Assessment and Screening Service
Solara Mental Health offers a full-service psychiatric and psychological testing and assessment service. All of our applicants are screened through a combination of our internal treatment team and outside consulting professionals. Our Psychiatrist physicians and our psychological clinicians have extensive experience in psychiatric and psychological testing and diagnostics. Our assessment service is available to Solara Mental Health clients, as well as to others who may not be participating in our treatment programs. This does involve additional costs for some services rendered.
Every brain is a unique ‘puzzle’ of genetics (nature), experiences (nurture), physical health, learned responses, personality, trauma/injuries and diseases. Our tests and assessments can sort out the factors that influence how the brain is working, or not working optimally, in order to understand and explain abnormalities.
We then use this information to create a ‘road map’ of customized recommendations for the most effective and efficient therapy, treatments and medications.
The Solara Mental Health Center’s Assessment Clinic can perform screening and provide global and targeted evaluations. While each assessment entails components specific to its category and to the individual, most assessments include the following:
- Individual History
- History of the Problem
- Family History
- Substance Use
- Developmental History
- Medical History
- Social History
- Mental Status
Psychiatric Evaluation
Conducted by our psychiatric physician, it is comprehensive and medical in nature. It may include blood tests or other medical evaluation (obtained through observation and interview), mood assessment, reality testing, and mental status. Following the extensive interview, the doctor will arrive at a psychiatric diagnosis, if appropriate. Our Psychiatrists are expert at extracting subtle physical and behavioral nuances that can help correctly pinpoint the presenting issues.
Psychological Evaluation
Our expert, clinical psychologists conduct this evaluation. It involves many of the same considerations of the medical evaluation, but it also includes client information collected from multiple data points, combined with specific testing tools. These aggregated information and test results provide a snapshot of behavior, cognitive functioning, mood and others. These are utilized to make interpretations and recommendations for ongoing care.
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Conducted by an expert neuropsychologist, a neuropsychological evaluation falls under the psychological evaluation category and is used to evaluate the relationship between brain function and behavior. This evaluation aids in identifying brain-based disorders, such as:
- Attention Disorders (ADHD; ADD)
- Memory Issues
- Personality Disorders
- Self-Awareness Disorders
- Cognition Deficit
- Emotional Expression Issues
The results of this testing will give a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s strengths and impairments in these areas. These can then be utilized to create a ROAD MAP of customized recommendations for therapy, treatments, and medications.
Assessment Services Summary
- Doctoral level psychologists and board-certified psychiatrists.
- Full spectrum of tests, both psychiatric and psychologic.
- State-of-the-Art assessment materials and resources.
- Expert explanation, diagnostics, and treatment recommendations provided
- Referrals provided to the psychiatric and psychological treatment communities.
