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Our Assessments Explained

Personality Assessment

It may explore:

  • Personality traits

  • Emotional functioning

  • Interpersonal style

  • Defenses and coping mechanisms

  • Self-image and identity

  • Possible personality pathology

Common uses:

  • Diagnostic clarification

  • Treatment planning

  • Occupational assessments

  • Understanding relational difficulties

  • Identifying personality disorders

These assessments often combine:

  • Clinical interviews

  • Observation

  • Questionnaires/self-report measures

  • Projective tests

  • Example of tools: 

MMPI |16PF | MCMI | TAT

Neuropsychological Assessment

It examines areas such as:

  • Memory

  • Attention and concentration

  • Executive functioning

  • Language

  • Visuospatial abilities

  • Processing speed

  • Intellectual functioning

Common uses:

  • Brain injuries

  • Dementia

  • ADHD

  • Learning disorders

  • Stroke effects

  • Neurodevelopmental conditions 

  • Cognitive decline

Methods include:

  • Standardised cognitive tests

  • Behavioural observations

  • Clinical history

  • Collateral information

  • Example of tools: 

WAIS-IV | WISC-V | MoCA | Stroop Test

Psycholegal Assessment

The psychologist’s role is to provide:

  • Objective findings

  • Professional opinions

  • Expert reports

Common psycholegal areas:

  • Medico-legal claims

  • Child custody matters

  • Competency/capacity evaluations

  • Criminal responsibility

  • RAF claims

  • Emotional damages

  • Occupational injury matters

Key feature:

The focus is not primarily therapy, but answering a specific legal referral question in an ethical and evidence-based manner.

Psychoanalytical Formulation

It explores:

  • Unconscious processes

  • Early attachment experiences

  • Internal conflicts

  • Defence mechanisms

  • Relationship patterns

  • Repetition patterns

  • Emotional meanings beneath behaviour

The aim is to understand:

  • Why the person experiences difficulties

  • How past experiences shape current functioning

  • The emotional dynamics underlying symptoms

It often includes:

  • Developmental history

  • Attachment history

  • Relational themes

  • Defences

  • Personality organisation

Monique Anne Botha, MSc (SMU), HPCSA: PS0157082, BHF: 1195069

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