How to Prepare for a Psychological Evaluation

A psychological evaluation can be an intimidating ordeal, especially if it is in connection with a career or criminal investigation. The purpose of the psychological evaluation is to make sure the subject is of sound mind and not suffering from any forms of mental illness. It is possible to lie and manipulate the evaluation, which is why the findings of such an evaluation do not always accurately reflect the subject.

Instructions

• 1

  Examine the context of the evaluation. Why is the evaluation being conducted? Is the evaluation part of the standard application for a job interview? Is is part of a court case? The context of the evaluation will help the subject prepare their answers to meet the expectations of the interviewer. For example, for a job, mentioning that you have self esteem issues may reflect poorly if applying for a sales position.

• 2

  Do some introspection. Think about the types of questions that the evaluator may ask. Examine the answers to these questions honestly and get to the root of the answer. This will help the subject formulate answers that are well thought out. The evaluator will be impressed by the level of self-discovery the subject has observed.

• 3

  Rehearse. Prepare for the interview. Conduct a mock evaluation with a friend. Pay attention to body language, voice tone and the words used. Appear confident and happy. Have the friend grill you and ask difficult questions. The interviewer will be interested to see reactions to different questions.

• 4

  Stay present during the evaluation. A present state of mind will keep the focus on what is taking place. Do not think about future or past questions. Focus entirely on what is happening. This will make the answers seem natural. Adopt a relaxed body position, stay positive and maintain good eye contact. Answers should always be framed in the positive. For example, if the question is, "Do you ever get angry?" Most people experience anger at some point. Frame the answer to reflect the positive: "Very rarely, but when I do get angry, I work through the anger and try to avoid others when I am dealing with it. I always look for the lesson in what is making me angry."