We all have personalities—but what actually is our personality? Why are so many people interested in getting personality assessments, and what can be learned from these? It’s Rachael on the Dóchas blog today, and I’m going to talk about personality, personality assessments, and Dóchas’s process of doing these assessments. It’s always great to understand yourself better, and to know how you contribute to what you experience and how you can improve. Let’s break this down a bit more.
What is Personality?
Personality is the unique and enduring patterns, feelings, and behaviours that make an individual distinct. It includes your traits and attitudes that impact how you respond to different situations and interact with others and the world. The development of your personality is a complex and ongoing process, influenced by genetic factors, environmental factors, and the various life experiences you have. However, your personality traits are considered to be more stable than mental health symptoms.
What are Personality Assessments?
A personality assessment is a formal psychological assessment that aims to evaluate and analyze an individual’s traits, characteristics, and behaviour patterns. The purpose of a personality assessment is to develop insight into a person’s personality, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. These assessments focus on identifying contributing factors and clarifying the diagnosis of mental health challenges, allowing the development of more realistic and achievable treatment and recovery goals. So these can be really helpful when you’re facing challenges with your mental health!
Personality assessments can help you develop better self-awareness by providing insight into your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, allowing for better personal and career growth. Understanding your personality can help you improve your interpersonal relationships by fostering empathy and communication. Through developing an understanding of personality, you can further understand the factors that have enforced persistent or repetitive challenges they face, such as struggles with motivation.
Personality Assessments at Dóchas
A personality assessment at Dóchas will start with a brief intake interview, followed by a self-report assessment, such as the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory or the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Based on the results of the self-report assessment, the clinician will meet with you again to explore the results and ask some follow up questions allowing a thorough understanding of the results and how the factors of your personality impact you. They will then complete a report discussing all the findings that you can use to help improve further treatment and development of your self awareness.
There you have it! If you find yourself unsure how to navigate the challenges you face in your career, your struggles with motivation, your relationships, and more, getting more insight into your personality can be one tool that can help. If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to us here at Dóchas with any questions you might have. You can reach out to us here at Dóchas for advice at 780 446 0300 or drop us a line at info@dochaspsych.com.
About Dóchas Psychological
Dóchas Psychological Services is a well-established and trusted therapy clinic located in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At Dóchas we value the idea that everyone deserves a safe space. Through connection and education, our team works hard to build a trustworthy relationship with each of our clients. It is our goal to create a community for our clients to feel like they belong.
Disclaimer
Information provided through Dóchas Psychological Services blogs or vlogs is meant for educational purposes only. They are NOT medical or mental health advice. You can read more about our disclaimer here.
