Erford's book presents a broad overview of basic issues in psychological and educational assessment. The book familiarizes students with the essentials of testing, covering such concepts as ethical, legal, and diversity issues; reliability, validity, and test construction; and the pertinent tests needed by professional counselors to conduct thorough and effective assessments. Erford's guidance on basic procedures such as test selection, as well as the book's examples and applications relevant to a range of practices and clientele, help students learn how and when to use the correct assessment tools with diverse clients. In addition, the author and other contributors focus on the importance of counselor identity and the essentials of this complex field.