What is the main purpose of psychological assessment?

The main purpose of psychological assessment is to evaluate and measure an individual's psychological functioning. This process involves gathering information about the person's emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and overall mental health. Assessments can include a variety of tools such as interviews, questionnaires, and standardized tests designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual's psychological state. By effectively measuring different aspects of functioning, mental health professionals can identify issues such as mental disorders, cognitive impairments, or emotional difficulties, which is essential for developing appropriate treatment plans and interventions.

While other options address important aspects of psychology, they do not capture the primary focus of psychological assessment itself. Diagnosing physical health conditions pertains to medical assessments rather than psychological ones. Predicting future behaviors based on past actions falls under behavioral analysis and planning, while providing therapy and counseling interventions is a separate phase that occurs after assessment has helped define the concerns and inform the approach to treatment.