When you’re concerned about a teenager’s mental health but aren’t sure what to do, psychological testing for teens can provide insights into why a teen is struggling and what type of treatment can help.
If you’ve already scheduled an appointment, it’s normal for teens and parents alike to feel apprehensive. Families often have questions like, “How long does a psychological evaluation take?” and “What happens during a psych eval?”
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers psychological testing for teen boys. The length of psychological evaluation depends on the specific mental health concerns a teen is being assessed for. If you’d like to understand more about the length of psych evals and what the process entails, our treatment team can answer your questions.
Give us a call today at 866.300.5275 to learn more about the teen psych evaluation process at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery.
How Long Does a Psychological Evaluation Take?
The length of psych evaluations can vary based on factors like the treatment center approach and the types of tests used. Several different types of tests may be used during a teen psych evaluation. A teen evaluation may involve one or multiple tests, depending on the areas of concern noted by parents, a teen, or the treatment team.
Some of the most common tests used to perform a teen psych evaluation include:
- Clinical interviews
- Psychological testing
- Neuropsychological testing
- Behavioral observation
- Personality assessment
- Intellectual functioning assessment
It’s hard to give a general estimation of how long a psych eval will last. Some tests last only 30 to 90 minutes, while multiple tests or the diagnosis of certain conditions may take a few hours.
Choosing the Right Treatment Center for a Teen Psych Evaluation
Psych evaluations come in many forms. When the client is a teenager, typically, their parents will discuss concerns with the treatment center and arrange for a psych eval to take place. The length of psychological evaluations depends on a teen’s specific concerns.
When the client receiving a psych eval is a teenager, choosing a treatment center designed to work specifically with teenagers is preferable. Staff at a teen treatment center are more experienced in working with teenagers and helping them feel comfortable and at ease during the evaluation process.
It’s normal for anyone to feel a bit nervous during a psych evaluation, and adolescents, in particular, may feel reluctant to open up to a stranger. Choosing a mental health professional experienced in working with teens can help the evaluation process go more smoothly.
Teen Psych Evaluations Results and Treatment
Once the evaluation process is complete, test results will be reviewed. The treatment center team may find that a teen’s results meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder.
However, it’s also common to find that a teen doesn’t have a diagnosable mental health condition yet still undeniably struggles with mental health concerns that treatment can help alleviate.
A treatment center’s clinical team will create a mental health treatment plan based on the evaluation findings. Treatment can vary based on the conditions a teen is dealing with and the severity level.
Often, inpatient treatment is the most beneficial environment for initial stabilization, while at other times, outpatient care provides sufficient support.
Get Help with Teen Mental Health at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
Concern for a teen’s mental health can be challenging for parents to experience. Fortunately, you’re not alone. Foothills at Red Oak Recovery makes it easy to understand your options and get your teen the help they need.
We offer psych evaluations and mental and behavioral health treatment programs designed specifically for teenage boys. To learn more, contact us at 866.300.5275 today and speak with the treatment team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery.
