Psychological assessments have been used for many years. They are used to measure student aptitude, to make career choices, to hire people, to measure personality, etc. They are used in many different professions. In therapy, assessments can help therapists gain more knowledge about a situation a client may be facing. Additionally, therapists should understand that sometimes people may falsify their responses to make the therapist happy or to make themselves look better (Grieve, 2012). On the other hand, assessments can be helpful in determining the appropriate methods to use for your clients. Assessments can help therapists measure their clients' growth. This article will discuss the importance of assessments, as well as things advisors need to know and their history. Historical Antecedents of Psychological Testing Psychological testing has existed since the late 1800s (Whiston, 2009, p.16). It has been used to measure many things. It has also been expanded to include many different types of tests. It is closely related to ratings; however, in assessments, the counselor attempts to measure the quantity of a problem (Whiston, 2009, p.4). The use of assessments can provide the therapist with insight into the client's symptoms. There are many categories of ratings. One type of assessment is a standardized test. This type of testing consists of instructions and ways of measuring information that do not change (Whiston, 2009, p14). Group and individual assessments are also provided. Another category of testing includes objectivity or subjectivity. With objective tests, the test taker does not have to make a judgment about how to score the assessments; on the other hand, whoever provides the item... middle of paper... is looking for a customer and what doesn't work for a customer. Evaluations are a good way to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. What did I learn? After reviewing the assigned readings, I learned that assessments are used all the time. They are used in schools, at work and in therapy. They are useful for seeing what works for a person and what doesn't. I also learned that a person's personality can influence their honesty in an evaluation (Grieve, 2012). It is important to pay attention to how a person answers questions both verbally and nonverbally. It is also important to understand how to use assessments in a way that benefits everyone involved. Additionally, therapists should use assessments that relate to the theory they are using. It is also important to use assessments to measure your effectiveness as a therapist.