What to expect at the first session?
The first session is an initial assessment and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. This includes a detailed assessment and treatment plan.
What assessments do you use?
Assessments can be used by Accredited Mental Health Social Workers to identify mental health conditions, emotional states, cognitive functioning, psychological well-being, personal development, strengths, areas for growth, understand symptoms and determine appropriate treatments. They inform treatment plans, track progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and provide a baseline for measuring change over time.
Some of the assessments used are:
- Bio-psychosocial assessment
Considers biological, psychological, and social factors and how these factors interact and influence your overall individual well-being in the context of your family, social networks, and broader community, and how socio-economic and environmental factors impact mental health.
- Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DAAS)
Assesses the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress you’ve experienced over the past week. This questionnaire will help us understand your current state.
- Psychological Distress Scale (K10)
Assesses emotional distress and severity of psychological symptoms. It’s a useful tool for identifying individuals who might need further evaluation or intervention.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist (PCL-5)
Assesses for PTSD symptoms, how they are affecting your life, symptom severity, and to evaluate the presence and intensity of PTSD symptoms.
- Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE)
Assesses for traumatic events or experiences that occur in childhood and can have a significant impact on long-term health and well-being. They typically include physical, emotional or sexual abuse, physical or emotional neglect, exposure to family dysfunction such as substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, incarceration or divorce.
- Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS)
Assesses internal psychological health and personal growth, and provides a detailed assessment of an individual’s subjective well-being.
- World Health Organisation Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL)
Assess overall quality of life from a broader perspective, including physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental factors.
What is the difference between assessments and diagnosis?
- Assessments are comprehensive evaluations used to gather information about an individual’s overall functioning, needs, or abilities across various domains.
- Diagnosis focuses on identifying and labeling specific medical or psychological conditions based on symptoms and criteria and can only be undertaken by a medical professional or psychologist.