Role of Assessment in the Counseling Setting

Counseling services are applied with the intent to benefit a patient in the assistance and guidance of solving problems and difficulties within personal, social, or psychological components of their lives (Dictionary.com, 2011). A properly trained professional in the industry of counseling services is responsible for assessing a client in order to determine what route to take in guiding the patient through their life. It is imperative for the counselor to entirely concentrate on testing the client psychologically, cognitively, and in procedures that will better assist clients to make career and life plans successfully (Hood & Johnson, 2002).

Analyses are utilized as a measurement device or technique in order to comprehend and predict a certain behavior demonstrated within the client (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009). A psychological test measures characteristics of human behavior. A psychological test can measure many different human traits and behaviors, including overt behaviors or covert behaviors (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009). In the event that a patient is referred to a counselor and the counselor then administers a psychological test, there is a three step process the counselor must complete. First, the counselor must select the type of test they wish to implement. Depending on client needs, multiple tests may be administered. Tests may measure previous learning, work skills, problem solving skills, or personality (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009). Once the test is administered, it is to be assessed by the counselor or other qualified professionals. Unlike tests administered at work or school, percentages of correct answers can be misleading to the professionals and clients, which is why a skilled professional is required read the test and explain it properly to clients. Neglecting this significant step could lead to massive confusion, despair, or concern on the part of the patient and their support group (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009).

Cognitive testing is used to assess a client's attention, memory, problem-solving, language, and intellectual functioning skills. To measure cognitive functions, counselors issue pencil and paper tasks to their clients. The information is greatly easier to assess than that of psychological tests, as it is more interpretive based on expected levels of performances of others in the same demographics. The tests must be analyzed by a trained professional with a Bachelors degree or greater (PEPP, n.d.).

The most popular form of counseling is that which assists a person in learning how to make healthy career and life plans. A counselor may begin by assessing a client psychologically and cognitively in order to determine how to specifically approach teaching the client how to make these lifestyle choices. It is extremely important for a counselor to not address one of these factors without addressing the others. The tests must be integrated into other information that is accessible about the patient in order to fully be capable of assisting the client to the best of ability (Hood & Johnson, 2002).