David McLaurin
Clinical Psychologist

Personality Assessment Can Support Therapy and Improve Outcomes

For many people, the idea of a personality assessment can feel daunting. It may sound like being 'labelled' or judged, which understandably raises anxiety. In reality, these assessments are not about putting someone into a rigid box—they are tools that help both client and therapist gain deeper clarity about patterns that may otherwise remain hidden. By demystifying the process, clients can see how assessment is not a barrier to treatment but a pathway to more effective, targeted support. 

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Why Personality Matters in Therapy

Personality shapes the way we think, feel, and behave across time and situations. It also influences how we relate to others—including our therapist, and even ourselves. When certain traits or patterns are rigid, extreme, or cause difficulties in daily life, they may reflect what psychology calls a personality disorder (PD). Research highlights how relevant this is to therapy:

• General Population: 10% of individuals meet criteria for a diagnosable PD (Torgersen, 2009).

• Clinical Populations: 50–64% of individuals in clinical settings have at least one PD (Zimmerman et al., 2005; Torgersen, 2021).

• PDs are frequently underdiagnosed in general medical settings.

These figures show that personality factors are not rare or marginal—they are central to understanding mental health presentations.

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The Value of Assessment

A structured personality assessment does several things:

1. Clarifies the bigger picture. Clients may come seeking help for depression, anxiety, trauma, or ADHD, yet underlying personality factors can explain why these conditions persist or why certain treatments have not worked.

2. Tailors the therapy plan. Just as a doctor uses tests to understand what’s driving physical symptoms, psychologists use assessments to shape a more precise, personalised therapy approach.

3. Improves collaboration. When clients understand their personality profile, they gain language and insight into their own experiences. This reduces confusion and helps them engage more confidently with strategies that suit their style of coping.

4. Normalises experience. Assessments can help clients see that their struggles are not personal failings but part of understandable patterns recognised across psychology. This reduces shame and builds self-compassion.

 

Personality in Relationships and Work

Personality has a profound impact on how we relate to others and how we manage roles at work. For example:

• In relationships, traits such as sensitivity to criticism, difficulties with trust, or a strong need for independence can affect communication and closeness. Understanding these patterns allows clients to strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and build more secure connections.

• In the workplace, personality can influence how people handle stress, manage deadlines, or work in teams. For some, perfectionism may drive productivity but also cause burnout; for others, a tendency to avoid conflict may limit career growth. Assessment brings these dynamics into focus, making it possible to develop strategies that support both wellbeing and professional success.

By recognising how personality plays out in these key areas of life, therapy can target practical changes that improve not only mental health but also everyday functioning and satisfaction.

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Demystifying the Process

A personality assessment typically involves a guided interview, questionnaires, and sometimes structured diagnostic tools. These are not tests you 'pass' or 'fail'. Instead, they highlight tendencies—such as being highly perfectionistic, sensitive to rejection, or cautious about trust—that may be strengths in some contexts but obstacles in others. The process is collaborative, with findings shared openly and discussed in plain language, so clients can reflect on how it fits with their lived experience.

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Moving Beyond Fear

For clients, knowing that personality is part of the therapy picture can be freeing. It helps explain long-standing challenges, makes sense of why certain approaches may not have worked in the past, and provides a clear roadmap for moving forward. For psychologists, it ensures therapy is not just addressing surface symptoms but working with the deeper patterns that shape how people experience life, relationships, and work.

In short, personality assessments are not about 'diagnosing who you are'. They are about illuminating the path to more effective therapy—helping both client and therapist work together with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

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