A thorough clinical assessment helps the consumer and his family make more informed decisions . The referral question shapes the goals and methods of clinical assessment. The referral question can come from the consumer, her family, or the referring service provider. This question is the reason the mental health assessment is being sought at this time in the consumer's life. As you can see, the referral question and the process of trying to address that question is at the heart of all clinical assessment.
Diagnosis is a shorthand method of providing information about an individual.
It describes the person's current problems in terms of symptoms . However, a diagnosis alone does not provide the unique aspects of the individual that are necessary to plan interventions and supports . For instance, the medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder gives us an idea of the condition the person is struggling with. A diagnosis does not convey the person's unique personality, strengths, and positive attributes. Diagnoses highlight deficit and do not focus on adaptive abilities, other skills, talents, and interests.