Before You Begin: Demystifying Psychological Testing

As a psychologist, I've tested many people for many reasons: psychodiagnostic testing, psychoeducational testing, neuropsychological testing, and capacity testing for older adults or people with disabilities.

I’ve observed that many people approach any type of psychological or neuropsychological testing with a mix of anxiety and intrigue. The word "test" conjures images of school exams and graded papers, leaving many wondering: "Will I be judged? Will I be labeled? What if I don't do well?"

But there is no need to be afraid of testing! Psychological and neuropsychological testing is not about judgment, but rather, about understanding. Think of it as a collaborative process to get answers and clarity, not a test you will either pass or fail. I’m not here to grade you; I’m here to gather data about what might be going on for you, rule out what’s not going on, and give you personalized recommendations about what to do after learning your test results.

Before you embark on the adventure that is psych testing, here is some essential knowledge:

1. Ditch the Pass/Fail Mindset:

There is no such thing as “failing” neuropsychological or psychological testing. Your responses aren't graded, they're interpreted in the context of your life, and in comparison to sound statistical data that helps us understand what your responses mean. This will inform us about your strengths, vulnerabilities, and what type of support might benefit you.

2. Tailor-Made, Not One-Size-Fits-All:

You won't be subjected to a monotonous battery of generic tests. Just like a chef wouldn't serve the same dish to every diner, your assessment will be personalized to your specific concerns and goals. This ensures we're not just ticking boxes, but gathering relevant information that speaks directly to your unique needs, and your testing will be worth the investment of your time, energy, and money.

3. Test Results Can Be a Powerful Compass:

You don’t exist in a vacuum. Your life experiences, your environment, and the choices you've made all play a crucial role in shaping who you are. We'll consider these factors alongside your test results, creating a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond a mere numerical score. 

4. Honesty is Your Superpower:

Remember, the more open and authentic you are throughout the interview and testing, the more accurate and helpful the results will be. It is so important to give your full, best effort on tests, and to be totally honest about your life, your opinion about yourself, and what you experience. This will give you results that you can truly use to move forward in the most effective way from testing.

5. You Hold the Reins:

You're not just a passive participant in this process. You have the right to know why you're being tested, what assessments will be used, and how the results will be interpreted. Feel free to ask questions, voice your concerns, and clarify any doubts. Your understanding and active participation are crucial for a successful journey.

6. Results are the Launchpad, Not the Finish Line:

The real magic happens when we move beyond the numbers and delve deeper. I will translate your test results into actionable steps, transforming them from abstract concepts (like executive functioning or processing speed) into concrete strategies for growth and well-being (like recommendations for developing an organization strategy, areas of focus for potential psychotherapy, or practical solutions for keeping track of daily tasks). Whether you're navigating life's challenges or aiming to achieve specific goals, your results become the springboard for your next steps.

Psychological testing isn't about labeling you or limiting your potential. It's about empowering you with self-awareness, equipping you with the tools to navigate life's complexities, and helping you thrive. So, approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Embrace the opportunity to understand yourself better and be open to the results and recommendations you worked hard for!

Remember, you're not alone on this expedition. Psychological testing in Los Angeles, CA

I'm here to guide you every step of the way, answer your questions, and explain anything confusing or difficult to take in. Psych testing is an investment in yourself, and you deserve the answers and clarity that come from professional assessment, diagnosis, and recommendations. You can start the process and receive the support you deserve with Dr. Reger by following these simple steps:

1. Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment

2. Meet with a Los Angeles Psychologist for an evaluation

3. Start investing in mental health!

Other Services Offered By Dr. Reger in Los Angeles, CA

I know that you may encounter more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why I’m happy to offer multiple neuropsychological and psychological assessments. Other assessments include cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evaluations. In addition to evaluations, I also provide individual therapy, counseling for older adults, and mental health consultations and presentations. Visit my blog for more helpful support today!

The Top 3 Mental Health Presentation Topics in Los Angeles, CA

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work as a clinical psychologist is presenting.

I enjoy teaching about complex mental health topics in a way that non-psychologists understand and can use in everyday life.  Mental health stigma remains a major barrier for folks who might otherwise need or seek out support from a therapist.  Education about mental health can help reduce stigma and empower people to seek help and understand themselves or others.  Here are my most requested mental health presentation topics.

ADULT ADHD

ADHD has become a widely recognized issue only within the past couple of decades, so there are many adults with lifelong ADHD symptoms who have never been diagnosed. Unfortunately, these folks may have had very negative experiences as kids, being viewed as disruptive, bad, stupid, or spacey. This happens when parents and teachers either don’t know or don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of ADHD, and kids suffer as a result. For some, ADHD symptoms get better with age, and for others, they don’t. Menopause and other life changes can also worsen ADHD symptoms.  Many people don’t understand what ADHD looks like in adults, for example:

• Always running late

• Forgetting appointments or events

• Difficulty following through on tasks

• Disorganized spaces at work and home

I have given many presentations to various organizations about adult ADHD signs, symptoms, and ways to manage because there is a lot of interest now in understanding and coping with ADHD.  

TRAUMA AND PTSD

We live in a world where trauma is part of life. On a large scale, such as wars and natural disasters, and on an individual level, such as interpersonal violence or sudden losses, trauma is common. As a psychologist with a decade of experience working with veterans with PTSD, I am often asked to speak about trauma for different groups. Learning about the effects of trauma and ways to build resilience and coping skills is valuable for many different audiences, including:

• First responder organizations and leadership

• Workers’ compensation adjusters

• Attorneys working in personal injury, disability, or workers’ compensation

• Court and other legal staff exposed to details of crime regularly

• Parents and teachers who need to support kids exposed to trauma

• Nurses, physicians, and allied health staff working in emergency departments or other settings where trauma is common

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Most of us operate with some level of stress from day to day.  Los Angeles is a fast-paced city, the cost of living is rising everywhere, and many of us are worried about things happening in the world, locally and around the globe.  Although a little stress can be good for us because it motivates us, a lot of stress can cause a ripple effect of problems, such as:

• Sleep problems

• Difficulty concentrating

• Forgetfulness

• Low mood (which can lead to depression)

• Excess worry (which can become anxiety)

• Difficulty being present

• Not enjoying activities and people

• Physical ailments (stomachaches, headaches, muscle tension)

It’s clear that stress can have a far-reaching impact. Presenting on stress gives me the opportunity to educate about:

• How to recognize stress

• Self-care and life balance

• Seeking support when needed

Techniques to manage stress can include mindfulness, building gratitude and resilience, and setting healthy boundaries.  These are topics that I really enjoy teaching about, and that most people, especially in LA, can benefit from.

Begin Working With A Psychologist Speaker in Los Angeles, CA

There are many topics of interest to organizations in Los Angeles; these are just a few examples of great topics that can benefit a lot of people. If you are interested in having Dr. Reger speak to your group in person in Los Angeles County, Orange County, or anywhere virtually, please follow these simple steps:

1. Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment

2. Meet with a Los Angeles psychologist speaker

3. Start learning & benefiting from mental health presentations!

Other Services Offered By Dr. Reger in Los Angeles, CA

Speaking arrangements aren’t the only service I offer. As a therapist, I know that you may encounter more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why I’m happy to offer multiple neuropsychological and psychological assessments in addition to the ADHD assessment. Other assessments include cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evaluations. In addition to evaluations, I also provide individual therapy and counseling for older adults.

The Impact of Culture on Psych Evaluations in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with people from over 140 countries speaking over 200 languages. This diversity makes it especially important that psychologists conducting psych evals are culturally competent.  

CULTURE INFLUENCES THE WAY YOU PRESENT YOURSELF IN A PSYCH EVALUATION

Culture can have a significant impact on a psych evaluation in a number of ways. First, it can influence the way that people present their symptoms to the psychologist conducting their eval. For example:

• Some cultures place a high value on self-reliance and shame, which can lead people to minimize or deny their symptoms. 

• Other cultures may have different ways of expressing and experiencing mental distress, which can make it difficult for clinicians to make accurate diagnoses.  

• It is normal in many cultures not to share too much personal information, which may lead to underreporting in a psych eval.

• Many cultures are skeptical of Western medicine, or of mental health providers for reasons like religious beliefs or mental health stigma, which can change the way a person speaks to their psychologist in an evaluation.

It’s so important for a psychologist to consider the way culture may impact a patient’s comfort and willingness during a psychological evaluation.  A psychologist should work to build trust and rapport during an interview for a psych eval, to ensure the most accurate testing results.

CULTURE IMPACTS THE WAY TESTS USED IN PSYCH EVALUATIONS ARE DEVELOPED

Cultural variables can also influence the way that psych evaluation tools are developed and used. Here are a few examples: 

• Many psychological tests were originally normed on white, middle-class populations, which means that they may not be accurate for people from other cultural backgrounds or who did not have similar learning opportunities. 

• Some cultures may have different views on what constitutes mental illness, so the measures used may not line up with the patient’s views.

Thankfully, today there is more awareness in general of the cultural biases that can be built into psychological tests, and test creators are using more diverse normative groups to determine what an “average” score looks like on testing.

BOTH PATIENT AND PSYCHOLOGIST CULTURE COME INTO PLAY IN PSYCH EVALS

Identity variables can also influence the way that psychologists and other mental health professionals treat their patients.  Just as each patient has a cultural background that impacts their responses during testing, the psychologist has a cultural background that influences the work as well. Psychologists are trained in science and research methods as well as cultural competence, so they are often aware of common biases to watch out for, but we are all human.  A psych evaluation is designed to minimize cultural bias as much as possible, so that the results are accurate and answer the question that needs answering. Ideally, your psychologist is also aware of the biases they bring into the psych eval, and does their best to minimize the impact of those on the testing and interpretation of results.

COMMON CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A PSYCH EVAL IN LOS ANGELES, CA

Because Los Angeles is large and diverse, there are a few unique cultural challenges that you may have to navigate if you’re seeking a psych evaluation in LA.  Here are some examples:

Language barriers:

Many people in Los Angeles speak a first language other than English, which can create a barrier to communication during psych evaluation, and may impact performance on certain neuropsychological tests. It’s very important to find a culturally competent psychologist who can consider the impact of culture on tests, and ensure that language factors don’t get in the way of accurate testing.

Cultural differences in symptom presentation:

People from different cultures may experience and express mental distress in different ways. For example, some cultures have higher rates of “somatic” symptoms; meaning that emotional distress shows up in physical ways like headaches or stomach problems. A culturally competent neuropsychologist will take these types of variables into consideration.

Cultural differences in attitudes towards mental illness:

Some cultures may have more negative attitudes towards mental illness, which can lead to people delaying or avoiding seeking help. Additionally, some cultures may have different beliefs about the causes of mental illness, which can impact the way that they seek treatment.

In Los Angeles and elsewhere, culture can come from many factors. 

Obviously, country of origin and ethnic identity are cultural variables for many people, but other aspects of identity can affect testing as well.  Other important identity variables include age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, immigrant status, veteran status, and more.  

Ideally, you should seek a psychologist who is culturally competent, which means that they have the knowledge, skills, and awareness to provide effective mental health services to people from different cultural backgrounds. Inclusive and respectful practices will put you at ease in a psych evaluation. This will give you the best odds of getting an accurate and meaningful psych evaluation.

Receive a Psychological Evaluation in Los Angeles, CA

Getting a psychological evaluation from a culturally competent psychologist will ensure you get the most from this experience. Dr. Reger would be happy to offer support with psychological evals and other forms of support from her Los Angeles, CA-based practice. Start testing by following these simple steps:

1. Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment

2. Meet with a Los Angeles Psychologist for an evaluation

3. Start receiving the support your loved one deserves

OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED BY DR. REGER IN LOS ANGELES, CA

I know that you may encounter more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why I’m happy to offer multiple neuropsychological and psychological assessments in addition to the ADHD assessment. Other assessments include cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evaluations. In addition to evaluations, I also provide individual therapy, counseling for older adults, and mental health consultations and presentations.

Psychologist Speakers and Presenters in Los Angeles, CA

Psychologists often have specialties within the very broad field of psychology. 

For example, I am a clinical psychologist with expertise in neuropsychology, aging, and disability.  This has led me to develop knowledge in many areas, including ADHD, dementia, capacity evaluation, elder abuse, adjustment to disability, PTSD, coping with spinal cord injury, and many other related topics.  In addition to my clinical and consulting work, I’ve taught university courses in psychology, and I now offer regular trainings to other professionals who can benefit from knowledge of psychological topics in their own fields.  I’d like to share with you why psychologists make great presenters and some of the topics I have enjoyed presenting about in the past.

PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE EXPERTISE IN MANY AREAS

As I mentioned above, a doctorate in clinical psychology requires education in many different areas, and as a result, psychologists often have a broad range of potential presentation topics.  For example:

Mindfulness: 

This is one of my favorite topics to present to various groups, including students, employees, leaders, healthcare workers, caregivers, and lawyers.  Almost everyone can benefit from learning the basics of mindfulness, including the science of why it’s helpful for managing stress and anxiety, how to get into a mindfulness practice, and tips for living more mindfully from day to day.

Aging:

As a trained geropsychologist (meaning I have specialty training in the psychological aspects of aging), I am passionate about educating and speaking on aging.  For example, I have presented many times about the negative impact of ageism and how to combat it.  I’ve also enjoyed presenting on conscious aging, that is, aging well and celebrating the benefits of age and experience.  In addition, I have a great deal of experience and expertise in assessing and helping patients and families manage dementia, and enjoy educating others about this often misunderstood diagnosis.

Brain Health: 

Because of my expertise in neuropsychology, which is the study of brain and behavior relationships, I am sometimes asked to present on brain health in different ways.  For example, I have presented on ADHD and menopause in women (you can see where aging fits in as well), how to boost executive function and the best ways to maintain brain health over time. This is a topic that can be fun and helpful for a wide range of folks!

Disability: 

Because of my experience working with disability in various settings, I often speak to groups about the unique aspects of disability as a diversity variable.  Disability, like aging, is still very often a target of discrimination, sometimes overtly, and sometimes not.  Speaking about topics like adjustment to disability, disability, and identity, and the caregiving relationship between a person with a disability and their partner has been very enjoyable for me.

Clinical Diagnoses: 

I often get requests to speak about particular diagnoses within my area of expertise or experience, such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or autism.  This type of education can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and increase awareness.

PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE SPEAKING AND PRESENTING SKILLS

As a final note, I will mention that as experts in human behavior, psychologists are often highly engaging speakers.  Here are some of the highlights of having a psychologist present to your group:

• Communication Skills: Part of being a psychologist is being able to communicate well.  This includes effectively communicating complex information, in an accessible way, which makes for a great presentation.

• Extensive Diversity Training: Psychologists have a lot of education and reflection around diversity, equity, and inclusion baked into our schooling and clinical training.  This is invaluable in a speaker, as any topic can include and be improved by a discussion about how diversity comes into play.  Psychologists have the expertise to do this, and since we aren’t afraid to have hard conversations, this can come fairly easily as part of a presentation.

• Strong Science Background:  Psychologists are also extensively trained in behavioral science, and in fact, most psychologists have to do scientific research in order to get their doctorate.  This means psychologists, like other scientists, have the ability to read and understand the latest scientific literature, to think critically about information, and to evaluate the research methods and conclusions drawn by researchers.  This is incredibly valuable in a speaker, as it means the science can be applied to your specific needs, rather than just generally stated.

Start Working With A Psychologist Speaker in Los Angeles

Psychologists bring a lot to the table as speakers and presenters.  If you are interested in having Dr. Reger speak to your group in person in Los Angeles County Orange County, or anywhere virtually, please reach out here.

Other Services Offered with Stacy Reger

I understand you may need more support in addition to speaking and presenting services. This is why I’m happy to offer several types of assessments and services around Southern California. I also offer psychological evaluations for workers’ comp, preoperative assessments, individual therapy, therapy for older adults, and neuropsychological testing. Visit my blog for more helpful information today!