Psychological Testing at Lift: Comprehensive Insights for Clarity and Growth

At Lift, we recognize that understanding the nuances of an individual’s mental health, cognitive abilities, and personality is essential for effective treatment and long-term planning. That’s why our Lift Assessment is a comprehensive process designed to provide diagnostic clarity, guide treatment, and support discharge or future planning.

What Does the Lift Assessment Include?

Our assessment incorporates a full battery of tests that examine various dimensions of an individual’s functioning, including:

Cognitive ability

Academic achievement

Fine-motor skills

Attention

Learning and memory

Psychological symptoms

Personality

This multidimensional approach ensures that we can accurately “rule in or out” overlapping diagnoses, providing a clearer picture of an individual’s strengths and challenges. Unlike assessments that rely solely on self-report questionnaires, the Lift Assessment includes ability-based measures and symptom measures that account for individual tendencies to amplify or downplay their experiences, offering a more nuanced perspective.

Personality measures, in particular, provide valuable insights into what might be happening “under the hood,” offering a deeper understanding of the individual’s unique psychology. While the assessment integrates neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and psychological testing components, it is formally categorized as “psychological testing.”

Tailored Testing for Children, Adolescents, and Adults

The Lift Assessment is designed to serve individuals aged 6 and up, with testing protocols tailored to different age groups. For example:

  • Children may require multiple sessions to complete the battery due to their developmental needs and attention span.

  • Adolescents and adults, on the other hand, typically complete the testing in a single day.

Each examinee’s performance is compared to same-aged peers, ensuring that results are developmentally appropriate and reliable. The actual testing experience may also vary by age group, with specific forms and tools designed to suit each individual’s needs.

Autism Screening

The Lift Assessment includes built-in measures to screen for Autism, a neurodevelopmental difference that affects how a person interacts with the world. Autism often includes variations in social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behavior, with a spectrum of experiences meaning individuals can display different levels of these characteristics

For those requiring additional evaluation, we administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a widely regarded tool for supporting an Autism diagnosis. This additional testing provides invaluable insights for individuals and families seeking clarity around an Autism diagnosis.

Interpreting the Results

Across 5-6 hours of face-to-face testing, examinees produce a wealth of data, which our team analyzes to create a comprehensive picture of their strengths and areas for growth. Results are typically available within one to two weeks after the final testing session.

We find it helpful to include the individual’s Lift clinician in the feedback meeting. This collaborative approach ensures that the assessment findings are fully integrated into treatment planning, fostering a seamless path forward.

Why the Lift Assessment Matters

At Lift, we believe that a thorough and personalized assessment is the foundation for effective care. By combining advanced tools with a holistic perspective, we help individuals and families gain the clarity they need to move forward with confidence and purpose.

If you or a loved one could benefit from a Lift Assessment, contact us today to learn more about how we can support your journey toward healing and growth.

Dr. Mark Beitel

Dr. Beitel is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides psychological testing to support patients at Lift Wellness.  He assesses psychological, neuropsychological, and academic functioning in children, adolescents, and adults.  His approach to psychological testing can be very useful in setting goals for patients who are just beginning treatment and can bring a lot of energy and organization to an ongoing treatment.   

Beyond Lift, Dr. Beitel is a faculty member at Yale University with appointments in the Child Study Center, the Department of Psychiatry, and Ethnic Studies.  He has authored or co-authored more than 70 scientific papers on assessment and psychotherapy.  At Yale, he conducts research, teaches undergraduate courses, and mentors doctoral dissertations in the MD/PhD program.  He also developed and directed a CT State-approved therapeutic day school for students with internalizing disorders, so has a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of K-12 students.

https://www.liftupwellness.com/mark-beitel
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