A Mental Health Assessment is a structured evaluation conducted by a licensed professional to build an accurate picture of an individual’s mental health, behavioral patterns, and clinical needs. The process is confidential and typically takes approximately 90 minutes.
These evaluations are used to identify the presence or absence of a mental health disorder, understand why a person thinks, acts, feels, and remembers in the ways that they do, and determine whether a co-occurring condition, such as depression alongside a substance use disorder, may be present.
Mental Health Assessments can identify a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:
A Mental Health Assessment can also confirm the absence of a diagnosis. Being evaluated does not mean something is wrong. It means you want an accurate and comprehensive picture of your mental health.
The following signs and symptoms may indicate that a Mental Health Assessment would be beneficial:
When individuals are involved in legal proceedings, child custody disputes, probation requirements, or court-ordered evaluations, a Mental Health Assessment often becomes a critical component. These evaluations can significantly influence judicial decisions, making clinical accuracy and rigor essential.
Mental health evaluations in legal settings are commonly requested by:
Courts rely on these assessments to determine:
Evaluations conducted by licensed counselors with extensive assessment experience.
All diagnoses adhere to the gold standard in mental health, ensuring clinical validity and defensibility.
We present clinical facts, not legal advocacy — giving all parties a credible, reliable picture.
Staff available in English and Spanish.
We use validated, court-recognized instruments, including Beck, PHQ-9, GAD-7, C-SSRS, WHODAS, and ACEs.
Structured, clearly written, and formatted for submission to courts, attorneys, and probation departments.
Available in-person at our Marietta location or fully virtual across Georgia.
Serving Georgia residents, courts, and families since 1999.
Not all mental health evaluations are appropriate for legal use. At AACS Atlanta, court-involved assessments meet the following standards:
We use clinically validated assessments — including the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item), C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale), and WHODAS (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule) — that are widely recognized and supported by clinical research.
All diagnoses are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), ensuring findings are clinically valid, consistent across providers, and defensible under scrutiny.
We evaluate risk of harm, emotional regulation, impulse control, decision-making capacity, and behavioral stability — the factors courts focus on most.
Stable employment, supportive family relationships, insight, accountability, and consistent daily functioning are identified and documented alongside risk factors.
Our reports provide clear, professional findings often presented within a reasonable degree of clinical certainty, giving judges, attorneys, and guardians ad litem the information they need to make informed decisions.
The process typically begins with an initial intake conducted by a clinical staff member, followed by an evaluation with a licensed mental health professional. The assessment includes clinically validated measures along with questions tailored to your individual situation.
Your evaluator may ask about:
You will have the opportunity to share additional concerns and life challenges. The entire process is confidential and takes approximately 90 minutes.
Note that evaluations have expiration dates. Ask your evaluator about this so you can plan accordingly. If an evaluation expires before you complete any recommendations, a new one will be required.
A: A structured clinical evaluation conducted by a licensed professional to identify the presence or absence of a mental health disorder and build an accurate picture of your psychological functioning and needs.
A: No. A Mental Health Assessment can confirm a diagnosis or confirm the absence of one. Many individuals are evaluated simply to provide documentation for court, employment, or personal clarity.
A: Approximately 90 minutes. Come prepared with your intake forms completed and any relevant medical or legal documents.
A: Yes. All clinical information is handled with strict professional confidentiality in accordance with applicable ethical and legal standards.
A: Yes. Our assessments are structured to meet clinical and legal standards and can be submitted to courts, probation departments, attorneys, and Guardian ad Litems.
A: A diagnosis alone does not determine outcomes. Courts focus on functional impact — how symptoms affect day-to-day behavior, risk, and stability — not labels.
A: Yes. Bilingual staff is available for all services.
A: Yes. AACS Atlanta offers fully virtual Mental Health Assessments for clients across Georgia.
A: Call 800-683-7745 or book online. Our team will walk you through what to expect and what to bring to your appointment.