Formal assessments can help to identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide a clearer path forward for your mental health care. Insight’s trained therapists provide assessments that assist individuals of all ages to improve their lives. Assessments are helpful in identifying your levels of symptoms objectively. While assessments can vary from individual to individual, most times they include testing, interviews, observation, and consultation with one of Insight’s trained professionals. Many of these assessments can be done as part of therapy but some may require a higher level of formality depending on the level of need and purpose of the assessment.
What is an anxiety assessment?
Typically, anxiety assessments are used to diagnose anxiety disorders such as:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Phobic Disorder (phobias)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Many anxiety disorders are characterized by both emotional and physical sensations such as:
Emotional symptoms
- Inability to stop worrying about your concerns
- Feelings of never-ending stress
- Being easily startled and/or quick to panic
- Feeling socially isolated or alienated from others in your life
- Problems in your social relationships due to the feelings of being vulnerable or elevated arousal.
Physical symptoms
- Fatigue difficulty sleeping
- Trouble catching your breath
- Headaches
- Trembling, muscle tension
- Diarrhea/nausea
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations
Why is the assessment used?
Anxiety can affect how you feel, how you think, and how you behave. Anxiety assessments are used to determine whether an individual is predicted to be at high, medium, or low risk for having an anxiety disorder. It’s helpful to confirm the level of anxiety you’ve been experiencing (is it as high as you think or have you been living what you presumed was a low level when in fact, it’s been quite high?) This information is also beneficial for your therapist. Once your therapist has determined the level of anxiety that you may be facing, they will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your anxiety so that you are able to get back to your daily life and the activities you love. NOTE: You do not need to have a formal anxiety assessment to effectively treat anxiety.
The assessment process
To assess anxiety, we have specific, objective testing instruments to evaluate your current level(s) of anxiety and subareas within this disorder. Your therapist will begin by gathering your background history, conducting a thorough interview to understand the symptoms you may be facing, and discussing your past experiences. Depending on the level of assessment, more specific and thorough tests are available. Throughout this process your therapist will ensure that you feel comfortable answering all questions while working together. The assessment can be done in two ways:
- A 15-20 minute screen
- A 2 hour formal assessment by one of our specialized therapists
To learn more about booking an anxiety assessment, please call 780-461-1717. We recognize that each individual has different needs and our intake and admin specialists will be able to provide you with an estimated quote and timeline for your assessment.
