Assessment and the Counseling Process - 1204 Words

Assessment is a household name in the field of counselling. It has long been considered an important aspect of the counselling process. Assessment and counselling are almost the same. Assessment helps counsellors identify the nature of client’s concerns and also highlights possible treatment (Mnkandla 2000). In addition it helps clients gain insight into their problems and identify alternative solutions. Assessment devices are administered in a consistent manner to a wide variety of people to aid the counsellors. These devices are in a form of standardised tests. Whilst standardised tests are an important tool in counseling they have their merits and demerits. Assessment according to Hoghughi (1992:4) in Assessment Methods in Counselling by Makore-Rukuni, is â€Å"continuous process of identifying problems and determining what should be done about them†. Standardised tests are assessment instruments designed by people with specialized training in test construction, given to everyone under the same conditions. (Kasayira Gwasira 2005). Standardised testing originated from China in 300BC where candidates for Chinese Imperial Services had to take competitive examinations which covered the six arts which include music, horsemanship and arithmetic writing. In the 1930’s and 1940’s assessment and counselling was synonymous with one another (Hood Johnson 2007). Counsellors are advised to make use of standardized tests after they get training on how to apply them. TheShow MoreRelatedApplying Assessment Results to Clients During the Counseling Process1124 Words   |  5 PagesApplying assessment results to client is essential is assisting individuals who may be coping with stressful situations. The objective of the skilled professional is to recognize the symptoms of stress and being able to interpret the results of the COPE Assessment Tool as a means of determining the proper methods of treatment during therapeutic work. Upon reviewing the results of completing my personal results, I found that some of the personal responses that were selected from the COPE InventoryRead MoreEvaluation Of Counseling As Assessment And Diagnosis1116 Words   |  5 PagesWhiston in section three of her book provided an in-depth analysis of applications and issues of assessments in counseling as assessment and diagnosis are vital concepts in the counseling process. It therefore becomes imperative for differing counselors to understand formal diagnostic procedures and the fact that â€Å"diagnosis is the prevalence of individuals with significant psychological difficulties† (p. 296). Diagnostic systems are used to provide professionals with a general language governingRead MoreAssessment and Diagnosis Essay examples915 Words   |  4 PagesAssessment and Diagnosis The purpose of this paper is to provide a synopsis of the importance of assessment and diagnosis in the counseling process. In the first two sections, the roles of assessment and diagnosis as they relate to case conceptualization and treatment planning will be explored. The potential implications of misdiagnosis will be the focus of the final section. Assessment Becoming acquainted with a potential client’s history, personality and present concerns is necessary in formingRead MoreThe Five Stages Of Counseling Essay1363 Words   |  6 Pages The five stages of counseling, relationship building, assessment, goal setting, intervention, and termination form the basic counseling structure, regardless of the type of therapeutic form the therapist chooses to practice. The counseling process becomes a continuous flow from one stepping-stone to the next in order to achieve the client’s goals and improve well-being. The first stages build a foundation by establishing rapport and assessing the problem; the middle stages work toward finding solutionsRead MoreAssessment Of Mental Health Counseling1268 Words   |  6 PagesAssessment in Mental Health Counseling The day that we come into the world, we start to develop pieces of a personal puzzle that throughout the rest of our lives we attempt to â€Å"fit† into our individual and unique puzzle. As time progresses, we seem to find that some of the pieces may â€Å"fit† very well into place, but we also find that some of the pieces are hard to â€Å"fit† into place, even when we try to force the piece in its place. In fact, some may say that when we try to force pieces into our personalRead MoreThe History and Development of Assessment and Evaulation761 Words   |  3 PagesAssessment and Evaluation, Definition, History and Development† Introduction In this short essay we will define â€Å"Assessment and Evaluation†, we are going to compare several definitions found in diferent books and web pages. We will be writing about the history and development of â€Å"Assessment and Evaluation† and how it is very important for the counseling profession. As we will later reasd in this essay, assessment and evaluation are two termsRead MoreQuestions On The Assessment Of Counseling Essay1229 Words   |  5 PagesOQ-45.2 Outcome Questionnaire Counseling, just like most healthcare fields, is increasingly susceptible to accountability for not only effectiveness, but ever also for funding. Whiston (2013) states, â€Å"counseling has entered a time when many stakeholders are interested in accountability information. For example, many insurance companies want data that documents that individuals do indeed get better form the services provided in a counseling agency,† (p. 294). With a great push for brief treatmentRead MoreUse Of Measure Disability And Level Of An Individuals Health1138 Words   |  5 Pagestwo-step process in which scores have to be recoded and then averaged together to create scale scores for each domain (Ware, 2000). Research on the SF-36 has concluded that it is relatively easy to score, as long as clinicians follow the two-step scoring process (Ware, 2000). It is also important to note that the SF-36 is in the public domain, available in multiple languages, and has good reliability and validity (Ware, 2000). However, one of the major limitations of this assessment is thatRead MoreDisruptive Behaviors Are A Challenge For Therapists1202 Words   |  5 PagesDisruptive behaviors are a challenge for therapists and require a different approach than those implemented for adults. Establishing rapport is the foundation for the change process to begin. Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan (2007) assert that traditional counseling techniques are ineffective for working with children and adolescents, and a multicultural therapy approach increases the likelihood of engaging them in therapeutic relationships. Adolescents are a subculture and require a person-centeredRead MoreLegal And Ethical Issues Of The National Career Development Association1105 Words   |  5 Pagesdilemmas that must be addressed immediately, multiculturally, and in accordance to ethical codes. The National Career Development Association (NCDA) Code of Ethics (2015) section A.1.b. identifies the distinction of counseling services provided between care er planning and career counseling. Being a biracial single mother with major health issues as well as a full time job are Naomi’s leading environmental factors that may prove to be her biggest challenge in assessing her overall ability to make a career