If you are considering seeking help for your mental well-being, you may have learned that you will need to complete a mental health assessment at the start of your treatment. For many people, this can feel like an intimidating step. However, rest assured that a mental health assessment for adults does not need to be stressful. In fact, many people find it relieving to air their challenges freely as the first step of seeking help. If you are seeking mental health services, an assessment is likely your introductory task. Here is what you should expect.
What Is a Mental Health Assessment?
A mental health assessment is when patients and therapists establish a baseline. It offers the mental health professional the opportunity to learn more about what you are experiencing, how it impacts your life, and your goals for treatment or function.
An assessment is almost always done verbally, with the professional taking notes. This allows you to communicate freely; do not hesitate to say anything on your mind. It is important that you are honest so your therapist knows what to plan for when they create a strategic approach to your situation.
Being recommended for a mental health assessment (by someone such as a doctor) does not mean that something is wrong with you. It is not a negative reflection of you in any way. Instead, it is a beneficial element of your overall wellness plan; your mental health is just as essential as your physical wellbeing!
What Happens During a Mental Health Assessment?
Mental health assessments are personalized for each individual who participates. If your doctor referred you, the professional may already have some ideas of why you are in the office, which may prompt them to ask different questions. If you initiated the process yourself, the therapist might take a more open-ended approach. No matter how you ended up in the office, you can generally expect the following topics to be covered:
An introduction
Before the assessment dives into the details of your situation, you and your therapist will become acquainted. A brief introduction can help both of you understand the basics, and it is at this time that the therapist will likely ask for a basic overview of what you are experiencing. What symptoms or experiences prompted you to seek treatment? Can you describe the way you feel? How long have you been encountering these challenges? These are the sorts of foundational questions that you can expect, setting the stage for a deeper dive as the conversation continues.
A deeper dive into behaviors
Once the basics are covered, the professional will move on to a more in-depth questionnaire of your behaviors. How are your symptoms impacting your life? Are you partaking in new behaviors or habits due to what you feel? When do these behaviors occur, and how long do they last? Does anything cause them, or do they come on by themselves?
In many cases, patients are not aware (either partially or fully) of the answers to these questions. That is all right! A mental health assessment does not necessarily need to document all the answers initially. It is better to be honest when answering questions than to create an answer that is not entirely true or that you do not fully believe.
The consequences of behaviors
This stage may feel similar to the previous deep dive, but it digs further into your challenges. What are the consequences of the behaviors or symptoms you have described? Does the experience impact your relationships with friends, family, coworkers, or others? Is your school or work performance suffering as a result of your difficulties? Are you decreasing (or increasing) participation in certain activities or hobbies as a method of coping? Understanding the impact can help your therapist devise a practical strategy so you can flourish.
Personal and family history
Once the mental health professional understands the symptoms you are experiencing and how they impact your life, it is time to gather other important information. Often, they will begin with your personal and family history.
Have you encountered similar mental health challenges in the past? Have you experienced other mental health issues or had any diagnoses? Are certain feelings or behaviors common in your family, or has a family member also had challenges with mental wellness? This information can help the therapist understand not just a contributor to your own situation, but also the environments that may unintentionally promote your difficulties.
Medical history
Sometimes, a person’s medical situation can be partially or even fully responsible for a change in mental health. You will be asked about the basics of your medical information, such as whether you are currently being treated for any conditions, what diagnoses you have received, and what medications you take. Even vitamins and supplements are important to disclose during this time. Sometimes, a medication has side effects that make you feel more anxious, depressed, or moody, which could play a substantial role in what you are experiencing.
Contextual information
What is going on inside your body is not the only information that a therapist can use to help you. They will likely also use the mental health assessment as an opportunity to learn more about the general shape of your life. Do you have access to consistent housing and food? Do you have a job that provides sufficient income to meet your needs? Are you in a safe situation? Are you a member of a minority group (e.g., racial, gender/sexual identity groups)? These factors can play pivotal roles in mental wellness, and working within their framework can lead to better outcomes.
Hopes, goals, and aspirations
The goal of therapy is not necessarily to make every anxious or unwanted thought go away. Rather, it is to help patients achieve their hopes, goals, and aspirations so that they can live the life they want and deserve.
To do this, mental health professionals will use a portion of the evaluation to understand your goals and expectations. If you are not sure, the therapist can help you articulate them. They can be small; even something like “complete five therapy appointments” is more than enough!
Strengths and weaknesses
Every patient can benefit from the help of a therapist, but that does not mean the patient is helpless on their own. In many cases, an assessment will conclude by identifying the patient’s weaknesses and the strengths they have to offer. This analysis allows the professional to create a personalized plan that caters to your abilities.
The Therapist’s Response
Once the mental health assessment is completed, the therapist should have an idea of how to help. At this point, you can expect the following:
A general assessment
The therapist can now share their insights about everything they have learned in a way that is easy for you to understand. They might share their suspicions about a specific condition you are experiencing or patterns that they see in your behaviors and thought processes. This step sets the foundation for approaching these difficulties going forward.
A strategic approach
Then, the therapist can begin to develop a personalized plan for your specific situation, personality, goals, and strengths. They may recommend certain activities or help you practice specific skills so that you can begin on the road toward achieving your goals. What this looks like varies for every person, as there is no cookie-cutter approach to mental healthcare.
An opportunity for questions
At this point, patients are welcome to ask questions. Whether you did not understand a term your therapist used or wonder about the chosen approach, do not hesitate to ask questions (and to continue to ask until you are confident you understand). This makes sure you and your therapist are on the same page and can work as a team to accomplish your goals.
Who Needs a Mental Health Assessment?
Anyone can choose to get a mental health assessment to learn more about themselves and potentially pinpoint why they feel the way they do. Even if you are not struggling right now, understanding more about yourself can give you a strong starting point for excellent self-care, confidence, and resilience.
In general, people who seek mental health assessments are those who are already struggling with some aspect of their mental wellness. Most commonly, this is:
- People in challenging work positions
- Adolescents and young adults
- Those with secondary conditions (e.g., ADHD)
- Anyone experiencing significant trauma, past or present
- A person demonstrating potentially risky or problematic behaviors (e.g., threats to harm others)
- Someone experiencing self-harm ideation
- Those experiencing persistent changes in mood or behavior
- Anyone who has noticed changes in their eating and sleeping patterns
If none of this sounds like you, that does not mean you are not a good candidate for a mental health assessment. If you suspect that working with a professional could help, it is always worth the time investment to see.
Take Charge of Your Mental Health by Seeking Support
If you have an upcoming mental health assessment or are worried about scheduling because you do not know what to expect, rest assured that this appointment is nothing to fear. A compassionate, trained professional can help you uncover the latent drivers of your behaviors and feelings, creating a personalized plan to cope with them in a healthy way and pursue the life you want to live. The therapists at Aquila Recovery Clinic will lead the conversation with compassion and kindness, so you will have a safe place to unpack your experiences. Contact Aquila Recovery Clinic to schedule your assessment!