Unfortunately, many adults who are Autistic or who have ADHD went unidentified as children. This was partially due to how the diagnostic criteria were applied in the past and also the assumption that Autism and ADHD primarily occurred in males. Another concern is many individuals learned to mask, or compensate for their areas of difference, often at a great costs to themselves.

Thanks to the interconnectedness of the world, people are now realizing they have experiences that are similar to those who are neurodivergent. People want to gain a greater understanding of themselves and the possibility they may be Autistic, have ADHD, or even both.

Initial diagnosis of adult Autism and ADHD can be complex. Many adults have developed ways to hide, or mask, their neurodivergence. At the same time, there is an overlap between symptoms of Autism, ADHD, and other conditions, such as trauma. Further complicating matters is that the conditions are not mutually exclusive: someone can be Autistic, have ADHD, and have a history of trauma.

I conduct a multi-faceted assessment that looks for possible areas of neurodivergence. I also work to account for possible masking behaviors and take them into account during the evaluation.

Comprehensive psychological evaluations provide an assessment and understanding of the whole person. These often include an evaluation of various areas of functioning, including assessments of cognitive, executive, emotional, and personality functioning. These evaluations are tailored towards helping the person to understand themselves and improving their ability to function

Twice exceptional (2e) individuals have high levels of cognitive abilities with an area of difference. These individuals are twice-neurodivergent and as a result, often need a unique set of accommodations to ensure their needs for enrichment are met while still adjusting the environment for their areas of difference. Accurate assessment of 2e individuals requires flexibility and some creative thinking on the part of the evaluator. This flexibility ensures that the complex cognitive and emotional experience of the 2e individual is accurately captured in the testing process.

Psychological functioning is complex and conditions can overlap. Sometimes, it helps to have a clear answer and provide a name for the distress the person is experiencing, as the nature of the distress can inform treatment. This is when an evaluation for diagnostic clarity can be beneficial.

Psychoeducational evaluations are designed to assist with functioning in an academic setting, such as school or college. However, it can also be used to help identify areas for possible accommodations in employment or home settings, because neurodivergent individuals often benefit from accommodations in a variety of settings, not just school. It is about finding the right person-environment fit.

There are times where mental health treatment stalls. There can be a variety of reasons for this, including an unidentified condition, a breach in the therapeutic relationship, or that the client has outgrown the clinician. An evaluation can be used to identify possible ways to improve the therapeutic relationship or make additional treatment recommendations.

An evaluation for treatment recommendations can also be used when a person is initially seeking therapy or treatment. An evaluation can identify treatment modalities that may benefit the person, which can result in more rapid progress.

Sometimes people want a more complete understanding of their psychological functioning. This can be achieved through a comprehensive personality assessment, which can include self-report measures like the MCMI-IV, PAI, and MMPI-3, and free response measures like the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Personality assessment can give insight into aspects of the individual that may be conflicting with the environment. This can result in a better understanding of the person and identify ways to reduce the distress the individual experiences.

I conduct career interest assessments. These assessments include an evaluation of interests and competencies in an effort to help identify career options. In addition to an assessment, I will schedule a 45-60 minute session to review and discuss the results.

Forensic psychology is the intersection of psychology and the law. I work with litigants, attorneys, and the judicial system to provide psychological services to assist the court.

 Psychologists can provide a variety of services to assist with legal matters. These can include assessments, consultation, therapy, and testimony.