Assessments are used to determine problem areas for a student, what interventions and treatment planning may benefit a student, and whether a student should be referred to the school psychologist or other mental health professional.  Assessments can also determine which interventions have been working and which may need to be modified.

When administering assessments, it is important to ensure that you have the proper qualifications. Be sure to provide respondents (students, teachers, parents, etc.) with a clear explanation of all materials, the intended use of the results, and any possible limitations to confidentiality. It is also important to abide by your school's policy. Consult with an administator and/or school psychologist if you believe a student may need a formal evaluation.

Below are some mental health assessments that can be used by school counselors.

​THE ACHENBACH SYSTEM OF EMPERICALLY BASED ASSESSMENT (ASEBA)

The ASEBA for school-aged children is used to detect emotional and behavioral issues in children ages 6-18, including anxiety, withdrawal, depressed mood, social problems, agression, conduct problems, etc. It consists of:

Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) - completed by the parent/guardian

Teacher Report form (TRF) - completed by the teacher

Youth Self-Report form (YSR) - completed by the child  (ages 11-18)

Administration & Scoring: The forms require no more than a fifth grade reading level and can be administered orally to youths or parents with poor reading skills.  The assessment is scored based on factor analyses of the three forms combined, and scoring can be done by hand or computer.  A master’s degree is required for proper scoring and interpretation of results.

Sample forms:

THE CONNERS PARENT & TEACHER RATING SCALES

The Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (Conners CBRS) is used to detect behavioral, emotional, social, and academic problems in school-aged children (6-18), and includes:

Conners CBRS –Parent (Conners CBRS –P) - completed by the parent/guardian

Conners CBRS –Teacher (Conners CBRS –T) - completed by the teacher

Conners CBRS –Self-Report (Conners CBRS –SR) - completed by the child (ages 8-18 only)

Conners Clinical Index (Conners CI) - tests whether further mental health referral is needed 

Administration & Scoring:  The assessment is scored based on combined factor analyses of the forms. (The Conners CI can also be administered by itself). Scoring can be done by hand or computer. A master’s degree is required for accurate interpretation of results.   

BARKLEY HOME & SCHOOL SITUATIONS QUESTIONNAIRES

These assessments are used to determine whether a child should be evaluated for ADHD. 

Home Situations Questionnaire (HSQ) - completed by the parent/guaridan (children ages 4-11)

School Situations Questionnaire (SSQ) - completed bythe teacher (children ages 6-11)

Administration & Scoring:  The SSQ and HSQ are short evaluations that take 5-7 minutes to complete. Scoring is done by hand, and there are no special administration qualifications.

Sample forms:

KUTCHER ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION SCALE (KADS)

This assessment tool is used to determine the depression levels of adolescents and whether further mental health evaluation is needed. The KADS is available as a 6-item and an 11-item questionnaire.

Administration & Scoring:  The KADS requires no special qualifications for administration.  The questionnaires allow for self-scoring, but the counselor should review the scoring for potential risks.