Assessments by psychologists, educators, and other human-service professionals too often end with the client being reported in terms of scores, bell-shaped curves, traits, psychodynamic forces, or diagnostic labels. Individualizing Psychological Assessment uses these classification devices in ways that facilitate returning from them to the individual's life, both during the assessment session and in written reports. The book presents an approach and procedures through which a person's actual life becomes the subject matter of assessment. Thoroughly revised from the previous edition, the book presents a wide range of concrete examples and illustrative cases that will serve both students and practicing professionals alike in individualizing assessments.
Table of Contents:
Preface. Foreword. The Context and Practices of Individualized, Collaborative, Therapeutic Assessment. A History of the Individualized/Collaborative Approach. Overview of Individualized Practices and Report-writing. Beginning the Individualized/Collaborative Assessment. Assessing Process. Report Writing and Sample Reports. Writing Individualized/Collaborative Reports. University Psychology Clinic Reports. Psychological Reports of Children and Youths. Clinical and Diagnostics Reports of Adults. Some Psychological Topics Reconsidered. Further Aspects of Individualized/Collaborative Assessment. Teaching and Learning Individualized/Collaborative Assessment. Description as Re-presentation: The Art of Andrew Wyeth and of the Psychologist Assessor. Theoretical Foundations: Questions and Responses. Appendix A: Assessor’s General Checklist. References. Name Index. Subject Index.
About the Author :
Constance T. Fischer, PhD, ABPP, is professor of Psychology at Duquesne University and Director of the Pittsburgh Assessment & Consultation Center. She is the author of numerous publications on psychological assessment, qualitative research, and human science approach to psychological issues. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and of its divisions of Clinical Psychology, Independent Practice, Philosophical & Theoretical Psychology, and Humanistic Psychology.
Review :
On the 1st edition:
"...terrific book...a gem...groundbreaking reconceptualization of assessment, of how to get past impersonal, test-oriented roles for clinicians... the best guide to putting together responsible clinical evaluations with a genuinely personal, involving, experiential feel for the client."
—Stanley L. Brodsky
University of Alabama
"...a revolutionary book...a coherent philosophical approach to psychological assessment that spurs us to look at test results and to interact with clients in a new and useful way."
—Stephen E. Finn
Director, Center for Therapeutic Assessment, Austin, Texas
"...unique in psychological assessment literature....includes one of the best sections on report-writing I have ever read."
—Barry A. Ritzler
Long Island University
"...a thorough-going revisioning of what it means to assess another person...a comprehensive, integrative interest, a rapprochement between traditional and human science assessment data...a fine teaching book....I came away stimulated into new thoughts, greatly enriched in my clinical knowledge, and impressed by the originality of her approach toward the faithful reflection of our psychological life."
—Robert J. Masek
West Georgia College
