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Why does my therapist keep doing assessments?

When we first start therapy, we can be a bit surprised to learn that it often involves a rather long assessment process. Our therapist asks us to complete forms and asks a series of questions during sessions to gather information, which can continue for several sessions. It can feel repetitive, and, at times, quite boring.

When this happens, we may start wondering whether any actual therapy is taking place. We may worry that nothing is really happening, or that our therapist is not helping us in the way we had hoped. Some of us may even begin thinking about switching therapists or dropping out of therapy altogether.

When therapy is talked about, assessment usually doesn’t get enough credit. This is understandable because talking or reading about assessment can feel as boring as completing it. But what often gets overlooked is that the very thing that can feel tedious or boring is often what helps lay the foundation for the actual work ahead. So much so that, without proper assessment, there can be no meaningful therapy.

What is assessment?

In short, assessments in therapy are “structured” ways of collecting information about someone in order to understand them and their psychology, including what has been happening in their life, how they have been feeling, and what kinds of problems and challenges they have been experiencing.

Assessments can take many forms, including standardized tests (which can feel a bit like tests one would do at school, choosing from a list of options, writing answers to some questions, etc., eventhough purpose is quite different), interviews, observations, historical records, and more. Assessments can be applied in multiple formats: verbally and narrative-based, in paper-and-pen format, or in computerized formats. Typically, therapists combine multiple assessment tools and collect different types of information, such as biological, social, or psychological.

How does assessment help us?

Therapy needs to be tailored to our unique needs, challenges, and strengths

Therapy is not a collection of advice or instructions that all therapists prescribe to us in the same way to make us feel better. Instead, many psychotherapeutic approaches draw on a variety of tools that need to be tailored to our needs and delivered uniquely through the relationship we form with our therapist to actually bring the change we need. 

However, for this tailoring to happen, our therapists need to gather sufficient information about our challenges, ways of being, and strengths. This way, our therapist can decide on which interventions and resources could be meaningful and helpful, as well as their levels of safety and appropriateness. This level of understanding is reached collaboratively and takes time to emerge, as we humans are quite complex. 

Assessments protect against assumptions and biases

Just like everyone else, our therapists are also prone to bias and limitations of memory and language. Without structured assessments, they may unintentionally over-rely on certain impressions or narratives. Structured assessments can help reduce such bias and assumptions.

Assessments help us track progress and monitor outcomes

Assessments not only build understanding and help set goals for therapy but also help track progress and change over time. They can help us understand whether therapeutic techniques are working, whether we need to prioritize other goals, and even inform us whether the therapy should continue or end.

Assessment is for all

Assessment is a fundamental component of not only individual therapy but also child, couple, family, and group therapy. Assessment not only reveals information about the inner world but also helps us understand developmental needs, relationship dynamics, strengths, risk factors, and how the intervention should be structured with respect to these.

Depending on the type of therapy, assessment can look a bit different, too. For example, while a drawing or including toys might be part of the assessment process in child therapy, enacting a recent conflict between partners during a couples therapy session can also serve an assessment function.

Lack of assessment can be a red flag

Not doing assessments, rushing, or not taking enough time with them can risk some parts of ourselves or our lives being unseen and misunderstood. It can cause our unique challenges and strengths to be overlooked, leading to unhelpful treatment and misdiagnosis, and ultimately leaving us feeling even more tired and frustrated at the end. Conversely, proper assessments can really help meaningful therapy take place, supporting us in the long term.

Takeaways

  • Assessment may feel repetitive or boring, but it is a necessary component of therapy that lays the foundation for effective psychological work.
  • Assessment involves structured information-gathering (tests, interviews, observations, and history) to understand your life, challenges, and strengths from multiple angles.
  • Proper assessment helps therapists gain a comprehensive picture of your experience, tailor treatment to your needs so it is effective, ensure interventions are safe and appropriate, track progress over time, and guide decisions about the pace of therapy and whether to continue or end it.
  • Skipping or rushing assessment can lead to a lack of understanding, misdiagnosis, inappropriate or unsafe application of interventions, and weaker therapy outcomes.

References & further reading

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At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy. 

Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, visit our booking page.

First, decide if you’ll be paying out-of-pocket or using insurance. If you’re a self-pay client, you can book directly through the “Book Now” page or fill out the “Self-Pay/Out-of-network Inquiry Form.” If you’re using insurance, fill out the “Insurance Verification Form” to receive details about your costs and availability. Please let us know your preferred therapist. If your preferred therapist isn’t available, you can join the waitlist by emailing us. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.

This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.

While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago and Lakeview on Chicago’s North Side, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.