William P. Wattles, Ph.D.
1
 Good
writing:
“Brevity, cogency and
clarity are the
principal virtues and
the greatest of these
is clarity.”
 “a (person’s) style of
writing is an
important part of his
character”
Francis
Marion
University
2
 The
end product of assessment.
 More than merely test results
 Must “interact with the data” to make
useful conclusions about
• Referral question
• Making decisions
• Problem solving
Francis
Marion
University
3
A
brief description of the client
 general reason for conducting the
evaluation
Francis
Marion
University
4
 Orients
the reader to the initial focus of
the report and what follows.
 Clinician must clarify the referral
question.
Francis
Marion
University
5
 “Referred
for a psychological”
• lacks focus and precision
• leads to “shotgun” reports
 A wide variety of often-fragmented descriptions in
the hope that something useful can be found.
Francis
Marion
University
6
 Example
 “Mr. Smith
is a 35-year-old, white,
married male with a high school
education who presents with complaints
about depression and anxiety.”
Francis
Marion
University
7
 Please
follow example
 Add Discussion (case conceptualization)
section before Impressions and
recommendations.
Francis
Marion
University
8
 This
is where you put it together.
Francis
Marion
University
9
 She
was attractive, well spoken, and had
high mannerisms
Francis
Marion
University
10
 Examples
page 568
Francis
Marion
University
11
 Jesse
S is a 23-year-old Caucasian female
who presents with having the desire to feel
“fully fulfilled”. She wants to feel settled in
her life. The current evaluation was
designed for the patient to gain personal
insight regarding dissatisfaction with her
current daily activities. (44)
Francis
Marion
University
12
 Jesse
S is a 23-year-old Caucasian female
who is dissatisfied with her daily activities
and wants to feel “fully fulfilled.” (21)
Francis
Marion
University
13
 The
patient answered all:
• The inquiries presented to him
• my questions.
Francis
Marion
University
14
 When
this issue was further questioned,
MT ….
 Asked to elaborate, MT …
Francis
Marion
University
15
 She
displayed a euthymic mood, which
she described as “great”.
Francis
Marion
University
16
 She
was low on the Lie scale indicating
that she received a normal score and
appeared to answer honestly and openly.
Francis
Marion
University
17
 People
with this profile tend to be
narcissistic, selfish, and self-indulgent.
Francis
Marion
University
18
 The
older sister was described as
stubborn implying a strain in the
relationship.
Francis
Marion
University
19
 Her
past work history consists of working
on a local
Francis
Marion
University
20
 Mrs. L’s
Mother is a resigned OB/GYN
nurse
Francis
Marion
University
21
 She
made no eye contact even though
she was familiar with the interviewer. Her
eyes focused on the hairline of the
interviewer.
 She appeared to look over my head
rather than making eye contact.
Francis
Marion
University
22
 “we
weren’t poor but we weren’t well off
either.”
Francis
Marion
University
23
 because “the
other students think [she
gets] all of the questions correct but [she]
still doesn’t know everything [she feels]
like [she needs] to know.”
Francis
Marion
University
24

Given the behavioral observations,
length and depth of clinical interview
and MMPI-2 test profile, I believe this
evaluation is an accurate assessment of
TS’s current level of functioning.
Francis
Marion
University
25
 She
admits that they sometimes
“overcompensate” in caring for their
children because neither of them
received enough attention from their
parents growing up
Francis
Marion
University
26
 After
high school, she felt that college was the
next logical step for her. She felt that “my
parents were completely behind me as though
it was the next natural step, but also to make
sure that I did end up going to college”. She
repeated many times that “you don’t really
have a choice about college in my family; they
make you think you do, but you really don’t”.
Ms. Davis went on to say that she had been
brought up thinking this, and she didn’t even
consider any other options after high school.
(95)
Francis
Marion
University
27
 The
results of CA’s WAIS-III indicates that she
has above average intelligence especially with
regards to her phenomenal attention span and
her ability to solve visual problems using her
visual motor skills. Her very high scores on her
WAIS-III could be contributing to her
unhappiness in her present occupation. She
may feel that she is not using her strengths in
the best possible fashion and that she has not
lived up to her expectations.
Francis
Marion
University
28

S.L. is currently experiencing a great deal of
subjective distress. Her current difficulties with
depressive and anxiety symptoms are likely
related to her self-concept, which has been
shaped and distorted by her long-term
interpersonal relationships with her family and
her ex-boyfriend. The unreasonably high
demands she places on herself set the stage for
what she views as “failure”.
Francis
Marion
University
29
 During
this time, G admitted to having
been in trouble with the law. She refused
to specify the type trouble. She also
reported that she got into a lot of “other”
trouble due to her sexual behavior.
Again, she would specify what this
“other” trouble was
Francis
Marion
University
30
 Length
of papers 627-1960 words
 Best paper was relatively long
 You can check length
Francis
Marion
University
31
 Brief
 Guides
report
Francis
Marion
University
32
 Appearance
example: wearing house
slippers, relevant to psy functioning.
 Good use of quotes: Would keep cats
“until it killed her”
Francis
Marion
University
33
 One
patient had strict parents
 Examples help identify where the blame
lies
 Didn’t want to “rat” on her friends
Francis
Marion
University
34
 Proof
read. One paper good content
many errors in verbs etc.
 Avoid slang or colloquial language (I.e.,
blew it off) unless they are the client’s
words in quotes
Francis
Marion
University
35
 She
did not display irregular emotion
during the interview.
Francis
Marion
University
36
 Kim
was kicked out of college her
freshman year because of poor grades.
 The university suspended Kim her
freshman year due to poor grades.
Francis
Marion
University
37



Ms. Heather presented, in the interview,
congruent behaviors to that of someone
with lower self-esteem.
Ms. Heather shows signs of low selfesteem.
Low self-esteem may contribute to her
eating problems.
Francis
Marion
University
38
 Conceptualize
 Collect
facts and observations
 Don’t stop there
 Synthesize those observations and data
into a picture of psychological
functioning
Francis
Marion
University
39
 Important
to identify strengths to use and
encourage
Francis
Marion
University
40
 The
client was alert and oriented to all
spheres. Her affect was full range, and her
mood was euphoric. Her speech rate,
quality, and content were within normal
limits.
Francis
Marion
University
41
 Her
calm demeanor while discussing
her anxiety about graduate school, and
her boyfriend suggested that this
client keeps her emotional reactions to
herself and maintains an intellectual
stance on her personal issues.
Francis
Marion
University
42
 Mrs. H
is a 57-year-old, Caucasian,
married female who presents with
concerns regarding a specific goal, her
future retirement in order to spend time
with her grandchildren.
Francis
Marion
University
43
 Also,
should his emotional situation persist
or worsen, it is recommended that Andrew
seeks the help of a counselor.
Francis
Marion
University
44

C.S. states “this is not what I imagined
doing with my life.” This dissatisfaction
results in physical, emotional and social
problems whose effects she seeks to
minimize.
Francis
Marion
University
45
 The
client was very articulate and well
educated, but her appearance was
incongruent. She was dressed in very
sloppy and causal attire.
Francis
Marion
University
46
 Articulate
• Expressing oneself easily in clear and effective
language.
 Redundant
• Needlessly repetitive; verbose
Francis
Marion
University
47
 When
describing her family background,
however, the possible use of reaction
formation became evident.
Francis
Marion
University
48

She also stated that she felt inferior and
lacked confidence in herself as a teacher,
but offered no substantial reason why.
Francis
Marion
University
49
 his
mood changed from enthymic to
closed and quiet
Francis
Marion
University
50
 Andrew
is a 24-year-old man referred
because of his current unemployment and
because he has been unable to find a job.
Due to this situation, Andrew is going into
a state of depression
Francis
Marion
University
51
 Kim
is a 23-year-old white female who
presents with difficulties coping with
stress brought upon her by school.
 Better:
Francis
Marion
University
52
 Kim
is a 23-year-old white female college
student complaining of stress related to
school.
Francis
Marion
University
53
 Kim
approached the interview very
willingly and appeared to be excited to do
the interview. She wore sweatpants and a tee
shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a clip.
She was very talkative and maintained
appropriate eye contact. She was very
cooperative and answered all questions
willingly, many times volunteering
information beyond what had been asked of
her but still remaining on the subject. She
willingly expanded on all of her answers,
many times without being prompted.
Francis
Marion
University
54
 He
is the only child of John and Vickie
Xxxxxx . He has an older brother that his
mother gave birth to out of wedlock prior
to marrying Eric's father.
Francis
Marion
University
55
 She
wore coordinating accessories and
seemed very contentious of her attire
and posture.
Francis
Marion
University
56
 At
age ten his father became a member
of AA,
Francis
Marion
University
57
 Laura
C. is a 23 year old woman who is
self-referred because she not happy
with her current living situation. She
says that she feels “so alone”. She
reportedly has gained weight over the
last several months. She claims it is due
to her “ unhappiness about being
alone”.
Francis
Marion
University
58
 Laura
also reports that her weight gain
has not affected her relationship with her
boyfriend.
Francis
Marion
University
59
 Her
problems stem from her current
occupation as a teacher. She has
undergone significant life events in the
last year.
Francis
Marion
University
60
 She
reports that she makes friends easily
…
Francis
Marion
University
61

In addition to confronting his wife’s
mortality, Harold is being forced by her
illness to recognize his own
vulnerabilities
Francis
Marion
University
62
 quit
her job as a registration
representative at _______ because of the
unfair working conditions.
Francis
Marion
University
63

His affect was full range, although his
mood was quite dysphoric.
Francis
Marion
University
64
 In
an effort to alleviate her frustration and
anger, and to come to a compromise with
Mr. Oranda about their differences in their
expected roles, Mrs. Oranda states that
she has made a conscious effort to talk to,
rather than argue with, Mr. Oranda.
Francis
Marion
University
65
 Her
affect was full range, however her
mood was agitated.
Francis
Marion
University
66
 Within
normal limits.
Francis
Marion
University
67
 She
states she has many friends, and
socializes with them on a weekly basis.
Francis
Marion
University
68
 Ms.
A described her high school academic
performance as above average, stating
that she never studied
Francis
Marion
University
69
 Brittany
was explicit during the interview
when discussing her home environment
in reference to how physically violent it
is.
 Brittany explicitly described the violence
in her home.
Francis
Marion
University
70
 Brittany’s
academic and behavior
problems began when her parents
started drinking and fighting 2 years ago.
Francis
Marion
University
71

In order to improve her
sleep schedule, she
could be given
information on sleep
principles. For example,
some principles are
going to bed at the same
time each night and not
doing anything in the
bed but sleeping.
 To
help with fatigue
she could be given
information on sleep
such as going to bed
that same time each
night and not doing
anything in bed but
sleeping.
Francis
Marion
University
72
 Personal
opinion
versus observation
and hypothesis
 Sort through the
abundant information
Francis
Marion
University
73
 reported
that she “wished to be thinner”
 She reports 9-10 year struggle with anorexia.
As a result of this, she has had to seek medical
treatment to pass four kidney stones and treat
multiple stomach ulcers. Ms. Heather has had
difficulty in maintaining a regular menstrual
cycle and has experienced fainting spells due
to low blood sugar a few times per month.
Francis
Marion
University
74
 She
is approximately 5 foot tall, 100
pounds
 She appears …
 She reported that she is …

Francis
Marion
University
75
 BMI
Categories:
 Underweight = <18.5
 Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
 Overweight = 25-29.9
 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Francis
Marion
University
76
 she
stated that being the only child made
them “over protective” and that she
hoped they would “ease up” after she
finished college. She explained that the
more they monitored her plate, the more
stress she felt and the more creative she
got with hiding her food. She is still living
at home. (24)
Francis
Marion
University
77
 Ms. Dubose
is a 22 year old white female
whose reason for referral was
unhappiness with current job and
disappointment with her “professional
direction.”
Francis
Marion
University
78
1.
Despite the time difference between
her recent return to academia and
completion of her nursing studies, Mrs.
J’s performance in Francis Marion
University’s graduate program is
excellent.
Francis
Marion
University
79
Francis
Marion
University
80
Francis
Marion
University
81
The End
Francis
Marion
University
82