Pioneer of The PaPPS Initiative, Clinical Director, Norman Wright debates at the 2013 CCR Expo:

“From a Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapeutic perspective, the purpose behind an assessment is to facilitate/enable the client to identify their issues and to establish if they feel there is a solution to the challenges they face through a non-judgmental, safe and client centred therapeutic relationship.

When I consider whether Psychological assessments are robust enough for cosmetic patients, it seems to raise further questions for me –

• Do we do enough to screen out unsuitable patients?
• Who initiates the process for an assessment to be conducted?
• What is the desired outcome and for whom – who benefits from the assessment particularly when the patient has made the decision to have a cosmetic procedure.
• What do you want an assessment to tell you?
• Where does the patient go when you turn them away?

For me, psychological assessments are robust enough:

• If it does not pathologies, label or shame the patient
• If they are facilitative, patient led and considers the needs of the patient paramount and in the round.
• If it does more than merely identify, diagnose and seek to treat the cosmetic patient for mental health concerns.
• If it enables the patient to consider their pre/post ERP needs, concerns & understanding of their cosmetic procedure
• If it demonstrates that patients have considered the physical impacts and support needs of their procedure of choice
• If it enables patients to consider their ERP needs pre/post and in regards to their healing/recovery process
• Essentially, psychological assessments are robust if patients are considered in a holistic and integrated way

The patient will have the most, if not all issues/concerns identified and addressed in ways that reduce risk of expectations, litigations and complaints”.

With kind thanks to Norman Wright www.thewrightinitiative.com