PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

• IN CHILD CUSTODY AND DEPENDENCY CASES
• A PRIMER FOR ATTORNEYS
• DANIEL P. TRESSLER, PSY.D.

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PSYCHOLOGIST

• Non-medical doctoral practitioner trained in
  diagnosis and non-medical treatment of mental
  disorders, including major mental illness.
• Degrees Ph.D. Psy.D. Ed.D.
• Uniquely trained in the use of psychological
  tests in the measurement of behavior as part of a
  Psychological Evaluation.
• Professional Designation Licensed Psychologist.

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CAVEAT EMPTOR

• Beware of non-licensed personnel in agencies
  doing counseling or therapy.
• Beware of non-psychologists calling themselves
  psychologists.
• Beware of persons who are not psychologists
  calling what they do Psychological Evaluation.
• If not licensed, one is not a Psychologist.
• If not by a Psychologist, its not a
  psychological evaluation.

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESWHAT AND WHO

• COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
• PYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATION
• PYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
• PHARMACOTHERAPY
• PYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

• Not just an evaluation done by a psychologist.
• A systematic assessment of an individuals
  emotional, intellectual and behavioral
  functioning.
• Usually intended to answer a specific question or
  issue, e.g.
• Ability to parent
• Ability to protect
• Diagnosis and treatment recommendations

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTS

• SPECIFIC REFERRAL QUESTION
• Domestic Violence
• Ability to care for child
• Readiness for reunification
• Chemical Dependency
• Intellectual Capacity
• Mental Illness

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTS

• PERSONAL HISTORY
• Family History
• Medical and Psychological History
• Education and Employment
• Alcohol and Drug Use
• Legal History

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTS

• COLLATERAL INFORMATION
• Dependency Petition
• Judicial Review
• Court Pleadings
• Police Reports
• Arrest Records
• Medical/Psychological Records

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONFORMAL TESTING

• WHAT IS A TEST?
• A standardized procedure.
• Published, peer-reviewed.
• Able to be interpreted in a standard manner.
• Could pass the Frey test.

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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONFORMAL TESTING

• INFORMAL PROCEDURES
• Interview
• Life History Questionnaires
• Observations

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PROJECTIVES

• RORSCHACH
• Series of 10 Inkblots
• Has several so-called scoring systems, not
  necessarily normed.
• PROJECTIVE DRAWINGS
• HTP, HFD, KFD
• No real scoring system
• Interpreted on basis of accepted clinical lore.

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OBJECTIVE TESTS FOR CHILDREN

• Personality Inventory for Children
• Piers-Harris Childrens Self-Concept Scale
• RADS, RCDS
• MMPI-A, MACI, MAPI, APS
• Achenbach (ASEBA) Series
• Child Behavior Checklist
• Teacher Report Form
• Youth Self-Report

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THE BOTTOM LINEInterview Collateral
Data Test Data\ /\/Clinical
Impression\/Recommendations
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CLINICAL IMPRESSIONDSM-IV

• Axis I Acute Mental Illness/Syndrome
• Axis II Personality Disorder
• Mental Retardation
• Axis III Medical Problems
• Axis IV Psychosocial Stressors
• Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning
• 0-100 Scale