Psychological & Personality Testing
In-depth assessment for diagnostic clarity, treatment planning, and deeper self-understanding.
Sometimes the question isn’t simply “What diagnosis do I have?” but rather “Who am I, and why do I experience the world the way I do?” Comprehensive psychological testing offers something that symptom checklists cannot: a nuanced portrait of your psychological makeup—your characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, relating, and defending against distress.
This kind of assessment is particularly valuable when the clinical picture is complex, when previous treatments haven’t worked as expected, or when you and your treatment team need a deeper understanding to guide the work ahead.
Types of Assessment
Personality Assessment
A comprehensive exploration of your personality structure, including characteristic defenses, relational patterns, emotional regulation, and identity organization. Useful for treatment planning and self-understanding.
- Rorschach Inkblot Test
- MMPI-3 / MMPI-A-RF
- PAI (Personality Assessment Inventory)
- Projective drawings and narratives
Diagnostic Clarification
When symptoms don’t fit neatly into one category, testing helps distinguish between conditions that can look similar on the surface—clarifying whether you’re dealing with bipolar disorder vs. PTSD, personality pathology vs. an adjustment disorder, or complex trauma vs. psychosis.
- Structured diagnostic interviews
- Symptom validity measures
- Collateral information review
- Comprehensive cognitive screening
Treatment Planning
Testing can identify what kind of therapy is most likely to help, what therapeutic relationship factors to attend to, potential obstacles to treatment, and psychological resources to build upon.
- Assessment of insight capacity
- Attachment style evaluation
- Defense mechanism analysis
- Strengths and resilience factors
When Is In-Depth Testing Appropriate?
Comprehensive psychological assessment is not always necessary, but there are circumstances where it provides irreplaceable value:
Diagnostic Uncertainty
When it’s unclear what’s driving your difficulties—when symptoms could reflect multiple conditions, when previous diagnoses don’t quite fit, or when treatment based on existing diagnoses hasn’t helped.
Treatment Impasse
When therapy has stalled or previous treatments haven’t produced expected results. Testing can reveal obstacles to change and suggest new directions.
Complex Clinical Presentations
When multiple conditions may be present, when trauma history complicates the picture, or when symptoms don’t follow typical patterns.
Personality Concerns
When there are questions about personality organization, character pathology, or longstanding patterns that affect relationships and functioning.
High-Stakes Decisions
When important decisions hinge on accurate understanding—such as surgical candidacy, disability evaluation, or forensic matters.
Self-Understanding
When you want a deeper, more nuanced understanding of yourself beyond diagnostic labels—your psychological strengths, vulnerabilities, and characteristic ways of engaging with the world.
The Assessment Process
Initial Consultation
We begin with a conversation about what brings you to testing, what questions you’re hoping to answer, and what previous evaluations or treatments you’ve had. This helps me design an assessment battery tailored to your specific needs.
Testing Sessions
Comprehensive psychological testing typically requires 6-10 hours, usually spread across 2-3 appointments. You’ll complete a variety of measures: structured interviews, self-report questionnaires, cognitive tests, and projective techniques. The process is collaborative; your experience of the testing itself provides valuable information.
Integration and Interpretation
After testing is complete, I spend considerable time integrating the data—looking for patterns, convergent findings, and the story that emerges from multiple sources of information. This interpretive work is where training and clinical experience matter most.
Feedback Session
The feedback session is the heart of the process. We meet to discuss the findings collaboratively. I share my understanding of your psychological makeup, invite your responses and questions, and work with you to make sense of what the data reveals. My goal is for you to leave with genuine insight, not just information.
Written Report
You receive a comprehensive written report that documents the assessment process, presents the findings, and offers detailed recommendations. This report can be shared with your treatment providers, physicians, or other professionals as needed.
About Projective Assessment
You may have heard of the Rorschach inkblot test or TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) and wondered whether these techniques are scientifically valid. When administered and interpreted by a trained clinician using contemporary methods, projective tests provide information that self-report measures cannot capture.
Self-report questionnaires can only tell us what you’re aware of and willing to share. Projective techniques access implicit processes—how you organize ambiguous experience, what themes emerge in your perception, and patterns you may not consciously recognize. This is precisely the kind of information most useful for understanding personality and guiding depth-oriented treatment.
I use the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), an empirically-grounded approach to the Rorschach, along with other projective methods integrated with structured and self-report measures.
“The goal of testing is not to label you, but to know you more fully—and in that knowing, to find the path forward.”
Who Benefits from Testing?
Psychological testing can be valuable for anyone, but is especially useful for:
Fees & Practical Information
Testing is billed hourly for time spent on the clinical interview, administration, scoring, interpretation, and written report. After our initial consultation, I provide a clear estimate based on the specific questions to be addressed and the assessment battery required.
I am an out-of-network provider. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits for psychological testing. I provide superbills and documentation for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
From initial consultation to receiving your written report typically takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the evaluation and scheduling availability. I prioritize thoroughness over speed, but I’m mindful of your need for timely answers.
Common Questions
How long does psychological testing take?
A comprehensive psychological evaluation typically requires 4-8 hours of testing, often spread across 2-3 appointments. This includes a clinical interview, standardized testing, and time for breaks. You’ll also receive a feedback session to discuss results, usually scheduled 1-2 weeks after testing is complete.
What will I receive after testing is complete?
You’ll receive a comprehensive written report that includes diagnostic conclusions, detailed descriptions of your cognitive and psychological profile, and personalized recommendations. During a feedback session, I’ll explain the findings in plain language and answer any questions. This report can be shared with other providers as needed.
Can testing results be used for school or work accommodations?
Yes, psychological testing can provide the documentation needed for academic accommodations (such as extended test time or a quiet testing environment) or workplace accommodations under the ADA. I include specific accommodation recommendations in reports when appropriate for your situation.
What’s the difference between psychological testing and ADHD testing?
ADHD testing is one type of psychological evaluation focused specifically on attention, executive functioning, and related concerns. Comprehensive psychological testing is broader and may assess personality, emotional functioning, cognitive abilities, and diagnostic questions beyond ADHD. Many clients benefit from a more comprehensive evaluation, especially when multiple concerns are present.
Will testing give me a definitive diagnosis?
Testing provides valuable objective data that, combined with clinical interview and history, leads to diagnostic conclusions. While no assessment is 100% definitive, psychological testing significantly increases diagnostic accuracy and often clarifies questions that have remained unanswered despite years of treatment.
Questions About Testing?
Schedule a consultation to discuss whether psychological assessment is right for your situation.