Psychological Diagnostic Assessments in Brisbane
Redefini provides psychological diagnostic assessments for children, adolescents and adults at our Brisbane clinic and via telehealth where appropriate.
Assessments are a way to better understand a person’s skills. People of all ages undergo psychological assessment for a variety of reasons. Every day, we are required to process information, solve problems in various situations, attend to daily living tasks, and connect socially. Additionally, we need to complete work-related activities, whether at school, in higher and alternative education programs, at home, or at our place of employment or where we volunteer.
Sometimes it may appear that someone is struggling with some of these day-to-day tasks. Psychological assessment can help us understand why the individual may be experiencing these issues. Psychological assessment can include cognitive assessment, evaluation of intellectual capacity, memory assessment, review of executive functioning, academic achievement, language and communication capacity, adaptive behaviour, daily living capacity, emotional, behavioural and social skills. Results from these assessments help build a profile of the person’s strengths and challenges and inform practical recommendations to support daily functioning. These recommendations may help guide therapy, intervention and ongoing supports.
Diagnostic Assessments & Price Guides
What to Expect During a Psychological Assessment
Before your Appointment.
You will receive several important forms to complete before your session. Please ensure that all forms are completed and returned before your appointment.
It is important that we understand the current strengths and challenges of the person being assessed. Where possible, please provide copies of relevant recent medical, psychological, school or workplace reports. These documents can be uploaded securely through the intake form. If you are unsure which documents to provide, please contact the Redefini team before your appointment.
Diagnostic interview/Intake
This appointment usually takes between one and two hours. Your psychologist will review the information provided in your intake form and ask additional questions to understand your concerns and determine the most appropriate assessment approach.”
Do I need to bring my child with me?
Whether your child needs to attend the initial appointment depends on the referral, funding arrangements and planned assessment process. The Redefini team will confirm who should attend before the appointment. If you have a referral or relevant funding documentation, please provide a copy when completing your intake forms.
2. Testing/Evaluation
What happens during the Diagnostic Assessments?
An initial interview to understand your concerns and confirm the most appropriate assessment approach.
Review of relevant previous reports and supporting information by your psychologist.
Completion of relevant standardised questionnaires by the person being assessed and, where appropriate, their parents, caregivers, teachers, family members or partner.
Data gathering, analysis, clinical interpretation, and preparation of a written psychological assessment report.
Assessment activities typically take approximately two to three hours in total and may be completed across multiple sessions, depending on the person’s age, needs, and circumstances. Activities may include a semi-structured interview and appropriate standardised measures.
Scoring, interpretation and report preparation by your psychologist
We aim to complete each assessment as efficiently as possible, but we cannot guarantee a completion date. The timeframe depends on several factors, including:
The individual’s well-being, motivation, and participation on the day of the assessment.
The individual’s capacity and support needs during testing.
How quickly do parents, guardians, or support people return surveys and questionnaires
How quickly do teachers or other relevant people return questionnaires?
For adult assessments, we may ask a partner, family member or colleague to complete questionnaires
Whether collaboration with other relevant professionals is required to inform the assessment findings
In many cases, the period from the initial interview to the completed report is approximately 6–12 weeks. This is a general guide only and may vary depending on the factors above.
The diagnostic assessment fee includes the preparation of a comprehensive written report. When booking your diagnostic assessment, please tell us whether the report will be used to support a funding application and, if so, the type of funding.
How Redefini Plans an Assessment
Redefini does not automatically use exactly the same assessment battery for every person. The psychologist considers the referral question, age, developmental history, current concerns and information already available before selecting appropriate measures.
An assessment may require multiple appointments. Time is also required outside appointments to review records, score and interpret measures, integrate different sources of information and prepare the written report.
If the initial information suggests that another type of assessment or professional would be more appropriate, we will discuss this before proceeding wherever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does testing look like?
Testing varies according to the individual’s age, needs, and the purpose of the assessment. It may include structured activities, interviews, questionnaires and standardised assessment tasks. Practice tests are not available, as advance preparation may affect the accuracy of the results.
How do I prepare myself or my child for testing?
Before the assessment, aim to have a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious meal.
If you or your child takes prescribed medication, please discuss this with the psychologist during the intake interview.
Please bring a water bottle and a healthy snack to the assessment in case a break is needed
Consider planning a relaxing or enjoyable activity after the assessment.
c. Feedback and Report
Once all assessment information has been gathered and reviewed, the person assessed or the child’s parent or guardian will attend a feedback session. During this session, the psychologist will clearly explain the assessment results, conclusions, and recommendations. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the recommended next steps.
The feedback session usually lasts between one and two hours. You will receive a written psychological assessment report, which you may choose to share with other treating professionals, schools, or relevant support providers. An electronic copy will also be provided for your records.
Redefini will provide the electronic report after the final feedback session and once all assessment fees have been paid.
Who Attends the Feedback Session?
For a child assessment, we recommend that the child’s parents or guardians attend the feedback session. The child does not usually need to attend but is welcome to do so.
Adults may attend the feedback session independently or invite a support person. A support person may only attend with the assessed adult’s consent and must respect the confidentiality of the information discussed.
If an adult requires support with decision-making or has an appointed guardian, their guardian or another authorised support person may need to attend the feedback session. This will be discussed with the person and their supports before the assessment begins.