Personality Evaluation

Therapists use personality tests as part of their assessment and treatment planning. The approach varies depending on the therapeutic model, client needs, and test type.

• Assessment & Diagnosis
  • Helps in understanding personality traits, emotional patterns, and potential disorders (e.g. borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety)
• Personalised Treatment Plans
  • Guides therapy by identifying strengths, weaknesses, and coping mechanisms
• Client Self-Awareness
  • Encourages insight into behaviors, emotions, and interpersonal relationships
• Therapeutic Techniques Selection
  • Helps determine whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or other modalities would be most effective
• Progress Tracking
  • Monitors changes in personality traits or mental health symptoms over time

Commonly-Used Personality Tests in Therapy

• MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
  • Assesses psychological disorders and personality traits
• MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)
  • Helps understand personality preferences but is not for clinical diagnosis
• Big Five Personality Test
  • Measures openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
  • Assesses unconscious thoughts and emotions through storytelling
• Rorschach Inkblot Test
  • Explores underlying thoughts and emotions through ambiguous images
• Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)
  • Evaluates personality disorders and clinical syndromes

Benefits of Personality Testing in Therapy

• Enhances Self-Understanding
  • Clients gain insight into their personality, emotional triggers, and behaviour patterns
• Improves Communication & Relationships
  • Helps individuals understand how they interact with others
• Supports Accurate Diagnosis
  • Differentiates between personality traits and mental health disorders
• Personalised Interventions
  • Guides therapists in tailoring interventions to fit the client's unique psychological makeup
• Helps Predict Therapy Outcomes
  • Certain traits may indicate how a person will respond to therapy, allowing for better planning

Referral Process for Personality Testing

• Who Can Administer?
  • Licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, or trained mental health professionals
• When to Refer?
  • When personality-related issues impact therapy progress
  • When a diagnosis needs clarification (e.g., distinguishing between personality disorder and mood disorder)
  • When a client is struggling with self-identity, interpersonal issues, or career choices
• How to Refer?
  • A therapist may refer a client to a psychologist specialising in psychometric testing
  • In some cases, medical professionals (psychiatrists, general practitioners) may recommend testing
  • Some institutions (schools, workplaces) may suggest personality assessments for development