The field of psychological assessment is undergoing dramatic change, perhaps even a paradigm shif... more The field of psychological assessment is undergoing dramatic change, perhaps even a paradigm shift. Traditionally, assessment has focused on gathering accurate data to use in clarifying diagnoses and developing treatment plans. Although largely retaining these goals, new approaches also emphasize the therapeutic effect assessment can have on clients and important others in their lives. Evidence accumulating over the past 20 years suggests that this effect can be substantial. On the basis of their meta-analysis of outcome studies investigating the therapeutic effect that assessment can have, Poston and Hanson (2010) contended that psychology needs to reconsider training in assessment to incorporate approaches that emphasize its therapeutic value. They even argued that managed care organizations need to reevaluate delivery of services in light of the efficacy of the new approaches to assessment. This chapter highlights the development of the therapeutic application of psychological assessment, examines its empirical support, discusses how assessment might produce therapeutic change, and outlines the Therapeutic Assessment (TA) approach and illustrates it through a case example. WHAT IS TA? TA is a semistructured approach to assessment that strives to maximize the likelihood of therapeutic change for the client. It has been developed largely through the efforts of Stephen Finn and his col-(2002), and others. TA has incorporated knowledge from a range of psychology to produce an evidence-based approach to positive personal change through psychological assessment. It rests on the commonsense application of the powerful insights that are efficiently available through reliable and valid assessment tools and techniques to a collaborative, respectful, supportive, gentle, and ultimately experiential process of self-discovery.
The field of psychological assessment is undergoing dramatic change, perhaps even a paradigm shif... more The field of psychological assessment is undergoing dramatic change, perhaps even a paradigm shift. Traditionally, assessment has focused on gathering accurate data to use in clarifying diagnoses and developing treatment plans. Although largely retaining these goals, new approaches also emphasize the therapeutic effect assessment can have on clients and important others in their lives. Evidence accumulating over the past 20 years suggests that this effect can be substantial. On the basis of their meta-analysis of outcome studies investigating the therapeutic effect that assessment can have, Poston and Hanson (2010) contended that psychology needs to reconsider training in assessment to incorporate approaches that emphasize its therapeutic value. They even argued that managed care organizations need to reevaluate delivery of services in light of the efficacy of the new approaches to assessment. This chapter highlights the development of the therapeutic application of psychological assessment, examines its empirical support, discusses how assessment might produce therapeutic change, and outlines the Therapeutic Assessment (TA) approach and illustrates it through a case example. WHAT IS TA? TA is a semistructured approach to assessment that strives to maximize the likelihood of therapeutic change for the client. It has been developed largely through the efforts of Stephen Finn and his col-(2002), and others. TA has incorporated knowledge from a range of psychology to produce an evidence-based approach to positive personal change through psychological assessment. It rests on the commonsense application of the powerful insights that are efficiently available through reliable and valid assessment tools and techniques to a collaborative, respectful, supportive, gentle, and ultimately experiential process of self-discovery.
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