Therapy Evaluation Services in Chicago & IL & IA
Ardent Counseling Center provides evaluation services in Chicago and Illinois and Iowa as required.
Every course of counseling is based upon an evaluation of the presenting problem, how it impacts the individual, couple or family and the history of the problem. Evaluation is a fundamental component of general mental health practice.
Sometimes, however, there is a need for a specialized psychological assessment, usually to guide a decision being considered on behalf of an individual. Our team has extensive training and clinical experience in the provision of the following specialized evaluations and is one of the few mental health centers in the Cook/Lake/Dupage County to encompass these assessment services:
Well begun is half done. Start your therapy with a professional evaluation - (888) 870-1775
Get help now with evaluation services in Chicago & IL & IA.... call (888) 870-1775
WHAT WE DO...
We offer assistance with the following issues (and more)
Fitness-For-Duty Evaluations
On occasion employers, employee assistance programs or disability management organizations may wish to determine if an employee's psychological functioning is interfering with his or her performance in the workplace. There may be concerns regarding mood, substance abuse, concentration difficulties or behavioral changes, which prompt the referral. Or, in the case of police/fire personnel, there may have been a work-related traumatic incident, which prompts the need to determine if the employee is cleared to return to their customary duties. When contracted to conduct a fitness evaluation, the consulting clinician is typically retained directly by the organization to assess the individual and provide an opinion regarding the employee’s readiness to be on the job and/or the need for accommodations to support a successful return to the workplace. Typically, the components of fitness-for-duty evaluations include the following:
- Consultation with the referring organization to identify the issues of concern and goals of the evaluation process.
- Diagnostic clinical interviews with the employee, often including collateral contact with the employee's spouse or other family members.
- The evaluation sessions include a comprehensive assessment of the presenting problems of concern, review past history and the provision of an extended mental status examination.
- Consultation with treating clinicians already involved in the patient's care.
- Psychological testing may be utilized as part of the evaluation process.
- An opinion regarding fitness to return to the workplace is provided, along with recommendations for accommodations or further treatment needs.
Specialized Evaluations of Children & Adolescents to Determine Fitness for Inclusion in a School Setting
The exclusion of a student from school attendance pending a mental health evaluation is a relatively rare event. However, under certain circumstances, school administrators may require that a student have an independent mental health assessment—a school fitness evaluation—before the student is cleared to participate in a school setting. Typically, the circumstances prompting such a referral relate to behavioral changes or concerns over an apparent deterioration in functioning or, concerns over the possible risk of danger to self or others.
A school fitness evaluation is appropriate for students who are deemed to not require an urgent evaluation in an emergency room setting, but whose capacity to safely function in the school environment has come into question. Typically an event or circumstance has prompted the school to require that the student receive an evaluation before resuming school attendance. The school fitness evaluation shares many components with adult fitness-for-duty assessments and typically includes the following components:
- Consultation with the referring school to identify the issues of concern and goals of the evaluation process.
- Diagnostic clinical interviews with the student, always including collateral contact with the students parent or guardian.
- The evaluation interviews include a comprehensive review of the presenting problems of concern, past history and the provision of an extended mental status examination.
- Consultation with treating clinicians already involved in the students care.
- Psychological testing may be utilized as part of the evaluation process.
- An opinion regarding fitness to return to the school setting is provided, along with recommendations for accommodations or further treatment needs.
Pre-Surgical Consultations for Persons Being Considered for Gastric Bypass Procedures
Mental health providers are frequently asked to participate in the evaluation of candidates for bariatric surgery. Many surgical weight loss programs require patients to be evaluated prior to undergoing surgical procedures. The therapists at the Ardent Counseling Center have clinical experience as consultants to weight loss programs and are available to provide mental health assessments that comply with recognized standards of practice, including those promulgated by the American Association of Bariatric Surgery. Pre-operative evaluations for patients under consideration for bariatric surgery typically include the following components:
- Consultation with program staff
- Consultation with the bariatric surgeon
- Diagnostic clinical interviews with the patient, preferably also including collateral sources of information such as the patient's spouse or other family members. Typically, the diagnostic interview will be of a semi-structured format, utilizing empirically supported evaluation measures.
- Administration of psychological testing such as the MMPI-2 or other specialized instruments designed for use with the bariatric pre-surgical population may be utilized.
- Provision of a written report with findings & recommendations.
Disability Evaluations
Persons applying for disability benefits under the Social Security Administration, or through their employer, may be required to submit to a specialized mental health evaluation. Typically, these assessments consist of the following components:
- Review of relevant records and treatment history
- Provision of diagnostic clinical interviews, often in collaboration with collateral sources of information such as the patient's spouse or other family members
- Completion of required assessment instruments or forms as required by the disability organization.
- An opinion regarding disability is provided, along with a written report with findings & recommendations.
Contact us to find out more about how we can meet your need for evaluation services in Chicago and Illinois and Iowa today.
We look forward to working with you.
Make an appointment today by calling us on (888) 870-1775 or by filling out our Contact Form.
Get help now.... call (888) 870-1775
GET IN TOUCH...
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