Assessment for Adults

Intial 50-minute Session is a reduced fee of $100.

The fee for the assessment is $750 paid in 3 installments:

$250 when initial electronic paperwork is sent.

$250 each for the two 75-minute sessions.

(optional: add $235 if you would rather have an in-person session subbed for the electronic self-paced paperwork)

In the first paperwork screening, I am screening for ALL of the following & we will go deeper into anything that is indicated.

• High-Sensitivity (Sensory Processing Sensitivity)

• Autism

• Broader Autism Phenotype

• ADHD (& VAST or variable attention stimulus trait)

• AuDHD

• Masking

• Alexithymia

• Post Traumatic Stress

• Complex-Post Traumatic Stress

• OCD

• Borderline Personality Trauma Presentation

Yes, if you would rather do these in-person, we can schedule a 75-minute session to do so for an additional fee of $235.

No, I do not include this.

Although, if I think this is needed, I will direct you to another provider in our first 50-minute session.

Most “traditional” diagnosis processes involve asking parents to fill out forms.

I DO NOT REQUIRE THIS.

If you would like friends or family to be involved in your process, you can request that.

It depends on how we schedule, but scheduling aside…it is possible to complete the full process in 2 weeks.

I don’t always think faster is better, though. It can be a positive to take your time through the process & reflect on what is being asked as well as space to remember elements from childhood, etc.

No, I am not running a waitlist at this time.

My level of education & training includes diagnosing (submitting to insurance, etc.).

This process is informal, transparent (I tell you what I am screening for, no tricks) & conversational.

I would not call this a diagnostic process since we will not be using formal diagnostic measures or submit to insurance & may sometimes need to work outside of the bounds of what is currently published in the diagnostic manual/DSM (for example, we need to make sense of meeting partial Autism criteria & part of ADHD without dismissing your experience).

I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, so if you need that level of evaluation, I can help with a referral.

Also, please note that formal diagnosis often includes intelligence tests & questioning family members. I do not require any of those things.

Diagnosis is a medical term, which tends to feel very solid & final.

Psychological processes are not diseases. I’m not a fan of the term disorder & it’s not the framework in which I relate to mental health challenges, emotional challenges & neurodevelopment differences.

I don’t believe that’s appropriate for neurodevelopmental identity.

It wasn’t long ago that the smartest mental health diagnosticians thought that a person couldn’t be Autistic & have ADHD.

They were wrong…really wrong…now we have strong indicators that 80% to 90% of Autistic folks are also ADHDers or have some AHDH indicators!

The current diagnostic manual has barely been updated since 2013.

I cannot align myself with the diagnosistic manual (DSM) being King. My goal is to be helpful to people who need support…not to be rigid. I don’t work for insurance companies…so, I can have more freedom to consider the most current research & knowledge.

I do use some diagnostic tests as a beginning point, but I do not use them outright, because:

The verbiage in many diagnostic tests is outdated, stereotyped & often inappropriate.

Many of the diagnostic tests have still not been modified to screen/test adults.

Research & testing continues to be primarily based on research & presentation of young white boys.

Also, I assume if my clients wanted this kind of testing, they would go to someone else.

Many diagnostic tests are available online & I don’t see the purpose of offering things you can find for yourself.

Yes, I will write-up my findings & we will review it together in session.

You are welcome to schedule further sessions as desired.

I offer psychotherapy, intensives, consultation, & listening therapies.

I can write you a letter for accommodations, if desired for a small fee.

If this is something you know you want, check in-advance that whomever you are providing the letter does not require a Physician letter (I am an LPC, a Master's Level Psychotherapist).

No, I do not submit to insurance. It will be up to you if you want to share assessment results with your medical providers.

Yes, this is included & reviewed in our last assessment session.

I also provide a password-protected website with current resources for all of my assessment clients.

In most cases, yes…as scheduling allows & if it seems like I would be a good fit for your needs.

I will do my best to explain my clinical reasoning, but if you don’t agree, I will support you completely.

It’s helpful to keep in perspective that these categories, diagnostics & explanations are created by people…& sometimes we misunderstand before we figure it out.

I do believe we are on the brink of having better definitions of the different Autism presentations, but it’s not here yet, not completely clear…yet.

Also, there’s major room for improvement for adult ADHD understanding.

I never want my clients to adopt a label that does not resonate.