2004

Assessment plays a pivotal role in the profession of counseling. Basing judgments, decisions, and interventions specifically on information acquired in some systematic and objective way is of major importance in the life of a practicing counselor. Decisions relating to marriage and family counseling, career counseling, academic counseling, addictions counseling, and mental health counseling often require the use of observations, interviews, surveys, rating scales, and checklists, as well as more formalized assessments and tests. Failing to use tests and assessments when and where they are appropriate limits the effectiveness of a counselor in serving his or her clientele.