1. Introduction, Consent, and Question Formulation (50-minute session)

• In the Introduction, Consent, and Question Formulation session, we will review informed consent of the intervention and discuss practical details of the assessment process, such as costs, duration, confidentiality, and how you would like the results to be shared.

• Next, we work together to create a clear plan for your assessment. We will help you express, in your own words, the specific questions or insights you hope to gain. Often, these questions address ongoing challenges, uncertainties, or issues — such as, “Why haven’t I maintained a lasting intimate relationship, even though I’m successful in other parts of my life?”, “Why do I struggle with sadness or anxiety even when things are going well?”, or “Do I need therapy, and will it help me?” Sometimes, your questions may be broad, “Why do I feel like this?” As you share each question, they will form the structure of the treatment and guide the next steps of the intervention.

2. Background Questionnaire (Completed Remotely by Client)

• Following the initial session, you will be provided a Background Questionnaire to complete. This questionnaire will ask about your personal history, past and current relationships, and current challenges. Completing this questionnaire will help your psychologist better understand your life and be able to put your psychometric data in context.

3. Clinical Interview (50-minute session)

In the Clinical Interview session, we go beyond information gathering to create a therapeutic experience where you can feel truly heard and supported. As we expand on the background information you provided and clarify your understanding of the issue, we work together to explore how past experiences and current challenges connect to your goals for growth. Your psychologist, having reviewed your Background Questionnaire, will ask thoughtful follow-up questions to understand your life in greater depth. This process not only gathers essential information but also fosters insight and self-reflection, making the session a valuable step in your therapeutic journey.

4. Standardized Mental Health Testing (Completed Remotely by Client)

Based upon the information collected during your clinical interview session, psychometrics will be chosen for your specific concerns, and you will be asked to complete such standardized mental health testing remotely before your next session. Of note, there will be a minimum of four days between the completion and submission of these tests and the next session, so that your psychologist has time to review and analyze your results.

5. Assessment Intervention Session (50-minute session)

During the Assessment Intervention session, we not only review testing results but also use these insights as a foundation for therapeutic exploration. This session serves as both an assessment and a therapy session, where you and your psychologist work together to dig deeper into the questions and “hypotheses” you have about what may be contributing to your challenges. By combining assessment with therapeutic techniques, we collaboratively identify underlying mechanisms and patterns, bringing greater understanding and emotional clarity to areas of concern. This integrative approach ensures that each insight gained is directly applicable to your growth and well-being, making the session both informative and healing.

6. Summary and Discussion Session (50-minute session)

• In the Summary and Discussion session, we will go over your test results together and explore how they relate to the concerns and questions you brought to the assessment. Your psychologist will explain what your test scores suggest, based on research and comparison with established norms, and ask whether these insights resonate with your own experiences. DM Psychology takes care to present results thoughtfully, drawing on research and an understanding of your unique perspective.

• By the end of our discussion, we will ideally have built a shared understanding that answers your questions and lays out clear next steps to help you move forward with the challenges you have been facing. These next steps could include targeted strategies, methods of self-improvement, or recommendations for therapy with specific goals.

7. Written Feedback (Securely Emailed to Client)

• Therapeutic Letter: Within one week of our Summary and Discussion session, DM Psychology will send you a written summary of your assessment results. This will include the answers we developed together in response to your questions. This summary takes the form of a personal letter addressed to you, and there is no additional charge for the preparation and delivery of such letter.
  
• Formal Psychological Report: Should you want a formal psychological report that is structured to be shared with other mental health care providers (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist), the same can be provided by DM Psychology at an additional cost. The cost for the preparation of such report is based upon an hourly billing rate of $260 per hour, up to a maximum of 4 hours.

8. Next Steps

• After completing the TA process, you have several meaningful options for continuing your journey. These choices are designed to help you make the most of the insights and recommendations gained during TA, supporting you in ways that best align with your goals:
  
  1. Guided Therapy with DM Psychology:
  Building on the progress made during TA, you can choose to continue working with me here at DM Psychology. Together, we can use your new insights as a foundation for ongoing therapy, focusing directly on the areas that matter most to you. This approach allows for a seamless transition from assessment to therapy by helping me already have a good understanding of your background and treatment goals in order to tackle your concerns with personalized guidance.
  
  2. Self-Directed Progress:
  For those interested in taking a self-driven approach, the feedback report from TA can serve as a roadmap to address your concerns independently. The recommendations provide practical strategies and tools that you can use to make progress on your own, whether through journaling, self-reflection, or specific self-help techniques tailored to your goals.
  
  3. Collaborative Work with a Different Provider:
  If you are already working with another mental health care provider or plan to do so, the insights and findings from your TA report can serve as a valuable resource in guiding therapy with them. Sharing this information with your therapist allows you to start or enhance therapy with a clear, informed understanding of your strengths, areas of focus, and practical steps forward.

Reach out if you have any questions or want to complete a Therapeutic Assessment