Psychological and Substance Abuse Tests

Although most of my work focuses on addictions counseling here in State College and DuBios, PA, many of my clients are also curious about their mental and psychological well-being in general. To help people gain that kind of insight into themselves, I recommend the psychological and substance abuse tests below.

I think it's important to point out that these so-called tests, including those related to substance abuse, are not tests in the traditional sense of pass or fail. They certainly are not challenges to be conquered to see if you have the right stuff or what it takes to make the grade.

Instead, the tests listed below provide an opportunity to get feedback that can help you know yourself better. They are not diagnostic in the clinical or psychiatric meaning of diagnosis. They help you define preferences and aptitudes in areas such as career, relationships and lifestyle choices.

These kinds of psychological tests provide a profile of how you function and what
your inclinations are in a variety of areas of living.

Although you are free to take these screening tests at your leisure without professional supervision, I would invite you, after you have taken a few of these, to call me so I can help you extract maximum and correct meaning from their interpretation. Most of these tests are easy to take and the results, generally, are straightforward and not complicated to understand.

However, it is not wise to assume unfounded conclusions based upon taking tests such as these. That's where I come in. I can help you know what to interpret with significance and what should be taken with a grain of salt so as not to lead you astray. I have training in these matters and I offer my expertise to you.

Unfortunately, there are times my clients come to me with misunderstandings or misconceptions about who they think they really are based upon very little evidence. Sometimes that evidence is taken too seriously from tests such as these. It's easy to put ourselves in a box or under a label and then assume that is a hard and true fact about yourself. Human behavior is highly flexible and fluid and various from context to context. Results from a test you took in your 20s may no longer be applicable now in your mid-30s. Life events change us and matures us and all of that needs to be reckoned with when interpreting psychological test results.

Furthermore, how a person functions in different environments is often much more divergent and different than we may realize. How you relate to family members when you're at home may be very different than how you provide management or leadership at work. That doesn't necessarily mean you have a split personality. Probably means you're healthy and adaptable. However, without professional guidance, it is easy to become confused about what your true personality may be.

Go ahead and take these tests. Collect the results and then let's talk. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I'm here to help you understand your results from these psychological and substance abuse tests so you can grow, solve problems and get more out of life that you need and want.