Section E: Evaluation, Assessment, And Interpretation

Question 1

What does the counselor take into account when using assessments?

Answer 1

Clients’ personal and cultural context.

Question 2

E.1.a Assessment

Answer 2

The primary purpose of educational, mental health, psychological, and career assessment is to gather information regarding the client for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, client decision making, treatment planning, and forensic proceedings. Assessment may include both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Question 3

E.1.b Client welfare

Answer 3

Counselors do not misuse assessment results and interpretations, and they take reasonable steps to prevent others from misusing the information provide. They respect the client’s right to know the results, the interpretations made, and the bases for Counselors’ conclusions and recommendations.

Question 4

E.2.a Limits of competence

Answer 4

Counselors use only those testing and assessment services for which they have been trained and are competent. Counselors using technology-assisted test interpretations are trained in the construct being measured and the specific instrument being used prior to using its technology-based application. Counselors take reasonable measures to ensure the proper use of assessment techniques by persons under their supervision.

Question 5

E.2.b Appropriate use

Answer 5

Counselors are responsible for the appropriate application, scoring, interpretation, and use of assessment instruments relevant to the needs of the client, whether they score and interpret such assessments themselves or use technology or other services

Question 6

E.2.c. Decisions based on results

Answer 6

Counselors responsible for decisions involving individuals or policies that are based on assessment results have a thorough understanding of psychometrics

Question 7

E.3.a Explanation to clients - informed consent

Answer 7

Prior to assessment, counselor’s explain the nature and purpose of assessment and the specific use of results by potential recipients. The explanation will be given in terms and language that the client (or other legally authorized person on behalf of the client) can understand

Question 8

E.3.b Recipients of results - informed consent

Answer 8

Counselors consider the client’s and/or examinee’s welfare, explicit understandings, and prior agreements in determining who receives the assessment results. Counselors include accurate and appropriate interpretations with any release of individual or group assessment results.

Question 9

E.4. Release of data to qualified personnel

Answer 9

Counselors release assessment data in which the client is identified only with the consent of the client or the client’s legal representative. Such data are released one to persons recognized by counselor’s as qualified to interpret the data

Question 10

E.5.a proper diagnosis

Answer 10

Counselors take special care to provide proper diagnosis of mental disorders. Assessment techniques (including personal interviews) used to determine client care (e.g. Locus of treatment, type of treatment, recommended follow-up) are carefully selected and appropriately used.

Question 11

E.5.b cultural sensitivity

Answer 11

Counselors recognize that culture affects the manner in which clients’ problems are defined and experienced. Cleints’ socioeconomic and cultural experiences are considered when diagnosing mental disorders.

Question 12

E.5.c historical and social prejudices in the diagnosis of pathology

Answer 12

Counselors recognize historical and social prejudices in the misdiagnosis and pathologizing of certain individuals and groups and strive to become aware of and address such biases in themselves or others.

Question 13

E.5.d refraining from diagnosis

Answer 13

Counselors may refrain from making and/or reporting a diagnosis if they believe that it would cause harm to the client or others. Counselors carefully consider both the positive and negative implications of a diagnosis

Question 14

E.6.a appropriateness of instruments

Answer 14

Counselors carefully consider the validity, reliability, psychometric limitations, and appropriateness of instruments when selecting assessments and, when possible, use multiple forms of assessment, data, and/or instruments in forming conclusions, diagnoses, or recommendations.

Question 15

E.6.b. Referral information

Answer 15

If a client is referred to a third party for assessment, the counselor provides specific referral questions and sufficient objective data about the client to ensure that appropriate assessment instruments are utilized.

Question 16

E.7.a. Administration conditions

Answer 16

Counselors administer assessments under the same conditions that were established in their standardization. When assessments are not administered under standard conditions, as may be necessary to accommodate clients with disabilities, or when unusual behavior or irregularities occur during the administration, those conditions are noted in interpretation, and the results may be designated as invalid or of questionable validity

Question 17

E.7.b. Provision of favorable conditions

Answer 17

Counselor’s provide an appropriate environment for the administration of assessments (e.g., privacy, comfort, freedom from distraction).

Question 18

E.7.c. Technological administration.

Answer 18

Counselors ensure that technologically administered assessments function properly and provide clients with accurate results.

Question 19

E.7.d. Unsupervised assessments

Answer 19

Unless the assessment instrument is designed, intended, and validated for self-administration and/or scoring, counselor’s do not permit unsupervised use.

Question 20

E.8. Multicultural issues/diversity in assessment

Answer 20

Counselors select and use with caution assessment techniques normal on populations other than that of the client. Counselors recognize the effects of age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, language preference, religion, spirituality, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status on test administration and interpretation, and they place test results in proper perspective with other relevant factors.

Question 21

E.9.a reporting

Answer 21

When counselor’s report assessment results, they consider the client’s personal and cultural background, the level of the client’s understanding of the results, and the impact of the results on the client’s. In reporting assessment results, counselor’s indicate reservations that exist regarding validity or reliability due to circumstances of the assessment or inappropriateness of the norms of or the person tested.

Question 22

E.9.b instruments with insufficient empirical data

Answer 22

Counselors. Exercise caution when terpreting the results of. Instruments not having sufficient empirical data to support respondent results.. The specific purposes for the use of such instruments are stated explicitly to the examinee. Counselors qualify any conclusions,, diagnoses, or recommendations made that are based on assessments or instruments. With questionable validity or reliability.

Question 23

E.9.c. Assessment services

Answer 23

Counselors who provide assessment, scoring, and interpretation services to support the assessment process confirm the validity of such interpretations. They accurately describe the purpose, norms, validity,, reliability, n. Applications of the procedures. And any special qualifications applicable to their use. At all times, counselor’s maintain their ethical responsibility to those being assessed.

Question 24

E.10. Assessment security

Answer 24

Counselors maintain the integrity and security of tests and assessments consistent with legal and contractual obligations. Counselors do not appropriate, reproduce,

Question 25

E.11. Obsolete Assessment and Outdated Results

Answer 25

Counselors do not use data or results from assessments that are obsolete or outdated for the current purpose (e.g., noncurrent versions of assessments/instruments). Counselors make every effort to prevent the misuse of obsolete measures and assessment data by others.

Question 26

E.12. Assessment Construction

Answer 26

Counselors use established scientific procedures, relevant standards, and current professional knowledge for assessment design in the development, publication, and utilization of assessment techniques.

Question 27

E.13.a. Primary Obligations: Forensic Evaluation

Answer 27

primary obligation is to produce objective findings that can be substantiated based on information and techniques appropriate to the evaluation, which may include examination of the individual and/or review of records. counselors form professional opinions based on their professional knowledge and expertise that can be supported by the data gathered in evaluations. counselors define the limits of their reports or testimony, especially when an examination of the individual has not been conducted.

Question 28

E.13.b. Consent for Evaluation: Forensic Evaluation

Answer 28

individuals being evaluated are informed in writing that the relationship is for the purposes of an evaluation and is not therapeutic in nature, and entities or individuals who will receive the evaluation report are identified. counselors who perform forensic evaluations obtain written consent from those being evaluated or from their legal representative unless a court orders evaluations to be conducted without the written consent of the individuals being evaluated. When children or adults who lack the capacity to give voluntary consent are being evaluated, informed written consent is obtained from a parent or guardian.

Question 29

E.13.c. Client Evaluation Prohibited: Forensic Evaluation

Answer 29

Counselors do not evaluate current or former clients, clients’ romantic partners, or clients’ family members for forensic purposes. counselors do not counsel individuals they are evaluating.

Question 30

E.13.d. Avoid potentially harmful relationships: forensic Evaluation

Answer 30

Counselors who provide forensic evaluations avoid potentially harmful professional or personal relationships with family members, romantic partners, and close friends of individuals they are evaluating or have evaluated in the past.