Psychological Assessment

Psychological Assessment services offered in Orange, South San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, CA

A psychological assessment is the first step to getting help for a mental health disorder. At Black Onyx in Orange and South San Francisco, California, Peter Pham, PMHNP-BC, and Diana Bush, PMHNP-BC, take care of your assessment, gathering the information they need to accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms, create an individualized treatment plan, and help you overcome your challenges. Call Black Onyx today or use the online booking feature to request an in-person or telemedicine appointment.

Psychological Assessment Q & A

What is a psychological assessment?

A psychological assessment is an in-depth evaluation of your mental health. Your provider assesses your emotional, behavioral, physical, and social health, getting the detailed information they need to determine the cause of your symptoms and create an individualized treatment plan.

What happens during a psychological assessment?

Your assessment begins as a conversation between you and your Black Onyx provider. They review your physical and mental health, learn the details about your current symptoms, and explore a range of issues, including:

Your developmental history
Your emotional and cognitive strengths and weaknesses
Your family relationships and dynamics
How current symptoms affect your school or work performance
How symptoms affect your family and social life

Your provider may complete standardized psychiatric and behavioral assessments by asking you questions and/or giving you a questionnaire or worksheet to fill out.

Standardized assessments ask about the frequency and severity of emotions and behaviors, with each one designed to identify specific mental health conditions, such as:

Depression
Anxiety
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Bipolar disorder

Your provider may run blood tests or other diagnostics to rule out physical problems that could cause similar symptoms.

Cognitive tests and IQ testing are not usually included in your initial psychological assessment. However, your provider may schedule them for a future appointment if needed.

What happens after your psychological assessment?

Your provider may make a preliminary diagnosis based on the information they obtain. But in many cases, they must wait until your standardized assessments are scored or they have the results from other diagnostic tests.

For the next step, they write a thorough report detailing the results and review the information with you. As soon as you have the diagnosis, your provider recommends a treatment plan and works with you to set the goals you want to achieve during your treatment.

Your plan may include integrative treatments, such as:

Medication management
Psychotherapy (individual or family)
Nutritional counseling
Dietary supplements
Exercise recommendations
Stress management
Meditation and relaxation training

After you have a treatment plan, you schedule the next appointment (in-person or through telemedicine). If you need medication, your provider sends the prescription to your pharmacy.

If mental health struggles affect your life, don’t wait to schedule a psychological assessment. Call Black Onyx or request an appointment online today.