Assessment consists of evaluating the relative factors in a client’s life to identify themes for further exploration.
Diagnosis which is sometime a part of the assessment process consists of identifying a specific mental disorder based on a pattern of symptoms that leads to a specific diagnosis found in the DSM IV TR. Both assessment and diagnosis are intended to provide direction from the treatment process.
Psychodiagnostics (psychological diagnosis) is a general term covering the process of identifying and emotional or behavioural problem and making a statement about the current status of a client. Psychodiagnostics may also include identifying a syndrome that conforms to a diagnostic system such as the DSM IV TR. This process involves identifying possible causes of the person’s emotional, cognitive, physiological and behavioural difficulties leading to some kind of treatment plan designed to ameliorate the identified problem.
The clinician must carefully assess the client’s presenting symptoms and think critically about how this particular conglomeration of symptoms impair the client’s ability to function in his daily life. Practitioners often use multiple tools to assist them in this process, including clinical interviewing, observation, psychometric. tests and rating scales.
Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing one form of mental disorder from another by ‘determining which of two (or more) disorders with similar symptoms the person is suffering from. The DSM IV TR is the standard reference for distinguishing one form of mental disorder from another. It provides specific criteria for classifying emotional and behavioural disorders and shows the differences among various disorders. In addition to describing cognitive, affective, personality disorders this also deals with a variety of disorders pertaining to developmental stages, substance abuse, moods, sexual and gender identity, eating, sleep, impulse control and adjustment.
Unless a thorough picture of the client’s past and present functioning is formed, specific counseling goals cannot be formulated. Furthermore, evaluation of progress, change, improvement or success may be difficult without an initial assessment.
Assessment, Diagnosis and Contemporary Theories of Counselling
Psychoanalytic theory: Some psychoanalytically oriented therapists favour psychodiagnostics. This is partly due to the fact that for a long time in the United States psychoanalytic practice was largely limited to practitioners of medi~ine. Some of these psychodynamically oriented therapies note that in its effort to be theory neutral the DSM IV TR eliminated terminology linked to psychoanalytical perspective.
Adlerian theory: Assessment is basic part of Adlerian therapy. The initial sessions focus on developing a relationship based on a deeper understanding of the individual’s presenting problem. A comprehensive assessment involves examining the client’s life style. The therapist seeks to ascertain the faulty, self defeating beliefs and assumptions about self, others and life that maintains the problematic behavioural patterns the client brings to therapy.
Existential theory: The main purpose of existent clinical assessment is to understand the personal meanings and assumptions clients use in structuring their existence. This approach is different from the traditional diagnostic framework because it focuses on understanding the client’s inner world and not on understanding individual from an external perspective.
Person centered theory: The best vantage point to understand another person is through his subjective world. They believe that the traditional assessment and diagnosis are detrimental because they are external ways of understanding client.
Gestalt theory: Gestalt theory gathers certain types of information about their client’s perceptions to supplement the assessment and diagnostic work done in the present moment. Gestalt therapists attend to interruptions in the client’s contacting functions and the result is a functional diagnosis of how individuals experience satisfaction or blocks in their relationship with the environment.
Behaviour theory: This begins with a comprehensive assessment of the client’s present functioning with questions directed to past learning that is related to current behaviour. Practitioners with a behavioural orientation generally favour a diagnostic stance valuing observation and other objective means of appraising both a client’s specific symptoms and the factors that have led up to the client’s malfunctioning.
Assessment consists of evaluating the relative factors in a client’s life to identify themes for further exploration.
Diagnosis which is sometime a part of the assessment process consists of identifying a specific mental disorder based on a pattern of symptoms that leads to a specific diagnosis found in the DSM IV TR. Both assessment and diagnosis are intended to provide direction from the treatment process.
Psychodiagnostics (psychological diagnosis) is a general term covering the process of identifying and emotional or behavioural problem and making a statement about the current status of a client. Psychodiagnostics may also include identifying a syndrome that conforms to a diagnostic system such as the DSM IV TR. This process involves identifying possible causes of the person’s emotional, cognitive, physiological and behavioural difficulties leading to some kind of treatment plan designed to ameliorate the identified problem.
The clinician must carefully assess the client’s presenting symptoms and think critically about how this particular conglomeration of symptoms impair the client’s ability to function in his daily life. Practitioners often use multiple tools to assist them in this process, including clinical interviewing, observation, psychometric. tests and rating scales.
Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing one form of mental disorder from another by ‘determining which of two (or more) disorders with similar symptoms the person is suffering from. The DSM IV TR is the standard reference for distinguishing one form of mental disorder from another. It provides specific criteria for classifying emotional and behavioural disorders and shows the differences among various disorders. In addition to describing cognitive, affective, personality disorders this also deals with a variety of disorders pertaining to developmental stages, substance abuse, moods, sexual and gender identity, eating, sleep, impulse control and adjustment.
Unless a thorough picture of the client’s past and present functioning is formed, specific counseling goals cannot be formulated. Furthermore, evaluation of progress, change, improvement or success may be difficult without an initial assessment.
Assessment, Diagnosis and Contemporary Theories of Counselling
Psychoanalytic theory: Some psychoanalytically oriented therapists favour psychodiagnostics. This is partly due to the fact that for a long time in the United States psychoanalytic practice was largely limited to practitioners of medi~ine. Some of these psychodynamically oriented therapies note that in its effort to be theory neutral the DSM IV TR eliminated terminology linked to psychoanalytical perspective.
Adlerian theory: Assessment is basic part of Adlerian therapy. The initial sessions focus on developing a relationship based on a deeper understanding of the individual’s presenting problem. A comprehensive assessment involves examining the client’s life style. The therapist seeks to ascertain the faulty, self defeating beliefs and assumptions about self, others and life that maintains the problematic behavioural patterns the client brings to therapy.
Existential theory: The main purpose of existent clinical assessment is to understand the personal meanings and assumptions clients use in structuring their existence. This approach is different from the traditional diagnostic framework because it focuses on understanding the client’s inner world and not on understanding individual from an external perspective.
Person centered theory: The best vantage point to understand another person is through his subjective world. They believe that the traditional assessment and diagnosis are detrimental because they are external ways of understanding client.
Gestalt theory: Gestalt theory gathers certain types of information about their client’s perceptions to supplement the assessment and diagnostic work done in the present moment. Gestalt therapists attend to interruptions in the client’s contacting functions and the result is a functional diagnosis of how individuals experience satisfaction or blocks in their relationship with the environment.
Behaviour theory: This begins with a comprehensive assessment of the client’s present functioning with questions directed to past learning that is related to current behaviour. Practitioners with a behavioural orientation generally favour a diagnostic stance valuing observation and other objective means of appraising both a client’s specific symptoms and the factors that have led up to the client’s malfunctioning.