Santa Margarita Solutions Center is now a local training clinic for doctoral students in clinical psychology. Our students are under the supervision of our doctoral program faculty, psychologists with expertise in psychological, educational, and cognitive assessment.

 

Through the use of a variety of standard psychological tests, we will attempt to answer the questions that you may have for your children, your family members or for yourself.  These questions are generally concern learning disabilities, academic functioning, personality functioning or coping styles. We will give a report with the test results, interpretations and recommendations. 

Psychological testing offers opportunities to help you explore where you are and where you would like to be, whether assessing your career interests, or your psychological or educational needs.





We welcome referrals for psychological evaluation and other assessment batteries from individuals, mental health professionals, schools, physicians, and parents. Therapists choose among a variety of assessment instruments depending on the referral question. Some of the techniques include objective and projective personality tests, intellectual and achievement tests, and behavioral assessments.
 

What might this be?




Helping a Family Member

Many times, families, spouses, or friends are the first to suspect that their loved one is challenged by feelings, behaviors, and/or environmental conditions that cause them to act disruptive, rebellious, or sad. This may include, but is
not limited to, problems with relationships with friends and/or family members, work, school, sleeping, eating, substance abuse, emotional expression, development, coping, attentiveness and responsiveness.

It is important for families who suspect a problem in one, or more, of these areas to seek treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for mental health disorders is available.

Comprehensive psychological evaluation

The following are the most common components of a comprehensive, diagnostic psychological evaluation. However, each evaluation is different, as each individual's symptoms and behaviors are different. Evaluation may include the
following:

--Description of behaviors present (i.e., when do the behaviors occur, how long does the behavior last, what are the conditions in which the behaviors most often occur)

--Description of symptoms noted (physical and psychiatric symptoms)

--Effects of behaviors/symptoms as related to the following:
work performance, school performance, relationships and interactions with others (i.e., spouse, co-workers, family
members, neighbors)

--Family involvement

--Activity involvement

Psychological interview

--Personal and family history of emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders

--Complete medical history, including description of the individual's overall physical health, list of any other illnesses or conditions present, and any treatments currently being administered

--Laboratory tests, in some cases (may be used to determine if an underlying medical condition is present)

--Educational assessments, speech and language assessments

Psychological assessments

Evaluation of a Family Member

It is natural, and quite common, for spouses and family members to question themselves when it becomes necessary for a loved one to be psychiatrically evaluated, and may have many questions and concerns as to his/her welfare and
emotional well-being. Common questions frequently asked include the following:

What is wrong with my spouse/family member/loved one?

Is he/she abnormal?

Did I do something wrong in my relationship with him/her to cause this?

Does he/she need to be hospitalized?

Will he/she require treatment?

Will he/she "outgrow" or stop performing these behaviors at some point?

Is this just "a phase" he/she is going through?
 
What will treatment cost?

Where do we go for help?

What does this diagnosis mean?

How can my family become involved?

Once a diagnosis is made, family involvement and active participation in treatment is extremely important for any individual with a mental health issue. The psychologist will address questions and provide reassurance by working with you to establish long- and short-term treatment goals for your
loved one.