ABSTRACT
The ACA clarifies the link between testing and counseling by purpose, noting: “The primary purpose of educational and psychological assessment is to provide measures that are objective and interpretable in either comparative or absolute terms” (section E. 1 .a). Interestingly, clients use these terms. They say things like “I want something objective to tell me” or “with a test, I’ll be able to compare what I’ve been thinking with…” Assessment, or what laypeople call career testing, has great appeal to both clients and counselors alike. For counselors, it can be a valuable tool in analyzing or determining issues, categorizing client difficulties, or providing the most appropriate referrals and links to additional resources.
