A mental health diagnostic assessment might sound scary, but it’s actually an easy and straightforward process. The purpose of a mental health diagnostic assessment is to gather information so a licensed professional can provide a diagnosis. You’ll be asked about your mental health challenges as well as your health, family, and social history.
A diagnostic assessment helps our team determine the right level of care for you. Once the assessment is complete, the clinician will share the results with you and help prepare you for the next steps in your treatment plan.
Why Mental Health Diagnostic Assessments Matter
A mental health diagnostic assessment is crucial because it provides a diagnosis from a licensed mental health professional. This diagnosis will form the basis of your individual treatment plan.
At Coleman Health Services, we follow clinical best practices as set by organizations like the American Psychiatric Association. We also make sure that only a licensed professional will meet with you to complete your assessment.
How to Prepare for a Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment
Before your mental health diagnostic assessment, it’s a good idea to reflect on your mental health challenges and goals. Consider the symptoms you’ve been dealing with and the reasons you’re seeking help.
Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself:
- Which emotions am I struggling with?
- What kinds of destructive behaviors do I engage in?
- What kinds of challenges or roadblocks have I been facing lately?
- What kind of progress do I want to make with these issues?
- What about my family or social situation/history might be contributing to these issues?
While a mental health diagnostic assessment is a comprehensive process that considers many factors, you don’t need to overprepare or try to think of every little detail that might help. The most important thing is to share your current and previous mental health struggles as accurately as possible. You’ll also want to bring your photo ID and insurance card (if you have one).
What Happens During a Mental Health Diagnostic Assessment
During your diagnostic assessment, an Ohio licensed mental health professional will guide you through a clinical interview. He or she will ask detailed questions about your health history, symptoms, and current status to make an accurate diagnosis and build a personalized treatment plan for you.
Common Questions During Your Assessment
A mental health diagnosis assessment is thorough, so expect to talk about anything and everything related to your mental health. Here are some types of questions that are commonly asked during a diagnostic assessment:
- What are your symptoms?
- What do your home and social relationships look like?
- Are you concerned for your safety or the safety of others?
- Do you struggle with alcohol or substance use?
After Your Assessment: Understanding Results and Next Steps
After your mental health diagnostic assessment, the licensed professional who conducted the assessment will share the results with you and give you an official diagnosis. This diagnosis will use codes from the International Classification of Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association and will give you information about your mental health status.
Next, the Coleman team will work with you to create your Individual Service Plan (ISP). This is a personalized mix of services, activities, and resources that’s designed to help you reach your goals. It’s critical to be actively involved in developing your own ISP — this is one of the first ways you can make visible progress in your mental health journey. At Coleman, we make sure that you always take part in any decisions about your treatment or services.
How Coleman Health Services Makes Your Diagnostic Experience Comfortable
It’s easy for a diagnostic assessment to feel cold and impersonal, especially if you haven’t had mental health care before. Our team at Coleman is passionate about helping you with kindness and respect from the moment you walk into one of our locations.
Because we focus on treating the whole person, relationship building is a critical part of our process. We’re not just here to offer fragmented care options — we’re here to provide support, encouragement, and treatment to help you on your journey. See our success stories for what previous clients have to say about Coleman!
Ready to Take the Next Steps? Schedule Your Mental Health Assessment Today!
Our doors are always open to anyone who’s struggling with mental health and needs help, and our team is ready to give you the support you need. Make an appointment at your local Coleman location to start a new chapter in your story.