Comprehensive Psychological Assessment Clinic
The PCH Treatment Center Comprehensive Assessment Clinic offers state-of-the-art psychiatric, psychological and neuropsychological testing. Testing is conducted by the Director of the Clinic, Dr. Sandra Sarnoff, a doctoral level psychologist with an extensive experience in psychological assessment. Services are provided for participants of PCH Treatment Center programs, as well as for individuals outside of our programs.
Psychological testing can be valuable for individuals who carry an incorrect or incomplete diagnosis, as well as for those who are having difficulties with a current diagnosis or treatment regimen, or those who do not have a diagnosis. The assessment process is also appropriate for individuals who are considering a new treatment program or service, to help them determine precisely their needs and the optimal treatment scenario. Psychological testing also helps clinicians to direct specific therapies to a problem that may currently be unrecognized and undiagnosed.
Comprehensive and targeted assessments are available for specific conditions and diagnoses utilizing both quantitative and qualitative measures. Assessments are individualized for the client and take into consideration their psychosocial history, medical history and physical status, psychiatric and treatment history, substance abuse history, and medications to determine the relevant questions that need to be answered.
Neuropsychological as well as personality and psycho-educational assessments are offered. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment includes evaluation of cognitive/intellectual functioning, executive functioning, attention/concentration, motor and perceptual functioning, language, learning, memory, and emotional/personality functioning. Academic functioning or achievement can also be included with this battery. A neuropsychological battery is utilized to determine whether or not there are cognitive changes associated with prolonged drug or alcohol use, prescription medication usage, certain disease processes, or head injury, for example, that may be compromising an individual’s functioning and contributing to maladaptive behaviors or processing.
Personality and psycho-educational assessments are more targeted to address particular diagnostic questions such as the presence or absence of attention disorders (ADD/ADHD) or learning disabilities. Psychiatric issues can be elucidated or differentiated, such as psychosis, or the severity of anxiety or mood dysregulation (depression or mania). Disruptions in personality can also be assessed to assist in differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.
PCH Treatment Center has a large team of clinicians that can work with Clients seeking a better understanding of their psychological problems. An important first step may be a thorough psychological assessment, whether it be comprehensive or finely targeted. Please contact us to for more information or to arrange an appointment for evaluation.
