The purpose of this course is to help the counseling student develop an understanding of the assessment process and an overview of the different areas of counseling and psychological evaluation and the different tests used in those areas.  The course does not teach test administration and scoring.  Core (CSR, G)

Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P.  (2018). Psychological testing: Principles, applications, and issues (9^th ed.).  Boston, MA: Cengage.

By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the following learning outcomes:

Assessment and Testing (2016 CACREP 2.F.7)

a. historical perspectives concerning the nature and meaning of assessment and testing in counseling

b. methods of effectively preparing for and conducting initial assessment meetings

e. use of assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes

f. basic concepts of standardized and non-standardized testing, norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments, and group and individual assessments

g. statistical concepts, including scales of measurement, measures of central tendency, indices of variability, shapes and types of distributions, and correlations

h. reliability and validity in the use of assessments

i. use of assessments relevant to academic/educational, career, personal, and social development

j. use of environmental assessments and systematic behavioral observations

k. use of symptom checklists, and personality and psychological testing

l. use of assessment results to diagnose developmental, behavioral, and mental disorders

m. ethical and culturally relevant strategies for selecting, administering, and interpreting assessment and test results

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Foundations (2016 CACREP 5.C.1)

e. psychological tests and assessments specific to clinical mental health counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice (2016 CACREP 5.C.3)

a. intake interview, mental status evaluation, biopsychosocial history, mental health history, and psychological assessment for treatment planning and caseload management