CNL 644
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Jan 9, 2024
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Short Answer Questions I
Paola A. Duarte
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University
CNL-644: Assessments of Mental and Emotional Health Status
Dr. Farago
December 6, 2023
Short Answer Questions I
1.
A screening is a type of assessment tool. Describe how and when a screening is used.
A screening is a type of test or assessment tool. Screenings are used in a variety of fields
such as the medical field, the behavioral health field, and the mental health field. For example, in
the medical field when a person does not exhibit any signs of a condition, a screening test is
performed to identify possible illnesses or health issues. These screening tests allow the medical
doctors to check the patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol and blood pressure, and even
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In some cases physicians even conduct a toxins test.
Similarly, in the mental health field screening is the process of early detection for children who
could be experiencing mental health issues. These mental health issues or disorders might
impede their normal development, learning, and growth. In this case, children and adolescents
might need additional testing, diagnosis, and assessment. Finally, screening is not only conducted
in children but also in adults and in elderly clients. Some common types of screening include
ADHD screening (Vanderbilts in children and adolescents), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Test
(OCD), Neurological Exam, Neuropsychological testing, Depression screening, Differential
diagnosis, Alcohol use screening, and many others. A screening is the initial step in determining
if someone exhibits symptoms of a mental illness. It might be included in a standard
examination. To determine if a person is at risk of having a mental condition, a screening test is
utilized. This is extremely important for the treatment plan as it allows the counselor and mental
health professional to create a more accurate treatment plan that will meet the needs of the client.
2.
Describe the legal and ethical parameters related to administering and interpreting
assessment tools.
The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics outlines the ethical responsibilities
of American Counseling Association (ACA) members and offers guidelines meant to guide
professional counselors' ethical activity. The ACA Code of Ethics lists moral issues that
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professional counselors and counselors-in-training should be aware of. With this in mind, the
American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics states that assessments should only be used
with the purpose of collecting client data for treatment plans, for approaches such as shared-
decision making , and forensic procedures, among other uses (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). In
other words, assessments and testing tools should only be used in order to aid with the diagnosis
proceess. A counselor should be aware of the ethical limitations to administering and interpreting
assessment tools before deciding to administer an assessment that has no correlation with the
client’s symptoms. For example, it would not be ethical for a Professional Counselor to
administer a Depression screening assessment when the client is only portraying and
experiencing symptoms of anxiety and the counselor is aware of it. This would be not only a
waste of resources but it would be disrespectful to the client’s time and energy. In the case that a
counselor is uncertain if it’s ethical and within the legal and ethical parameters of adminstering
assessment tools then they should reach out to their supervisor or to a peer for support. Finally,
the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) covers a section on the topic of Client Welfare. This sections
explains the importance of not misusing assessment results and interpretations. This section
states that all mental health and behavioral health professionals should respect the client’s right
to know the results of the assessments they have taken.
3.
Identify the sanctions and educational requirements for a professional to administer and
interpret assessments as governed by your state as well as the guidelines of the American
Counseling Association (ACA).
In order to administer and interpret assessments in the state of Arizona, the Arizona State
Board of Behavioral Health Examiners first requires applicants to create an account in order to
apply for licensure. However, the state also requires to hold at least of Master’s Degree in
Counseling or in a related field. In some cases a Doctorate in Psychology is acceptable as well as
a Doctorate in NeuroPsychology. In order to apply for licensure an individual must hold at least a
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Master’s Degree and they must have a completed their clinical hours and supervision hours. In
some cases mental health clinics and hospitals hire psychometrics to administer assessments. For
example, at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona you can schedule an appointment with a
psychometric that will provide psychological testing in the areas of personality, cognitive skills,
vocational interests, and even academic achievement. The only qualifications needed for this
position are a Bachelor’s Degree and previous work experience in a psychology related field or
psychology testing.
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Reference List
American Counseling Association (2014).
ACA Code of Ethics.
https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Groth-Marnet, G., & Wright, A. J. (2016).
Handbook of psychological assessment
(6th ed.). John
Wiley & Sons Inc. ISBN-13: 9781118960646
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