on your needs. The interview assists us in establishing what the problem is, as well as identifying key factors in your personal history. It also engages clients with the process.
Once we have built up a picture of your behaviours and presentation, we can then start the tests to gain an individual profile about relevant issues, while highlighting the appropriate therapy interventions and where they should be focused.
Psychological assessment undertaken at any of our Sydney or Wollongong clinics can help with the diagnosis of mental health disorders, including:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD),
Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and
Intellectual Disability and Substance Abuse.
Such tests may also be beneficial for clients with acquired brain injury (ABI) and for improving performance in management and leadership development.
Psychological assessment has several benefits, both to practitioners and clients. It can help to confirm a diagnosis, particularly in complex cases. The tests also illuminate what interventions clients require, and their intensity, which is helpful in cases where clients seem to be holding things together during an interview, but in reality, require more clinical interventions.
Clients can feel empowered by, and engaged in, the psychological assessment process. This can help to develop a rapport with their clinicians and a deeper understanding of treatments. Most importantly, psychological assessments have been found to have positive effects when combined with personalised and collaborative test feedback.
Assessment Measures
Cognitive and psychometric assessments that are included in our psychological assessments in our Sydney clinics may feature:
- Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS)
- Beck Combined Youth Inventories of Social and Emotional Impairment (BYI)
- Connors Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)
- Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA)
- Visual and Auditory Continuance performance test (IVA)
- The Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
- Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
- The Weschler Memory Scale (WMS)
- Weschler Pre-school and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)
- Occupational Therapy Assessment Tools
- Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile
- Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ)
- Clinical observations in posture, gross, motor, fine motor, social behaviours and sensory preferences
- Functional assessment of IADLS and ADLS
- Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)
If you or your child need a psychological assessment, our Sydney-based specialists can help.
Schedule an Appointment for Psychological Assessment at DFS, Sydney
At Direct Focus Solutions we combine our extensive experience with a broad range of tools for psychological assessments. Sydney is home to several of our clinics across the city and beyond where we offer a comfortable and secure environment for all our clients. We also offer telehealth services. Contact us today to discuss your individual needs
Location
42 Gardeners Road, Kingsford, NSW 2032
Mail Address
kingsford@directfocussolutions.com.au
Phone number
1300 197 949
Hours
9:00am to 5:00pm (Monday to Friday)
