Assessment and Diagnosis

Assessment and diagnosis are processes used by professionals to understand an individual's mental health or medical condition. Assessment involves gathering information through interviews, observations, and tests to get a comprehensive picture of the person's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and overall functioning. Diagnosis is a step within this process where the professional identifies a specific condition or disorder based on established criteria. Essentially, assessment is about collecting data, and diagnosis is about interpreting that data to identify the precise issue, which then guides appropriate treatment or support.