We are continuing our series of articles with the newest addition, which explains what a psychological assessment process is all about. Debbie Hegarty is once again contributing to the series and sharing the results of her research on psychological testing and it’s wide range of uses and applications.

If you are interested in either domestic or intercountry adoption, you are probably already familiar with our article on Inter-Country Adoption. However, even if the country you are aiming to adopt from does not require the MMPI test, a universally-acknowledged psychological assessment carried out by a certified clinical psychologist will reflect well on any applicant.

Aiming to help explain what psychological assessments are for, and how MMPI-2-RF in particular is the most widely used and recognized personality assessment test, Debbie Hegarty has put together and article which covers all these questions in detail.

One particular group of psychological tests, known as personality tests, strive to uncover the structure of the personality to include a person’s thinking, feeling and behaviour. Other groups of tests are designed to measure signs and symptoms of psychopathology and psychiatric disorders. Tests of psychopathology and personality are further subdivided into two groups: objective and projective. Objective tests include standardized, clear, specific items and questions that are presented to the respondent as well as limited response options (e.g., answering “yes” or “no” to a particular question). Projective tests include asking open ended and ambiguous stimuli and include stories from respondents (Hersen, 2003).

We at the Hazelton clinic are delighted to announce that we are now providing assessments for prospective clients using The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). This personality testing kit which has been described as “The Gold-Star of all assessment tools” (Irish Medical Times, 2010) is utilized to assist in identifying personality structure and psychopathology. Psychopathological disorder can be as general as depression, anxiety and panic attacks or as complex as OCD, bipolar, schizophrenia and personality disorder.

Please click here to read the full article.

Thanks to long and arduous research by our Debbie Hegarty, we can now offer our readers a comprehensive article about all aspects of intercountry adoption.

The article explains the adoption process in great detail. It provides a detail explanation of the intercountry adoption and it’s specifics for Irish citizens willing to adopt from abroad, as well as detailed list of steps which must be undertaken by anyone who decides to adopt.

The second part of the article focuses on the role of the Hazelton Clinic in facilitating this process for adoptive parents, the information about the obligatory psychological testing, as well as ongoing support for both parents and adopted children after the adoption.

Please click here to read the full article.

The Hazelton Clinic provides assessments for prospective clients using The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). This personality testing kit which has been described as “The Gold-Star of all assessment tools” (Irish Medical Times, 2010) is utilized to assess, identify and diagnose disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression and schizophrenia.

The use of the test, over the years, has been greatly expanded. It is now applied as a screening instrument for high-risk public safety positions such as nuclear power plant workers, police officers, airline pilots, medical and psychology students, firefighters and seminary students. In addition it is used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment programs, including substance abuse programs.

We at the Hazelton Clinic acquired the test with a view to enabling prospective adoptive couples in their adoption process. It had come to our attention that whilst countries such as Vietnam have shut their doors to inter-country adoption other countries had opened theirs. Most notable are the Philippines. However, they have added a stipulation that the couples obtain the above-named assessment before they qualify for consideration as adoptive parents. This stipulation was introduced into inter-country adoption policy in November 2009. It came to the attention of The Irish Adoption Board on the 10th February 2010.

A licensed clinical psychologist is the only mental health professional who can carry out the test. We have two Resident Clinical Psychologists on our panel of professional practitioners and both are fully trained in the use of the MMPI.

For more information or to make your appointment, please contact our office on 021-4936006.