By Dr. Bert Pace Clinical Manager & Coordinator of Psychological Testing St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities Have you ever wondered if you or a loved one has a psychological condition? How would you know? While googling symptoms is the “go-to” answer for most of us, entrusting the diagnosis of mental health conditions to “Dr. Google” is not all that wise. The process of diagnosing mental health conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Bipolar Disorder or the vast array of other emotional and behavioral health conditions is complex. Many disorders share symptoms, mimic one another or are simply psychological struggles within the normal bounds of being an imperfect human. Getting the proper diagnosis helps in a variety of ways. Understanding your struggle can lead to a major sense of relief. Once an issue is named, problem-solving can begin. You can learn how to cope with a disorder, what to expect, and what treatments are available. Understanding and naming a struggle also allows you to connect with others with similar or related difficulties. The importance of community support cannot be understated when dealing with psychological difficulties. Mankind was not created to go it alone, and those experiencing psychological difficulties benefit tremendously from the support and prayers of others. So, how does psychological testing work? Through interviews, observation and scientifically based tests, psychologists can gain insight into your struggles and better understand their seriousness. The tests used in this process compare an individual's performance and results to what is typically seen in the general population, allowing for the detection of unusual behaviors, traits or ways of thinking. The ultimate goal of this process is to provide a roadmap for healing. Often, patients or their families report a concern of being “labeled.” While a diagnosis is a part of this process, the hope is to provide an understanding of the whole person in his or her uniqueness, not simply to label a person with a diagnosis. A psychological assessment can provide detailed information about how a person thinks, processes emotions, behaves and relates to others. With this information, you can learn about yourself and your diagnosis and get personalized treatment and recommendations. This can inform psychological treatment, medication selection, school support, disability services and many other crucial supports. Far from “writing off” a person through a “label,” a psychological diagnosis can help empower the person struggling to find peace through clarity and help their community support him or her as well as possible. At St. Raphael, we provide comprehensive psychological testing for children, teens and adults for a wide array of concerns. Some examples include learning disorders, ADHD, Autism, cognitive and memory difficulties, mood disorders, personality dysfunction and thinking or perceptual disorders. We serve Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Denver, clergy and religious, as well as the broader Denver metro community. What makes St. Raphael unique is that we not only provide the highest standard of clinical care and service but also integrate our Catholic faith into everything we do. Your faith is respected at St. Raphael, and it is considered an integral part of understanding you and informing how we help you on your road to healing and thriving.
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