Diagnostic Testing: 6 Reasons it’s the Best First Step Before Therapy or Educational Services
If you sit around the dinner table and bring up topics like “therapy,” “educational consulting,” or, “psychological testing,” odds are you’ll hear a number of opinions. “Everyone could benefit from a psychologist!” “My generation never had school accommodations and we turned out fine!” “Getting tested for psych issues should be as normal as going to an eye doctor!”
While there are many positive and negative perspectives on getting help, the biggest complaint from naysayers is that psych interventions “just don’t work.” Dr. Marta M. Shinn , explains why this has been the experience for many:
“Interventions like therapy or educational services can only be effective if it’s the right type of treatment for the person’s needs. The best way to ensure that is to start with diagnostic testing before starting any treatment measures.”
Here’s why diagnostic testing should always be your first step:
1. Therapists aren’t one-size-fits-all
Let’s say your kid is engaging in repetitive rituals – opening and closing drawers repeatedly, washing their hands over and over, or compulsively counting their steps. You’re convinced they have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Google your county’s leading expert in OCD treatment. You invest in several therapy sessions, only to find they aren’t working because your kid doesn’t actually have OCD – they have high functioning autism, which requires a completely different approach and specialized services at school. The therapist they saw may be great at what they do – they just don’t specialize in what your child needs.
2. Diagnosticians have the right tools
While talking to a therapist can be helpful regardless of your issue, a specialist in talk-therapy may not have experience with the appropriate screening tools to accurately determine your diagnosis. There are many different tests designed to asses for various mental, emotional, educational, and neurological conditions. A Psychologist who specializes in Diagnostic Testing will be well-versed in each of the different testing tools and use the appropriate measures to evaluate your specific symptoms. Once your diagnosis has been identified, you’ll be in a much better place to choose an appropriate intervention.
3. It maximizes your money
Unfortunately, mental health services often aren’t covered by insurance. While the right treatment is a worthwhile investment, many families waste lots of money on unhelpful services before realizing their needs aren’t being met. Starting with diagnostic testing allows you to gain a clear view of your problem, streamlining your treatment plan and saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars. In addition, school districts will sometimes pay for students to receive an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), relieving the cost to parents while facilitating their child’s treatment needs.
Want help, but don’t want to invest time and money with the wrong treatment or services? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation to learn how we can help
4. A lack of diagnosis can be harmful
Let’s say your kid has ADHD, but doesn’t have an official diagnosis or receive services at school. Instead of accommodations that support their learning, they’re met with harsh discipline each time they struggle to focus. This makes them feel like they’re the “bad kid,” even though they try their hardest to do well. They begin to resent school, causing them to act out even more. Even if they’re able to “hold it together” for their teachers, they may be bottling up distress and have meltdowns once they get home. Starting with a clear, accurate diagnosis allows families to be directed to the right course of treatment from the get-go, avoiding the potential harm of responding inappropriately.
5. It provides peace of mind
Why is my kid struggling with math? Why is my teen constantly defiant? Why can’t I focus at work like my co-workers? What is wrong with me?!
It’s easy to feel hopeless or inadequate when you don’t know the cause of your symptoms. Diagnostic testing gives a name to your obstacle, allowing you to understand what you’re up against so you can tackle it head-on with the right type of support. Knowing your challenge helps you to separate your problem from your identity and stop beating yourself up over the difficulties it presents.
6. A diagnosis gives you power
Mental, emotional, and learning disorders can pose challenges for a person reaching their life goals. Once you or your child has a clear diagnosis, however, you have a basis to secure accommodations in school or the workplace to level the playing field and support success. Our Educational Psychologists provide Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) and necessary reports for 504 plans, IEPs, and accommodation requests for graduate and post graduate exams, as well as recommended referrals for effective educational and psychological treatments.
So you know you need help, but aren’t sure how to find the right help?
Picking a therapist or type of therapy can be confusing, and “trial and error” with the wrong therapist can cause many families to feel overwhelmed and give up on seeking help.
If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them.
Our Diagnosticians can provide psychological testing to remove the guess-work and guide your family on the best path toward mental health, emotional wellness, and academic success.
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More about Variations Psychology
Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.
Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays.
In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.
For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam, CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).
Schedule below your free 15-minute consultation to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family.
Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.
References:
Peterson, T. (2019, October 23). Mental Illness Diagnosis Tests, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2019, December 10 from https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-illness-overview/mental-illness-diagnosis-tests
Shinn, M.M. (2018). Accommodations for College Entrance Exams: What Parents Need to Know. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/does-my-child-need-accommodations-for-the-sat-act
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Could My Teen Have Autism? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from: https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-my-teen-have-autism
Shinn, M.M. (2018). Graduate Student’s Guide to Test Accommodations: The LSAT, MCAT, GRE, NCLEX, CBEST, GMAT, Cosmetology Exam, Contractors Exam, & Bar Exam. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/graduate-students-guide-to-test-accommodations
Shinn, M.M. (2019). My Kid is So Defiant! Is it My Fault? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/my-kid-is-so-defiant-is-it-my-fault
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Why is My Kid Struggling So Much with Math? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/why-is-my-kid-struggling-so-much-with-math
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Could I have ADHD or Executive Functioning Issues? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-i-have-adhd-or-executive-functioning-issues
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps
Educational Placement Assessments (2019). Variations Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/educational-placement-assessments-dr-shinn
Young, J. (2014) The Importance of Your Diagnosis: Why Your Diagnosis Matters and How to Get the Right One. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/when-your-adult-child-breaks-your-heart/201405/the-importance-your-diagnosis
How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Diagnostic Testing: 6 Reasons it’s the Best First Step Before Therapy or Educational Services Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from