Purpose

Define what the topic "What's the problem?" is addressing, and describe the various sub-topics that make it up.

What's the problem?

This topic collects together material that makes up the process of ASSESSMENT.

Assessment is all about Mentalizing the problem, and its context, which includes developing a rich understanding of corresponding StrengthsResiliencies, and leads to the Formulation and Treatment Aims.

As a Mentalization-based approach, we use the Mentalizing framework to inform a rich assessment - in essence, the process of Assessment is simply the process of our trying accurately to Mentalize the behaviours and concerns of the young person, family members, and ProfessionalNetworkMembers, and using this understanding to develop a Care Plan that addresses these concerns in the right order.

How to go about this

1. The Multi-Domain Assessment documents the 4-part process of assessment in AMBIT - and this is where to start.
2. The AIM is one part of this assessment, providing a 40-item multi-domain assessment questionnaire, that functions as an Outcome measure.
3. It is important to narrow down your assessment to focus on a smaller number of Key Problems: these are the ones that offer the most likely levers for change, so that these can be addressed in the Active Planning process.
4. The point of all assessment is to arrive at a reasonable understanding (in the language of AMBIT, a "mentalized understanding") of the problems and strengths, so that this may inform the Formulation and Treatment Aims that we draw up with the young person, their carers and other important stakeholders.

But I already know the problem!

... If you are simply looking for an approach to managing the problem, try What to do? instead.