Testing and Evaluations

Psychological Evaluations

Psychological evaluations are used, together with information about a client's medical, personal, educational and social history, to help obtain a better picture of how a person is functioning emotionally, interpersonally and perceptually. This type of evaluation typically uses both projective and objective test instruments (and may include the famous "inkblot" test). A psychological evaluation is usually done if there is a question about differential diagnosis (i.e., telling which of several diagnostic possibilities is more appropriate for a client) or for treatment planning purposes.

Neuropsychological Evaluations

Neuropsychological evaluations study brain/behavior relationships. This battery of tests looks at how a person's brain functions with regards to various cognitive processes. Neuropsychological evaluations include both paper/pencil tasks and various motor/hands-on tasks. We use a process-oriented approach to evaluation, where the process that the person uses when performing the tasks, as well as the test performance itself, is used to evaluate the client's functioning. Neuropsychological evaluations are often used when there is a question of brain functioning, such as in cases of brain dysfunction following a significant event to the brain (e.g., anoxia during the birthing process or from accidents (including near drownings), a stroke, a head injury, exposure to certain toxins) or in dementia due to aging or Alzheimer's.

Please note that The Institute for Family Development does not offer evaluations for purposes of competency, child custody, or fitness to stand trial.