Amy Louden, MA Psychologist Amy is a licensed psychologist, with expertise in testing and treatment of individuals and families in both private practice and community mental health settings. She treats a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar illness. She enjoys a special emphasis on adolescent issues. Amy is also available for seminars and training.

WHY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT? There was a time when almost any client coming to a psychologist for help would first be given a ?test? or a battery of tests to determine the basis for the problem. While that doesn?t happen routinely, there is still a place for psychological assessment. Although many people view tests as a necessary evil or become anxious even hearing the word ?test?, psychological assessment can be a vital part of the journey toward mental health. Psychologists can accurately identify personality problems, personality patterns, and how the brain functions in particular individuals. Tests can discover whether or not people have personality characteristics that are likely to allow them to be successful in education, industry or the military or in a chosen vocation. They can be used to aid personal development. Through the judicious combination of appropriate psychometric instruments (tests) - written or verbal - the psychologist can distinguish anxiety from depression, a psychological symptom from a medical one, and lack of ability from lack of motivation. Mental health practitioners, often rely on test results as a critical component to accurately diagnose and plan treatment of clients. A skillful psychologist calmly and carefully establishes rapport with the client prior to beginning a testing session. A quiet and peaceful environment is necessary so that the individual needs of the client can be attended to and the assessment will be illuminating and accurate. So if your treatment provider poses the ?Request to Test? issue , don?t panic! You can be comforted in knowing that he or she does so in an effort to provide professional, accurate, and goal-directed treatment. Email Amy Louden, MA       Because messages sent on the internet are never totally secure, and are not necessarily read the same day they’re sent, our Email feature is not intended for therapy, but for sharing information on mental health issues, or about our practice. If you wish to share information that is either confidential or urgent, call us at (304)422-4300 or 1-800-841-7876, so that someone can speak with you privately.