Assessments
Psychological assessment isn’t necessarily about placing you in a diagnostic box. Although a diagnosis can be incredibly helpful, this evidence based process helps understand what it is about you and your challenges that make you unique to the diagnosis - and how that impacts how you interact with the world around you. It is about gathering enough information to better understand the full picture.
Data driven assessments to better understand what’s going on; and to help you know what to do next.
When it comes to our mental health and wellness, it isn’t uncommon to know that something is making everyday life harder. But it can feel equally as hard to know what exactly that is, and why the difficulty is happening.
Our clients have in some instances wondered, if for example, ADHD could explain years of difficulty with focus, organization, and follow-through. In other cases, these individuals started recognizing traits of possible autism, OCD, or other thinking patterns and behaviors that leave someone feeling really frustrated, isolated, and maybe more alone than they want to be. Sometimes it’s anxiety, intrusive thoughts, memory concerns, or other symptoms have left clients wondering whether there is more going on beneath the surface.
Psychological assessment is an incredible tool for discernment. Data driven processes that leave out the guessing and bring concrete answers to the table make a world of difference.
The Center for Change at Kennett Square now offers psychological testing and diagnostic assessments with Dr. Raquel Johnson-DeVera, Psy.D. for those seeking a better understanding of their symptoms, strengths, challenges, and mental health.
In the assessment process, you will work with Dr. Johnson-DeVera to find a path to better understanding, and the beginning of making sense of what has been so hard to understand for longer than you have deserved.
Tests offered:
ADHD can affect much more than attention. Individuals may struggle with organization, time management, working memory, completing tasks, regulating emotions, or feeling constantly overwhelmed. ADHD can also play a serious toll on executive function and the success or lack thereof that we may experience at school, at work, in our homes, and in our relationships.
An ADHD assessment looks more closely at your symptoms, history, everyday functioning, and executive functioning to determine whether ADHD may be contributing to the challenges you are experiencing. This information can help tailor specific and effective supports in IEPs, in implementing effective communication strategies in our professional lives, learning how to better manage stressors at home, and also how to have a better command over our daily lives.
Intrusive thoughts, repetitive behaviors, reassurance seeking, checking, mental rituals, or persistent fears can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from generalized anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or other concerns. And the lived experience of this can be so deeply painful.
Psychological assessment can help clarify what may be contributing to your symptoms so that treatment can be better matched to what you are actually experiencing. Alongside that clarity comes a very clear path to navigating symptoms of OCD so you can experience a change in how you see yourself. It’s not uncommon that clients feel less shame, more personal agency, and a greater sense of wellbeing when navigating daily life, at work, at school, and with the ones we love.
Unfortunately, many, many people begin exploring autism after years and sometimes decades of feeling different, struggling socially, experiencing sensory sensitivities, masking, becoming easily overwhelmed, or recognizing autistic traits in themselves even after learning about neurodiversity. The impact of this disconnect from our true selves and what the world expects from us can result in isolation, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sometimes thoughts of self-harm or feeling like there is nowhere that we truly belong.
An autism assessment takes a closer look at you or your child’s developmental history, communication, social experiences, behaviors, patterns, and current functioning.
The goal is not simply to identify a diagnosis. It is to help you better understand how your internal mechanisms work and what support will be helpful moving forward. This information can translate into an IEP, adaptations in the workplace, ways to better navigate personal relationships, and to also help our loved ones better understand us.
Changes in memory, concentration, problem solving, processing, or everyday functioning can be frustrating, especially when you aren't sure why they are happening. This can be something that we experience with ourselves, and also with our loved ones such as our romantic partnerships and with older and aging parents and loved ones.
Depending on your needs, assessment may explore areas such as:
- Memory
- Attention and concentration
- Executive functioning
- Processing
- Problem solving
- Cognitive strengths and challenges
Testing may also be useful for older adults who are experiencing changes in cognitive functioning and would like additional information about what may be occurring. Along with this awareness, a clearer understanding and path forward emerge including everything from evidence based intervention to long term planning with our families and loved ones.
You Don't Need to Know Which Test You Need
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“How do I know what kind of assessment I need?”
You don't have to. That is our job!
Every assessment process begins with a beginning session with Dr. Johnson-DeVera or what we commonly call an intake session.
During this time, you’ll discuss your symptoms, concerns, history, and what you hope to better understand. From there, Dr. Johnson-DeVera will recommend the type and amount of testing that makes sense for you.
The intake session gives you an opportunity to understand the recommended assessment plan before deciding whether you would like to move forward with testing.
How Long Does Psychological Testing Take?
The length of an assessment depends on what you are trying to understand.
Some evaluations may require only a couple hours of testing, while more comprehensive assessments may take longer or involve multiple types of testing.
For example, an adult ADHD assessment may typically involve approximately 2–3 hours of testing, while a more comprehensive evaluation that also explores executive functioning, memory, or cognitive abilities may take longer.
You will receive a recommended testing plan before beginning so you know what to expect. Scheduling and delivery of the assessment and results will also be adaptable to your scheduling needs.
Meet Dr. Raquel Johnson-DeVera
Raquel Johnson-DeVera, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist with experience in psychological assessment, diagnostic interviewing, trauma-focused treatment, ADHD, neurodiversity, and evidence-based psychological care.
Her approach recognizes that test scores are only one part of a much larger person.
An assessment should help explain your experience- not reduce you to a diagnosis. Dr. Johnson-DeVera considers symptoms alongside your history, environment, strengths, challenges, and goals in order to develop recommendations that are meaningful to your life. With experience in private practice and working within the VA system, she understands the complexity that we face in our daily lives and has a deep passion for helping her clients to untangle the many complexities that we face as humans.
What Does the Assessment Process Look Like?
1. Start with an initial session
You’ll meet with Dr. Johnson-DeVera to talk about what you have been experiencing, your history, your goals, and the questions you would like the assessment to help answer.
2. Receive a personalized assessment plan
There isn't one standard testing package that works for everyone.
Based on your first meeting with Dr. Johnson-DeVera, she will explain what assessments she recommends, why she recommends them, how much time testing is expected to take, and the total cost.
3. Complete your testing
Testing may include questionnaires, structured interviews, computerized or written measures, cognitive testing, and other assessment tools depending on what is being evaluated.
Some assessments may also include information from a partner, parent, family member, or another person who knows you well. This will be discussed with you before any of these measures would go into place - and of course, only with your permission.
4. Review your results
Once testing and scoring are complete, you'll meet with Dr. Johnson-DeVera to discuss the findings.
Rather than simply handing you a report filled with clinical language, the goal is to help you understand what the results mean for your everyday life.
You'll have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss recommendations, next steps, treatment options, accommodations, or other supports when appropriate.
Why Consider an Assessment?
For many adults, an assessment comes after years of trying to figure things out on their own.
You may benefit from psychological testing if:
- Therapy has helped, but you still feel like an important piece may be missing.
- Nobody has been able to effectively explain you to you. And you can’t either.
- You frequently struggle with focus, organization, memory, or executive functioning.
- You've developed ways to compensate or mask, but keeping up feels exhausting.
- You've received different diagnoses over the years but they don’t seem to fit.
- Diagnoses you have received have felt like best-guesses, and maybe have been.
- Your symptoms overlap several conditions and you aren't sure which best explains you.
- You want recommendations that can help guide therapy or other treatment.
- You simply want to better understand yourself and the way your brain works.
You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis already in mind. Sometimes “I know something isn't working, but I don't know what it is” is enough reason to start the conversation.
Ready to Get Some Answers?
Contact The Center KSQ to inquire: info@thecenterksq.com