ADHD & Autism Evaluations

Like so many women, my symptoms had been overlooked or misdiagnosed for decades. Looking back, I see how classic they were—academic struggles, restlessness, impulsive talking, and an anti-authority streak—yet because I was a girl, no one thought to check. When I finally got my diagnosis at age 30, I thought, “How did everyone miss this?”

It took time to sort through the particular grief that comes with a late diagnosis, realizing I could have known myself so much earlier if only someone had taken the time to notice. Yet as I worked through these experiences, I found myself feeling relieved, seen, and far more capable.

Neurodivergence isn’t a “disorder” so much as it is a difference in how we perceive and experience the world. Yes, there are challenges that come with any flavor of neurodivergence, but there are also difficulties that come with being neurotypical—they just look different.

If you’ve felt invisible or misunderstood, know that an adult diagnosis isn’t about labeling—it’s about finally having a name for what you’ve been experiencing and finding ways to live more comfortably in your own skin.

Why an Evaluation Matters

For many people born and socialized as female, ADHD and Autism can remain hidden for years. Stereotypes, cultural expectations, and your own drive to ‘blend in’ can make these conditions easy to miss. Receiving a thorough evaluation helps bring clarity, validating that what you’ve been experiencing has a real, nameable cause—and that there are ways to move forward more comfortably. It’s not about labeling you; it’s about understanding yourself, your needs, and your strengths so you can thrive.

Teasing Apart Co-occurring Diagnoses

It’s common for ADHD or Autism to coexist with anxiety, depression, OCD, or other conditions. My approach recognizes that you’re a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. I take the time to explore all facets of your experiences—your thoughts, emotions, personal history, and life patterns. By looking at the bigger picture, we can distinguish between ADHD-like restlessness and anxious energy, or between sensory overload from Autism and depression-related fatigue. The goal is to ensure we see you fully, so we can give you the most accurate and helpful feedback.

  • We’ll start with a conversation—an initial consult where we’ll talk about what brings you in, your goals, and any concerns or questions on your mind. I’ll also explain the overall process so you know how we’ll move forward together.

    After our first meeting, I’ll send you some screeners and questionnaires to fill out on your own time. These help me gather more detailed information about your experiences and guide our next steps.

    In our second session, we’ll take a broader look at your history—everything from early childhood experiences and family background to your emotional well-being, school or work life, and any past diagnoses you might’ve received. This in-depth exploration gives us a more complete picture of who you are and what you’ve been through. We’ll also begin a more structured diagnostic interview, focusing on specific patterns and symptoms that may point toward ADHD, Autism, or something else entirely.

    During the following sessions (usually the third and fourth), we’ll continue our diagnostic conversations. If something comes up that needs closer attention—like possible anxiety, depression, or other co-occurring conditions—we may add a few extra assessments to clarify what’s really going on. We’ll pace these sessions based on your comfort level, ensuring you feel seen and understood throughout.

    Finally, in our last meeting (often the fourth or fifth session), we’ll sit down together to review the findings. I’ll provide a written report that outlines any diagnoses and highlights areas where you may benefit from additional support. We’ll then talk about practical strategies, tools, or resources that could help you move forward with greater clarity. By the end of this process, you’ll have a clearer sense of what’s been happening behind the scenes—and most importantly, where to go from here.

  • I tailor each assessment to your unique circumstances, selecting from a variety of evidence-based tools. While not every tool is used in every evaluation, here’s a snapshot of the types of screeners and interviews I draw from:

    ADHD-Focused Assessments

    • ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) – Helps identify and rate ADHD symptoms in adulthood.

    • WURS (Wender Utah Rating Scale) – Looks back at childhood symptoms and experiences related to ADHD.

    • Brown Executive/Attention Rating Scale – Explores executive functioning challenges like organization, memory, and focus.

    • Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale – Examines how ADHD symptoms may affect various life areas, such as work, relationships, or daily tasks.

    • DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults) – A structured interview providing in-depth insight into both current and childhood ADHD symptoms.

    Autism-Focused Assessments

    • RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised) – Assesses social, language, and sensory traits associated with Autism.

    • AQ (Autism-Spectrum Quotient) – Measures the degree to which an adult exhibits common Autistic traits.

    • CATQ (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) – Identifies how someone may mask or hide Autistic traits in daily life.

    • MIGDAS (Montgomery Interactive Guided Developmental and Autobiographical Structured) – A conversational approach to understanding social, emotional, and sensory experiences in depth.

    Screening for Co-occurring & Differential Diagnoses

    Because ADHD and Autism can overlap with other conditions, I also use targeted screeners for:

    • Anxiety (GAD-7)

    • Depression (PHQ-9)

    • OCD (Y-BOCS)

    • Mood Disorders (MDQ)

    • Borderline Personality Traits

    • PMDD, Trauma Symptoms, and other possible concerns

    These tools help determine whether symptoms like restlessness, low mood, or obsessive thoughts stem from ADHD or Autism, or if there’s an additional issue that needs attention.

    How I Use These Tools

    No single assessment can capture the full complexity of a person’s life. By blending these screeners and interviews with our face-to-face conversations, I can better understand your strengths, challenges, and history. This holistic picture helps us arrive at an accurate diagnosis—or set of diagnoses—and informs the strategies, resources, or referrals that could best support you moving forward.

  • While I am a master’s-level clinician qualified to assess and diagnose ADHD or Autism, there are practical limitations to keep in mind. If you plan to pursue disability benefits, you will be required to complete a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. Additionally, if you’re seeking medication, some prescribers will accept a master’s-level diagnosis, but many will want to conduct their own assessment or require further testing. For many adults, however, the primary goal of this evaluation is to gain personal clarity, develop strategies that align with how their brain works, and find greater understanding in relationships and daily life. If that’s your aim, a master’s-level diagnosis can be a meaningful step toward self-knowledge and well-being.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Living with undiagnosed or misunderstood differences can feel isolating. But clarity changes everything. With the right understanding, you can adapt your environment and routines to better support who you are, rather than constantly trying to fit into everyone else’s mold. You deserve to feel comfortable in your own skin, and an evaluation can be the first step in making that a reality.

Ready to Gain Clarity?

If you’re curious about whether ADHD or Autism might be part of your story, I’m here to help. Feel free to reach out to schedule an initial consultation or ask any questions. It’s time to explore the possibility that there’s more to you than meets the eye—and that discovering it could open doors to greater ease, self-compassion, and empowerment.

Pricing & Session Length

The cost of an evaluation can vary based on the complexity of each case and how many sessions are needed to clarify possible co-occurring diagnoses. My hourly rate is $150, and I’m open to scheduling longer sessions (up to two hours) for those who prefer a more intensive approach. In addition, I charge a flat fee of $150 for report writing, which covers the time spent reviewing all assessments and compiling the final diagnostic report. If you have any questions about pricing or session structure, feel free to ask—I want to ensure you feel clear and comfortable with every step of this process.