Psychological assessment most often involves the use of standardized tests, which have been administered to hundreds, or usually thousands, of people in the same format. Different scores on these tests have been shown to correspond to different patterns of behavior.

In order for any test to be useful, it must have the ability to predict some aspect of a person's functioning. For example, some tests predict academic achievement, some tests predict parenting style, some tests predict personality traits, etc. The test results are evaluated with regard to other factors such as a person's history and self-report, and sometimes include the observations of others.

Psychological testing can be useful in a number of ways: to evaluate school performance, to predict suitability for a job, to assess parenting potential, to determine eligibility for disability... the list is quite extensive. In the practice of psychotherapy and psychiatry, psychological testing can help clarify a diagnosis, identify strengths and weaknesses, and recommend a treatment plan.

My experience with psychological assessment spans over twenty-five years, working with psychiatry, court services, social services, and school systems to provide the most comprehensive and most useful information to the client.