Description
This book provides a thorough, practical primer on carrying out an initial mental health evaluation with a child or adolescent client. The emphasis is on efficiently eliciting the information needed for formulating the young person’s difficulties, clarifying the diagnostic situation, and planning for treatment or referral, within the context of a caring, respectful professional relationship. Beginning with the first contact with a new client, the reader is taken step-by-step through the collection and integration of observational, interview, background, and collateral information. Important issues covered include structuring the evaluation session, effective record keeping, confidentiality concerns, and providing feedback to parents. Reflecting the author’s 25+ years of professional experience, the book is filled with interview segments that bring the practical business of child assessment to life. 1. The Mental Status Examination in Psychological Assessment 2. Evaluations of Infants, Children, and Adolescents 3. Sources of Data 4. Evaluating Cognitive Problems in Children 5. Evaluating Emotional Problems in Children 6. Evaluating Behavior Problems in Children and Adolescents 7. Evaluating Relationship Problems in Youths 8. Evaluating Pervasive Problems in Children 9. Evaluating Substance Use and Other Impulse Problems in Children and Adolescents 10. Evaluating Highly Focused Problems in Children and Adolescents 11. Data and Integration: Diagnosis, Recommendations, and Referrals 12. Concluding Thoughts: The Professional Practice of Mental Health Evaluation
