Understanding Your Multitudes: The Role of Neuropsychological Evaluations in 2024
When Walt Whitman wrote "we contain multitudes," he probably wasn’t anticipating the complexities of identity and mental health in 2024. However, his words resonate deeply with our contemporary understanding of how we think, feel, and act. Navigating our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can be overwhelming and distressing, impacting our ability to learn, relate, work, and function in daily life.
Working with a therapist and utilizing medication can provide significant relief and insight. Yet, for many, further clarity is essential to effectively cope, compensate, and focus treatment. This is where a neuropsychological evaluation can be invaluable. It helps illuminate our strengths, reveal obstacles to wellness, and lay the groundwork for necessary supports.
What is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A typical comprehensive evaluation involves several key components:
In-Depth Interview: A thorough interview to understand your concerns and background.
Cognitive Testing: A few hours of testing various aspects of thinking, such as attention, learning, memory, visuospatial abilities, and language skills.
Symptom Inventories: Targeted questionnaires to assess specific symptoms.
Integrative Analysis: The neuropsychologist analyzes the collected data.
Report and Review: A detailed report of the findings and a session to discuss the results.
The testing is tailored to your symptoms or diagnosis and involves comparing your performance to an estimate of your aptitude (such as IQ) and to other people with similar demographics, such as age, education level, and sometimes ethnicity and gender.
The Importance of Cultural Responsiveness
Your multitudes matter most when your neuropsychological evaluation is conducted by a culturally responsive and gender-sensitive neuropsychologist. Such professionals place your identity—not just your demographics—at the forefront of the assessment. They are committed to integrating your self-perception into the evaluation process, ensuring that your gender and cultural identity are considered meaningfully.
In the interview stage, these aspects of your identity are discussed to the extent that they are significant to you. When analyzing the data, your test performances and experiences are placed within this context. Cognitive tests, traditionally developed in binary and culturally "blind" studies, are being adapted to reflect progressive and post-binary perspectives. A culturally responsive neuropsychologist strives to relate to who you are at every stage of the process.
Addressing Historical Bias in Assessment
Historically, neuropsychological assessments have been designed predominantly by and for white populations, leading to significant biases in diagnostic practices. The measures and tools often fail to accurately identify conditions like Autism in women and girls or to recognize the specific ways in which mental health conditions manifest in Black people and other people of color. This lack of inclusivity has led to misdiagnoses or underdiagnoses in these groups, highlighting the necessity for culturally and gender-sensitive evaluations that take these disparities into account.
Affirming Neurodiversity
Our evaluations are neurodiversity affirming, focusing not just on your deficits but also on understanding your strengths. The goal is to provide a comprehensive picture of your cognitive profile, highlighting areas where you excel and identifying gaps where support is needed. This approach ensures that the evaluation is a tool for empowerment, helping you leverage your strengths and access the necessary supports to thrive.
Taking The Next Steps
If you believe a neuropsychological evaluation could enhance your ability to live, learn, work, and relate, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our team is dedicated to helping you understand your multitudes and achieve better mental health and well-being. Contact us today to schedule your neuropsychological evaluation and take the first step towards a more empowered and supported future.
Dr. Kristina Pinto holds a doctorate in Human Development and Psychology and further specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. She is particularly passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ youth, especially those exploring or affirming their identities. She is adept in addressing the unique cognitive and psychiatric challenges faced by nonbinary and transgender individuals. Her work is underpinned by a deep understanding of the complexities of intersectional identities.
