Assessments are among the first steps in your rehabilitation journey with PCVRS. After you meet your Rehabilitation Service Specialist (RSS), get an overview of the program, you have the assessments to identify your needs. From these assessments, rehabilitation goals and required services are identified. If you have an eligible mental health problem, you may be referred to a mental health professional for a psychological assessment. In this blog, we explore psychological assessments, what happens during an assessment, and what they are used for.

Purpose of a psychological assessment

Dr. Sylvie Bourgeois is the Medical Director of Psychology and Mental Health at PCVRS. We asked Dr. Bourgeois, a Ph.D. psychologist with nearly twenty years experience, why psychological assessments are so important.

“The rehabilitation focused psychological assessment, assesses the Participant’s current
ability regarding their activities of daily living, family life, and community. It focuses on
how the symptoms of eligible mental health problems impact everyday functioning. The psychological assessment aims to identify what types of psycho-social rehabilitation services may improve a Participant’s ability to function at home, in the community, and at work.”

Dr. Bourgeois explains that a psychological assessment can:

• Help everyone understand what’s going on: An assessment helps identify a Participant’s mental health challenges and what may be causing them.
• Guide next steps: The results of the assessment help the rehabilitation team make informed decisions, set goals with the Participant, and recommend the best rehabilitation services.
• Track progress: The assessment can show how things change over time, what’s working for the Participant, and what may need attention.

“The rehabilitation assessment process is designed to be participant-centered,” she adds. “It considers where the Participant is in their rehabilitation journey. Our Rehabilitation Service Professionals make sure Participants understand the intent and purpose of the assessment and are there to answer any questions.”

What Happens at a Psychological Assessment

The psychological assessment is part of a step-by-step process. Here’s how it works:

1.  Initial Consultation: You will meet with a psychologist or a member of the PCVRS mental health team to discuss your background, challenges, and goals. You’ll also review consent forms and talk about how PCVRS protects your privacy.

2.  Assessment Activities: You may be asked to complete questionnaires, interviews, or activities. An assessment may take three or four hours but will vary depending on your needs. An assessment typically takes place over two sessions.

3.  Feedback Session: A Rehabilitation Service Professional (RSP) will discuss the results of the assessment with you and explain how the Rehabilitation Service Specialist (RSS) will use the assessment results to determine which rehabilitation services may be included in your Rehabilitation Plan.

4. Rehabilitation Plan Created: The RSS will receive the assessment report and use it to determine if there are rehabilitation needs that should be addressed in a Rehabilitation Plan. If there are, they’ll work with you and your VAC Case Manager to create a Rehabilitation Plan with goals and milestones.

5.  Collaborative Planning: Once the VAC Case Manager approves the Rehabilitation Plan, you will collaborate with your RSS, RSPs, and VAC Case Manager to meet your rehabilitation goals.

Starting a rehabilitation journey can bring a lot of questions. We’re here to help. Before each assessment, we provide an appointment package, so you know what to expect and how to prepare. Our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible.

At PCVRS, we are committed to providing supportive and effective rehabilitation services. Psychological assessments are a vital part of that commitment, helping us to identify your potential for improved functioning in everyday life, and support in the rehabilitation journey. We encourage you to ask your rehabilitation team if you have any questions about your rehabilitation journey.