Assessment / Evaluation Services

Capital City Consultants provides a variety of assessment/evaluation services. Our assessments are a flat rate, to allow us to exercise our own clinical judgment as to what assessment tools are the most appropriate to meet your needs. The purchase of an assessment is for the time involved and the report drafted. We pride ourselves on allowing the data and our expertise to dictate results, offering impartial and valid assessments no matter who is paying for the service.

If your organization has a contract with Capital City Consultants, then the contract dictates the price of services.

Traditionally psychological assessments start with a referral question and the evaluator selects tests to answer the question or questions. For non-mental health professionals it can be confusing as to what types of questions can be answered through psychological services. To help with this, we offer a variety of assessments to meet your needs:

Forensic Assessments 
Disability Evaluations

Mental Health/Behavioral Health Assessments
Medical and Health Psychology Assessments
General Assessment and Evaluations

Forensic Evaluations

Psychosexual Risk Assessment

A Psychosexual Risk Assessment follows the Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association standards for assessment. It allows for a measure of risk for sexual recidivism and recommends appropriate treatment interventions to reduce risk. Risk is determined by actuarial assessments and the current research. This includes a measure of sexual arousal and sexual interest (PPG or VRT). This can aid in sentencing, and placement of offenders. The assessment addresses the different risk factors for adult male sex offenders, female sex offenders and juveniles who have committed a sex offense.

Violent Risk Assessment

A Violent Risk Assessment can measure risk for general violence as well as domestic violence. Risk is determined by actuarial assessments and the current research. It allows for a measure of risk to determine treatment options as well as placement options.

Forensic Psychological Assessment

A Forensic Psychological Assessment allows for a determination of psychological factors that increase and individuals risk for criminal behavior and can offer intervention to decrease the likelihood of failure while on supervision of probation or parole. For adults this can aid in the placement on probation, community corrections or the Department of Corrections.

Fitness to Proceed Evaluation:

This evaluation explores a defendant’s present capacity to make reasoned legal decisions and consult rationally with counsel in his/her defense. This is determined through the use of a structured interview, psychometric instruments as needed, and collateral sources and the information is organized according to the definition of “Fitness to Proceed,” found at M.C.A. § 46-14-103 as determined by the state of Montana.

Mental Disease and Defect Evaluation:

This evaluation is organized according to the definition of “Mental Disease or Defect” with regards to Mental State at the time of the alleged offense, whether the defendant had a particular state of mind that is an essential element of the offense found at M.C.A. § 46-14-102, was able to appreciate the criminality of their behavior or to conform their behavior to the requirement of the law found at M.C. A. § 46-14-311, or had a state of mind to act knowingly, negligently, and purposefully found at M.C.A. § 45-2-103. It focuses on reconstruction of the mental state of the defendant at the time of the crime and is done primarily through official records and collateral resources available to the evaluator.

PPG & VRT Assessment

A Penile Plethysmograph (PPG) and Visual Response Time (VRT) allow for a measurement of sexual arousal patterns and sexual interest.

Disability Evaluations

Assessment of Developmental Disability

This assessment determines if an individual meets the legal definition of a Developmentally Disabled (DD) individual. Such documentation is required to access the various services available to DD individuals. It incorporates an assessment of intellectual abilities as well as their adaptive behaviors.

Assessment of Cognitive Disability

This assessment is used to determine if an individual has cognitive limitations that do not meet the criteria of a developmental disability but prevent the client from making day-to-day decisions in an appropriate manner. This can be used to determine if guardianship for an adult is appropriate due to dementia and similar cognitive problems.

Mental Health/Behavioral Health Assessments

Diagnostic Psychological Assessment

This assessment clarifies the diagnosis of a client, which can help with treatment planning and when there are treatment impasses by discussing how cognitive and underlying personality patterns can affect the clinical picture. Recommendations for intervention are offered based upon the current research.

Trauma Assessment

This assessment clarifies the nature of a client’s trauma experience allowing for targeted treatment to lessen trauma bonds and increase their level of functioning.

Fitness for Duty Evaluation

This assessment is generally conducted on peace officers (police, sheriff, prison guards, probation/parole officers and others) that have experienced homicidal or suicidal ideation or have experienced a recent work related trauma, such as the lethal use of force. This can also be conducted if recommended by the initial pre-employment screening. Adaptations can be made to determine the appropriateness of an individual to work with youth (front line staff, juvenile probation and parole). The recommendations will include the appropriateness of the officer’s return to duty as well as what would be needed to restore the officer to duty.

Pre-Employment Screening

This assessment is generally conducted on potential hires for organizations, which serves to screen specific personality or behavioral characteristics to determine if the individual is a good fit for employment. Adaptations can be made to assess the appropriateness of an individual to work with youth (front line staff, juvenile probation and parole). The recommendations will include the appropriateness of the potential employee to meet required job duties and if any accommodations may be required.

Medical and Health Psychology Assessments

Assessment for Appropriateness of Bariatric Surgery

In order for individuals to be eligible for bariatric surgery the client must be medically cleared for the procedure. Once this is completed, a psychological assessment can be offered to help the client determine what psychological barriers exist that will prevent them from adhering to the aftercare program that follows the procedure.

Psychological Assessment of Chronic Pain

This assessment offers insight into how psychological difficulties are contributing to an individual’s chronic pain and what interventions can be utilized as part of a larger pain management program.

General Assessment and Evaluations

Psychological Evaluation

Traditionally psychological assessments start with a referral question and the evaluator selects tests to answer the question or questions. An assessment can be tailor made to address your individual questions or needs.

Neuropsychological Evaluation

A Neuropsychological evaluation is a testing method through which a neuropsychologist can acquire data about a person’s cognitive, motor, and behavioral, language, and executive functioning. Neuropsychological evaluation is generally warranted for people who show signs of problems with memory or thinking or who have experienced a head injury. Such problems may manifest as changes in language, learning, organization, perception, coordination, or personality.  Data obtained from a neuropsychological evaluation can lead to the diagnosis of a cognitive deficit or to the confirmation of a diagnosis, as well as to the localization of organic abnormalities in the central nervous system.  Further, the data guides effective treatment methods for the rehabilitation of impaired patients.

Other Assessment Needs

If you have any questions regarding assessments and are uncertain of your exact needs, please contact us for a consultation