Mental Health Assessment with Children and Adolescents An Integrated Clinical, Community, and Cultural Psychology Framework

This groundbreaking textbook offers an accessible, comprehensive guide to conducting clinical interviews and mental health assessments with children and adolescents. Designed for students and professionals in psychology, counseling, therapy, and social work, it walks readers through every stage of the assessment process—from referral to feedback—while centering culture, context, and collaboration.

Authors Sara Buckingham and Gerald Oster integrate principles from clinical, cultural, and community psychology (the ‘3 Cs’) to present a justice-oriented framework that acknowledges the structures and systems surrounding youth. With practical tools, reproducible resources, and real-world applications across diverse settings—including schools, clinics, hospitals, and legal systems—this book empowers clinicians to foster engagement, deepen understanding, and generate meaningful recommendations.

Part I: Foundations.- Ch 1: Before the Beginning: Locating Ourselves in Mental Health Assessment.- Ch 2: Principles of Mental Health Assessment from a Clinical-Community-Cultural Psychology Framework.- Ch 3: Understanding Youth in Their Culture and Context.- Part II: Process and Preparation.- Ch 4: Responding to Referrals.- Ch 5: Preparing for the Assessment.- Ch 6: Interviewing Children and Adolescents.- Ch 7: Interviewing Families.- Ch 8: Using Drawings to Enhance Communication.- Part III: Clinical Focus Areas.- Ch 9: Uncovering and Adapting to Signs of Trauma.- Ch 10: Understanding Youth Depression.- Ch 11: Assessing Risk and Safety.- Part IV: Integration and Communication.- Ch 12: Understanding and Utilizing Psychological Testing.- Ch 13: Report Writing.- Ch 14: Providing Feedback to Stakeholders.- Part V: Applications and Reflection.- Ch 15: Setting Considerations.- Ch 16: Final Remarks – And a Call to Action.

Sara L. Buckingham, PhD is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage, USA, where she is core faculty in a Clinical-Community Psychology PhD Program with a Rural, Indigenous Emphasis. Her work integrates clinical, community, and cultural psychology (the ‘3 Cs’) to support youth and families across diverse contexts. She conducts clinical interviews for a range of purposes beyond individual treatment planning, particularly with migrant and refugee youth. Dr Buckingham co-directs the Center for Community Engagement and Learning and leads the Crossroads Research Collective, where she collaborates with research-practitioners working at the intersections of the ‘3 Cs’. Her research focuses on acculturation, wellbeing, sense of community, culturally responsive practices, and family engagement in mental health services.

Gerald D. Oster, PhD has been a licensed psychologist for over 40 years and has authored or co-authored 13 books on interviewing and report writing principles, including: Using Drawings in Assessment and Therapy, 2nd Edition (2004) and Unmasking Childhood Depression (2013). He is a former Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Medical School, USA, and has provided continuing education seminars in areas related to interviewing and assessment through the clinical uses of drawings. Dr Oster has also taught classes in developmental psychology, as well as mentored graduate students in psychological testing and report writing.