At MaxiMinds, we provide clinical psychological assessment and intervention/therapy, and medico-legal assessments for clients across the lifespan and with varying presenting problems, some of which are listed below.
When a referral is accepted, an appointment is usually offered for some form of psychological assessment in the first instance. Assessments are carried out for various reasons. Typically, a clinical assessment interview will be conducted to get a general overview of the problem, the client, and the contexts and systems within which they live. It is also used to ascertain how the problem developed in the person’s life and what type of intervention, if any, is needed. Assessment is an on-going process even when therapy begins as new information often comes up and changes happen over time.
Other methods of psychological assessment include observation, getting reports from other people/professionals involved in the client’s life (with the client’s permission) and psychometric assessment. Psychometric assessment involves the use of tests or rating scales to investigate and measure traits, moods, symptoms, intellect, behaviours, and emotions, to name a few. Psychometric measures are standardised, which allows comparisons to be made with the client’s report and what would be a typical response from similar others. Cognitive psychometric assessment is useful for measuring functioning of the brain. So, for example, this would involve using a psychometric test to assess for memory, attention, concentration, and learning difficulties.
Dr. Karia has also received some training on, and has some experience with expert witness work, and is able to undertake medico-legal assessments for the courts.
At MaxiMinds, Dr. Karia and her equally qualified and experienced associates use a number of theoretical and therapeutic perspectives to guide their interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), systemic and narrative therapy approaches, solution-focussed ideas, psychodynamic ideas, developmental models, and models of psychological coaching. This allows the intervention to be tailored specifically to the client and their needs.
The information acquired in the assessment prior to intervention is used to develop an agreed psychological ‘formulation’, which is a working hypothesis about the origin of the problem, how it developed, what maintains it, and what would be the most helpful way to proceed. Intervention usually involves some variation on ‘talking therapy’ depending on the specific model of therapy used, but can also involve other methods. Clients are often asked to carry out tasks in-between sessions to continue the therapeutic effect and consolidate what was discussed in the session.
At MaxiMinds, Dr. Karia and her associates can provide consultancy services and also teaching and training on mental health issues and cases. We have experience of delivering training to a variety of audiences, and will tailor each training package to suit the target audience. Most recently, we have delivered training on ‘Psychological Assessment and Intervention in OCD with Children’ and ‘Equality and Diversity’. We can also provide clinical supervision to other health professionals on mental health issues.
07961 177960 (Dr Nisha Karia) | enquiry@maximinds.co.uk
Correspondence address: MaxiMinds Clinical Psychology, 1st Floor Prebend House, 72 London Road, Leicester LE2 0QR.
