Collaborative Therapeutic Assessment (CTA) takes a different approach. Rather than beginning with specific questions, often led by referring parties or outside sources, it begins with the questions of the individual. At the start of the process, the individual is invited to identify two or three questions they most want answered, often the kind of questions that have been lingering for years. For example, "why do people always say I seem angry even though I don't feel that way?" or "why do I always seem to end up in the same situations or relationships no matter how hard I try to change?" and "why does everything feel harder for me than it seems to be for everyone else?"Assessment is a collaborative exploration of these questions, using test results as a mirror rather than a measuring stick. CTA is particularly valuable for individuals who are just beginning therapy and want a meaningful starting point, or those who have been in therapy for awhile and feel stuck. CTA often accelerates the therapeutic process in ways that traditional "talk therapy" alone cannot.