There are many forms of assessment related to psychological functioning applicable to diverse needs. There are general assessments of intelligence, aptitude, and interest, and others specific to education, location/career, and application for a position or advancement in many areas of endeavour just to name a few. However, in this case, we are particularly interested in referrals for an assessment of psychological functioning in relation to matrimonial disputes.
Such an assessment will have a specific focus on the evaluation of mental health and/or personality and social adjustment of the individual as it might impact communication/co-parenting, decision-making, and parenting time.
It is important to note that an assessment of psychological functioning is not equivalent to a custody and access assessment pursuant to section 30 of the Children’s Law Reform Act, or section 112 of the Courts of Justice Act, nor equivalent to a parenting capacity assessment. It is rather one important component of the above forms of evaluation. Therefore, any opinion or recommendations related to mental health and/or personality and social adjustment that addresses the more major or larger issues of decision-making and parenting time, by virtue of its specific focus, would violate guidelines for the standards of practice for psychologists, and thus be professionally inappropriate.