A mental health evaluation (also known as a mental health assessment) is a way for Licensed Mental Health Professionals to determine the patient’s emotional state, thinking patterns, reasoning capabilities, and memory. It’s a process through which doctors and mental health experts are able to correctly assess an individual’s symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis. Evaluation for mental health serves as the foundation for devising a mental health therapy plan based on the initial evaluation.
During a mental health evaluation, you’ll be asked to provide detailed bio-psychosocial information. This includes a blend of information pertaining to physical, social, psychological, cultural, and environmental factors that may have an influence on your functioning. The assessment is typically done in the form of a one-on-one assessment with a mental health expert. They’ll also ask you about any current difficulties you’re facing.
The purpose of a mental health evaluation is to gain insight into the patient’s emotional and psychological well-being. It allows a licensed mental health professional to know how you’ve been thinking, feeling, responding, and remembering things. It also serves as a way to assess whether you’re at risk of hurting either yourself or those around you, because of your mental well-being.
In addition to this, the evaluation also attempts to differentiate between physical and psychological symptoms, and diagnose mental health conditions, disorders, and illnesses. The evaluation also helps in better assessing a person’s attitude and performance in other aspects of their life. Having gained the relevant information, a licensed mental health expert can then diagnose and recommend treatment options to best suit your individual needs.
How can you prepare for your mental health evaluation?
Before you come in for a visit at our mental health clinic in Barrow County, consider the following questions:
- What symptoms have you been experiencing?
- How often have you been experiencing these symptoms?
- How long do these symptoms typically last?
- Which thoughts, behaviors, and feelings have been troubling you lately?
- Has there been an increase in these thoughts/feelings/symptoms after a particular incident?
At Comprehensive Counseling Services, LLC, Valerie Wood, LCSW, C-CATODSW, ACSW, provides mental health evaluations. Make an appointment at our mental health clinic in Barrow County now!