ABSTRACT
Psychotherapy assessment is most often associated with the traditional diagnostic procedures and nomenclature proscribed by the DSM IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and the ICD 10 (World Health Organisation, 1992). However, it is generally recognized that this is only a first step in completing a comprehensive assessment. The therapist commonly requires additional information about the client 1 or client system in order to construct an extensive diagnosis that can be used to design, implement and evaluate treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 1994: xxv). While often presented as an interesting method for obtaining alternative clinical data, standardized assessment tools are rarely used to extend an initial diagnosis or to monitor and evaluate the ongoing work and progress of therapy.
