Assessment Essentials: Promoting Self-Awareness Through Psychological Assessment – Christian Counseling Associates

Designed for mental health professionals, this CE course examines psychological assessment as a tool for enhancing client self-awareness and therapeutic alliance. Participants will explore core methods such as observation and the Mental Status Exam (MSE), understand the interpersonal dynamics of assessment, and learn to integrate feedback-informed tools like PCOMS to support meaningful clinical outcomes.

Course Content

Promoting Self-Awareness Through Psychological Assessment 8 Topics

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Lesson Content

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Course Objectives (Total Run Time: 73 Minutes, 12 Seconds)

Introduction (1:12)

Assessment is Interpersonal (2:10)

Vignette 1: John, 55 year old, semi-retired truck driver

Vignette 1: Clinical Analysis

Assessment is an Encounter with the Persona (3:04)

Assessment is a Process of Going Deeper (1:17)

Assessment Values Client’s Need to Conceal Soul Aspects (1:31)

The Primary Method of Psychological Assessment: Observation and Mental Status Exam (MSE) 5 Topics

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Lesson Content

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Observational Assessment Tool: The Mental Status Exam (MSE) (5:23)

MSE: Observing Cognition (6:11)

MSE: Long Term Memory and Perception (3:42)

MSE: Risk Assessment (0:48)

MSE: Making General Estimations (2:08)

Assessment Assumptions 13 Topics

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Assessment Promotes Accuracy (1:56)

Assessment: Assumption 1 – Traits and States (4:38)

Counseling Dialogue: Traits vs. States – Taking Ownership of Deeper Issues

Assessment: Assumption 2 – Meaningful Measurement (5:29)

Meaningful measurement and Presentation Bias

Assessment: Assumption 3 – Measurement Increases Clarity (2:17)

Clarity Helps the Client See Into the Heart of the Matter

Assessment: Assumption 4 – Trial and Error is Part of the Process (2:13)

Conclusion: Frequent Assessment is Needed

Assessment: Assumption 5 – Assessment is of Significant Benefit to the Client (4:24)

Training the Client to Self Assess (3:32)

Accurate Self-Assessment Promotes Openness (3:13)

Using Frequent Assessment: PCOMS – The Partners in Change Outcome Management System 10 Topics

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Lesson Content

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Assessment Tool: PCOMS: Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) (1:50)

ORS Practice Example (2:08)

Assessment Tool: PCOMS: Session Rating Scale (SRS) (1:43)

SRS Practice Example (2:42)

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (1:25)

PHQ-9 – Practice Example (3:12)

Assessment Tool: Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7) (1:35)

GAD-7 Practice Example (2:01)

Conclusions: Assessment Promotes Accuracy in Self-Awareness and Openness (1:28)

About Instructor

Alex

4 Courses