What do you rely on and value most in your practice of psychology?

Mine is Behavioral Observation!

A Hill I Will Die On

When it comes to assessment, it is essential for providers to focus not only on the content—such as the specific words individuals use during therapy or the numerical scores derived from psychological tests—but also on the process, which encompasses how clients interact and behave throughout the assessment. In my experience, there have been very few occasions where the results of a psychological test genuinely surprised me. This is largely because the moment we meet a client, we begin to form hypotheses regarding their emotional and psychological state. As psychologists, we are innately attuned and then further trained to be keenly aware of behavioral nuances and interaction patterns, constantly observing and interpreting the subtleties of human behavior.

However, one area where we often struggle is in clearly articulating our observations and documenting them appropriately. This is precisely why we include “Behavioral Observations” as a critical component of our assessment reports. Our training equips us to be insightful observers of human behavior, but it also requires us to engage both hemispheres of our brain simultaneously. For instance, we must consider not only what someone expresses in words about their feelings but also how their actual demeanor and body language might contradict or reinforce those verbal expressions.

Moreover, it is crucial for us to go beyond mere observation as evaluators; we must take the time to describe what we witnessed in vivid, sterile detail. Our goal is to enable the reader of the report to visualize the scene as if they were sitting next to us, sharing the same experience. This level of detail enhances the value of our assessments, providing deeper insights into the client’s psychological state.

It is vital not to underestimate the importance of our observational skills and comments in the assessment process. Our ability to perceive, interpret, and communicate these nuances has a profound impact on the accuracy and usefulness of our assessments. Your role as a skilled observer is not just beneficial—it is an essential aspect of the comprehensive evaluation process.

This is my hill. What is yours?