ABSTRACT
As clinical psychologists, we immerse ourselves in the realm of psychological disorder. We are trained to perform diagnostic assessments focused on presenting problems and symptoms. Thus, our primary focus is to determine type and severity of dysfunction, identify maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and actions, and recommend suitable treatments. We are guided in identifying psychopathology by our personality assessment measures as well as criteria listed in diagnostic manuals. However, we are rarely urged, or guided, to contemplate the various contexts of the person who is troubled; at best, we might weigh the role of stressful life events as etiological or contributing factors. But do we know enough about the environment and world inhabited and experienced by the client, or, put another way, do we sufficiently consider the contexts in which the evaluation is embedded?
