Psychodiagnostic activity is appreciated in Psychology for sustaining its scientific status and supporting the professional's identity.Although the Tradicional Psychodiagnosis contrasts diagnostic and therapeutic activities, the Therapeutic Assessment has approximated them. This change has generated epistemological and methodological consequences. The present study analyzed such a change and its consequences to Psychology's scientific status and professional's identity. To achieve this goal, a presentation of the quantitative and qualitative investigation paradigms and an examination of the epistemological and methodological foundations of those practices were accomplished. The conclusions show that the Therapeutic Assessment is coherently founded on the qualitative approach, in contrast to the Traditional Psychodiagnosis that presents internal paradigmatic contradictions. Given this, the Therapeutic Assessment offers psychologists a more solid basis for professional identification than the Traditional Assessment.
epistemology; methodology; science; traditional psychodiagnosis; therapeutic assessment