Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi everyone, I am 21 and starting to take pd tests and had a quick question about the NYPD oral psych exam. When I was very young, my parents had me see a psychologist for a couple of years for anger issues, which ended while i was still young (somewhere between 8-10). I saw the same psychologist in during my preteen years for a few sessions after a family incident involving an improper conversation with a younger cousin (nothing illegal actually occured). Finally, I saw another psychologist for a few months my freshman year of high school to help me better my socialization skills. I stress that both people I saw were psychologists and I was never diagnosed with anything or put on any type of medication. I know I need to contact these psychologists and see if they still have my patient records so I can have all my information straight for the exam but I have a couple of questions.
1)Is there anything in here that I should be worried about when it comes to the psych exam, I've heard that just saying you've seen a psych is an essentially disqualifying answer. 2) Should I go and get an exam prior to my NYPD psych exam and have a session so they can put something in the file that says I am fit for duty or whatever. Finally, what do I do if they don't still have my patient records, I know I have one professor who says If there's no record of it don't mention it and leave it out, but that doesn't feel right to me, and also I assume that if they find out some other way that's considered lying which I know results in dismissal.

I can't speak for New York, but most states require that law enforcement candidates be evaluated to determine if they are free from any emotional or mental condition that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a police officer, and to otherwise ensure that the candidate is capable of withstanding the psychological demands of the position. This is usually done by administering a series of written and oral examinations that measure your emotional and mental state at the time you apply for the job. The issue is your current status and not what went on when you were a child or teen.

Questions may be asked by the examining psychologist about your prior history, but again, the key is your current state.

The psych exam is one thing you can't prepare for. I figured that I might have not passed because I thought I had really pissed off the psychologist, but I did. Just go in and be honest and hope for the best. They will pick up any attempt to deceive, that's part of the testing too. Good luck.