A Conversation Before Therapy
What Is a Psychosis Risk Assessment?
A psychosis risk assessment is a structured conversation about unusual experiences, their timing and their effect on everyday life. It is not a prediction of your future. Joseph's SIPS training informs questions that help us understand the concern and discuss what further support or evaluation may make sense.
What the Interview Explores
The conversation may cover changes in perception, unusual thoughts, suspicion or difficulty keeping ideas organized. We ask how the experience feels to you and what happens around it. You can describe uncertainty in your words, including the difference between something you wondered about and something that felt convincing at the time.
Timing and Context Matter
An interviewer asks when experiences began, how often they happen and whether they have changed. School, work, sleep and relationships help provide context. A specific account of a confusing conversation or a difficult evening is useful without requiring you to prepare a formal history or decide what the experience should be called.
Who Might Consider Assessment
Teens and young adults with early unusual experiences, and families concerned about those changes, may ask about assessment. A request does not assume that psychosis is present. We listen to the person's perspective as well as family observations, particularly when different people have understood the same moment in different ways.
What Happens Afterward
The conversation can inform discussion of next steps, including therapy, family involvement or a full psychiatric or medical evaluation. No interview offers certainty about what will happen later. We talk about the information gathered and what remains unclear, so recommendations relate to the concern rather than a label standing on its own.
When to Reach Out
Questions about new perceptions, increasing confusion or distress in daily life deserve professional attention. You do not need to prove that an experience is serious before asking about care. In an emergency, call or text 988 or call 911. Assessment scheduling and the free consultation are not a substitute for immediate crisis support.
How We Can Help
Our Psychosis Risk Assessment page describes Joseph's SIPS training and how to ask about fit. Family participation and coordination with other care may be part of the discussion. We offer in-person care at the San Diego office and California telehealth; a free 15-minute phone consultation can address availability and the assessment concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Interview a Guarantee of a Diagnosis?
No, an interview cannot guarantee diagnostic accuracy or predict a future condition. A full psychiatric or medical evaluation may also be recommended.
Do I Need the Right Clinical Words?
No, everyday descriptions are useful during assessment. You can explain what happened, what you felt and what you are unsure about.
Can Family Observations Be Included?
Yes, family observations can help describe changes in routine or communication. The young person's own experience remains an important part of the conversation.
Related Support
You May Also Want to Explore
These pages connect what is a psychosis risk assessment with further reading and care options.
Your questions about an unusual experience deserve time, including the parts you are still trying to understand.
Start With a Conversation