Relationships & Family Assessment

Assessment is a way of helping people figure out where they are at now--what their baseline positions are--so that it will be clearer and easier to get to where they want to be in the future. During the assessment process, you and your family members' hopes for improved relationships will be the foundation. Assessment is only useful when it can help in the process of problem-solving and change.

Relationship assessment is a tool to help you and your family members identify areas of strength as well as areas with room for growth and development. This process is conducted by a licensed mental health professional specifically trained in relationship, marriage, and family issues.

The relationships assessment is a collaborative process between you and your therapist. What this means is that your relationship therapist is not going to assume the stance of expert and tell you what you need to do. You and your family will be fully involved in the process. Your input and that of your family members is critical to successful relationship assessment.

You and your relationship therapist will work together to assess the quality of your relationships and to identify relationship goals along the following dimensions:

  • Communication
  • Openness, trust, and honesty
  • Anger management, conflict management, conflict resolution, and problem-solving
  • Expressions of affection
  • Intimacy
  • Handling emotion and emotional intensity
  • Emotional self-regulation
  • Supportiveness and caring within the relationship
  • Appreciation for self and others in the family
  • Family-centered approach to living and thriving with bipolar

The initial formal assessment process culminates with the development of a specific relationship improvement plan for you and your family. Your personalized plan will help you to map out the necessary changes that will result in more satisfying, deeper, richer, less conflicted relationships that will be a source of nourishment and support for you all. Throughout the treatment phase, assessment will be a continuous process, drawing from the initial formal assessment and adjusted, as needed.

Contact our Personal Advocate to help you to find the right provider for your needs.