Assessment & Consultation
Psychological Assessment
Fertility-Related Psychological Services
Presurgical Psychological Evaluations
| Psychological Assessment |
Types of assessments
I offer psychological assessment of individuals, couples, and families to investigate personality, intellectual, career, and neuropsychological functioning. I conduct all my assessments using an approach called therapeutic assessment, which is a collaborative method of answering questions clients have about themselves using psychological tests. For example:
- I know I'm smart, but I keep struggling in my career--what's going on?
- My friends say I'm moody--do I have bipolar disorder? And what will that mean for me?
- We are committed to our marriage, but we keep hurting each other--why is this happening, and what can we do?
- My father was an alcoholic; am I likely to become one too?
- Our family life seems very busy and stressful. Why is it so hard for us to enjoy our lives together?
- What career am I best suited for?
The hallmark of therapeutic assessment is that it is collaborative: the client and the psychologist work together to answer the client's questions and thereby develop the most complete understanding possible. The idea is that an assessment procedure itself can be
herapeutic when conducted this way, and research studies back this up.
Therapeutic assessment can be useful on its own, or it can bring new life or direction to an ongoing therapeutic relationship. It also may provide an excellent starting point for a new therapeutic relationship. When the client is working with other therapists, we include these professionals in the therapeutic assessment procedure (e.g., by inviting them to ask questions of the assessment and by including them in the feedback session) to the extent desired by the client.
How does it work?
Before the first meeting between client and psychologist, the client is asked to begin developing questions they want answered by the assessment. Then, during the first meeting, these questions are reviewed and discussed. The psychologist may assist in refining the questions and/or developing additional questions. The psychologist then selects appropriate psychological tests that will address these questions, and a series of sessions are scheduled during which the testing is carried out. These sessions are also conducted with a collaborative spirit, such that client and psychologist continue exploring thoughts and feelings throughout testing process. Once all tests are completed, a feedback session is held to answer the client's questions using the testing results.
Who is the ideal candidate?
Any person or group of persons in a meaningful relationship can be an ideal client for therapeutic assessment. The more the client(s) is/are curious about themselves, the more they can learn. I have experience doing assessments with adults, couples, children, and families.
How long does it take?
Typically about 4-6 weeks, but compressed assessments may be possible in as little as a week.
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| Fertility-Related Psychological Services |
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Modern biotechnology has made possible previously unimaginable medical miracles, and brought the joy of parenthood to many who might not have known it. Still, these procedures raise emotional and ethical questions that deserve careful consideration. Discussing your decisions with a psychologist trained in health and fertility-related issues can help you formulate your goals, identify the best way to reach them, and give you mental clarity and peace of mind.
Psychological Evaluations
I provide psychological evaluations to doctors and agencies working with egg donors, egg recipients, and surrogates. These evaluations consists of a one-hour interview in which the client is asked to describe her family, educational, and career history, and to discuss her thoughts and feelings about the fertility procedure. She is also asked to complete some psychological testing. The results of this evaluation are communicated to the doctor or agency, and are available to the client upon request. Most people experience the evaluation as a valuable and validating opportunity for reflection and clarification of thoughts and feelings.
Fertility-Related Counseling and Stress Management
The experience of not conceiving a child when you're ready can stir up a wide range of feelings, including disappointment, frustration, anger, shame, and helplessness. It is stressful to everyone involved, and that stress can exacerbate fertility problems. Learning stress management techniques can provide you with powerful tools to lower your stress level. Also, it can be extremely helpful to process your feelings with a professional familiar with fertility-related concerns, allowing yourself to grieve and preparing for your next steps.
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| Presurgical Psychological Evaluations |
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Doctors working with patients in need of major surgery (for chronic conditions such as back pain and obesity) often request a pre-surgical evaluation to asses the patient's readiness for surgery and potential need for pre- or post-surgical counseling. Research has shown that the success of many surgeries often relates to factors assessed in a psychological evaluation.
The pre-surgical evaluation consists of a one-hour interview in which the client is asked to describe their family, educational, and career history, and to discuss their thoughts and feelings about their medical condition and the proposed surgical procedure. They are also asked to complete some psychological testing. The results of this evaluation are communicated to the referring doctor and are available to the client upon request. Most people experience the evaluation as a valuable and validating opportunity for reflection and clarification of thoughts and feelings.
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