Autism & ADHD Diagnostic Evaluations for Teens

Our autism, ADHD, and combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) evaluations for teens (ages 13-17) are all about helping you understand yourself better. We’re talking to you directly, because we respect you and know you can make your own choices. Your buy-in in this process is very important! Your parent(s) or guardian(s) will be involved in the process, but you will be the focus of this.

We know that standard evaluations can often miss the real you, especially if you're great at masking (which means covering up or hiding your autistic/ADHD traits), have learned to blend in, or are considered “too” empathetic or smart to be autistic or ADHD (which is an inaccurate stereotype!). This is why we work together to understand the full picture of who you are.

Using a non-judgmental approach that focuses on your strengths as a person, we’ll sit down in what we call a “clinical interview session” to talk. During this time, we will explore how your brain works and what makes you you. We’ll also have a chat with your adult(s) to understand their observations about you. You and/or your adult can check out the paragraph to the right for more information about what this process includes and how long it typically is.

During our time together, whether in-person or over video, you are invited to stim, use fidgets (our office has plenty!), take breaks, and care for your needs. By the end of the interview, we hope you will feel as though you understand yourself better. Our goal is for this process — including the detailed written report you will receive, which we’ll review together with your important adult(s) — will give you clarity and helpful resources. We will also include a letter in your report that can be used for support to help you thrive in jobs or at college, if you go!

We use an equitable sliding scale pricing model, which means that we try to offer inclusive rates compared to the average evaluation cost. (Have your adult check out “Our Pricing” below for more info about this approach and to determine your evaluation rate.)

  • Accessible rates:

    • Autism or ADHD evaluation: $1000 (or 2 payments of $500)

    • Combined AuDHD evaluation: $1200 (or 2 payments of $600)

  • Sustainable rates:

    • Autism or ADHD evaluation: $1200 (or 2 payments of $600)

    • Combined AuDHD evaluation: $1400 (or 2 payments of $700)

  • Inclusive rates:

    • Autism or ADHD evaluation: $1400 (or 2 payments of $700)

    • Combined AuDHD evaluation: $1600 (or 2 payments of $800)

The clinical interview session for your evaluation (which is when we sit down to talk and learn about you) can be in-person or via video. It is typically is up to 2.75 hours for autism and ADHD evaluations and up to 3.75 hours for the combined evaluation. Most of the session will be with you, since you know yourself best! However, we do have a conversation with your adult(s) to get extra info; you can participate in this conversation too — we will all chat to figure out how you want to approach this! You and your adult(s) can choose to complete optional assessments to learn more about your traits, as well. We can also provide similar assessments for your teacher or another important adult in your life for extra info, which also can be helpful for future college accommodations. When we meet to review your report, it is 25-minutes over video with both you and your adult(s). The overall evaluation process takes your clinician an average of 10-11 hours.

Our Process

The questions in this section and the next are best reviewed by an adult in your life!

    • Diagnostic evaluation is the process of determining if someone meets the clinical criteria for a diagnosis, like autism and ADHD.

    • In our country, diagnostic evaluation typically uses the DSM-5-TR criteria. When used directly, this language can feel pathologizing. In order to create a neuro-affirming experience, we designed an interview process that asks thoughtful, affirming questions, while ensuring we clinically meet the DSM criteria for autism. For ADHD, we use the DIVA-5 interview model. For both, we also invite clients to complete self-assessments; while this is optional, it gives the chance for additional data to support diagnosis. We can also provide these to parents, teachers, and counselors. All of the tools we use were carefully selected to create an experience that leaves clients feeling genuinely seen and heard.

    • We follow the Lived Experience Informed Practice model, meaning lived experience is the foundation for our diagnostic exploration. We then blend this with an understanding of your teen’s life circumstances, an intersectional lens, clinical best practice, and evidence-based research to make meaning.

    • We engage our clients collaboratively during this process, which includes: gathering a detailed history through an intake questionnaire (required for the teen’s adult(s) and optional for the teen); completing self-assessments (optional for all); conducting a clinical interview session; writing a detailed evaluation report; and finally, collaboratively reviewing the report, evaluation outcomes, and recommendations.

    • Yes! In the Commonwealth of Virginia, under Virginia Code §54.1-3500, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) can provide diagnostic services at the autonomous practice level and use the DSM for diagnostic evaluation. (Learn more here.) We map our diagnostic reports back to the DSM-5-TR for this reason.

    • While LCSWs cannot conduct full neuropsychological testing, autism and ADHD evaluations don’t require this for diagnosis. While there are some reasons a Doctorate-level provider may be necessary, such as when applying for SSDI, our method gives access to a clinical diagnosis, detailed written report, recommendations, and resources. We also can include accommodation letters for work and school (at no extra charge); we have found colleges to welcome Masters-level diagnosis, and we use approaches that maximize this acceptance.

    • This section contains a lot of info, but we include this for our fellow autistic/ADHD folx who benefit from clear, detailed expectations.

    • You will complete our client inquiry form to let us know you would like to schedule. We will then email you with date/time options, and you will be expected to reply to schedule. We see clients on Fridays, usually scheduling about 1-3 months out.

    • Once you schedule your teen’s session, you will be emailed a link through Carepatron, our HIPAA-compliant portal. You are expected to establish your portal for ongoing communication. This step also includes signing your client consents. Please let us know if your teen wants their own portal, as well!

    • You will also receive your intake questionnaire and invoice through the portal; your teen’s optional questionnaire will also be assigned. The portal set-up, signed consents, completed questionnaire, and paid invoice need to be done at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled interview session. Make sure you give yourself 1-2 hours for the questionnaire! Doing this in advance allows us to have shorter interview sessions, which feels more neuro-affirming than a full-day interview.

    • During the clinical interview session, your teen is invited to stim, take breaks, and care for themself in whatever ways they need. If in-person, our office has lots of comfy seating, plenty of fidgets to choose from, and natural lighting, as well as a cozy waiting room for you to wait. Here is a picture of what our office looks like! (We also have the option of an office with no windows for light sensitive folx.) They can also bring whatever they need to feel supported (fidgets, comfort items, food, drinks, etc.) and wear comfy clothes — we model inclusivity by doing the same!

    • Typically about 1-3 weeks after the interview session, we will have a 25-minute report review session; this will be done via video. If you chose the split payment option, the final payment will also be due 24 hours before this session. During the review, we invite you all to ask questions and give feedback to ensure the report feels aligned, affirming, and reflective of needs. We also give work and school accommodation letters at this time, as well as discuss next steps for any college accommodations.

    • Once you’ve all had time to read the report in detail, there might be questions or your teen might need more support. These reports are designed to be used with a therapist, or a self-discovery session can be scheduled with our clinician!

    • We provide services both in-person and virtually via telehealth.

    • Our office for in-person sessions is in Richmond, VA near Bryan Park (address provided upon scheduling). The space is owned by The Properties of Light and is thoughtfully neuro-inclusive.

    • We also provide virtual sessions throughout Virginia, as long as the client is in the state at the time of the session. Our video conferencing platforms are secure and HIPAA-compliant.

Our Pricing

We are committed to cost transparency.

    • No — all of our services are private pay to ensure autonomy over diagnostic disclosure; if we took insurance, any diagnosis would become a part of your teen’s medical record/history. This feels especially important to avoid in this sociopolitical climate.

    • As a note, it’s our understanding (from those with more knowledge of these things than us) that Medicaid recipients cannot receive private pay services that would otherwise be covered by Medicaid, such as therapeutic services like ours, even if they would like to choose to pay out of pocket.

    • Our equitable sliding scale model helps to ensure accessibility to services for clients of varying financial means.

    • We use a self-determined sliding scale model, with three rate tiers: (Learn more about identifying your rate here.)

      • Accessible rate: below the cost of providing these services, engaging mutual aid; for those with less financial resources

      • Sustainable rate: at the cost of providing these services (our “regular” rate); for those with average financial resources

      • Inclusive rate: above the cost of providing these services, offering mutual aid; for those with more financial resources

    • Self-determined means we do not require any documentation or disclosure to select your rate. We believe in the integrity of our clients. Simply select your rate tier on our scheduling form.

    • We understand that, even with our equitable sliding scale pricing model, rates below market, and the option of split payments, the cost of private pay evaluations can be cost prohibitive for many. We are working to identify grants and other opportunities to cover some/all of our accessible rate for a few clients each year. If you would like to be added to our waitlist for reduced fee and pro bono sessions, please email us.

    • We evaluated market rates for evaluations, which can range up to $3000. We then set our rates well below this, while attending to the work involved and our financial sustainability as a business. Here is the typical time commitment for an evaluation:

      • 2-3 hours of prep, onboarding clients and reviewing self-assessment scores and the intake questionnaires

      • 3-4 hours for the clinical interview session with the client and their adult(s)

      • 3.5-5 hours of interview and self-assessment analysis and report writing, including any accommodation letters

      • 25-minute virtual session to review the written report, evaluation outcomes, and recommendations

      • Total: up to 10 hours (up to 12 hours for combined)

    • Our sustainable rate averages to $120/hr, which is far below the market rate for private pay therapy services ($182/hr in 2022).

    • We have two payment options: (1) In-full, up to 72 hours prior to their clinical interview session, or (2) Two equal split payments, with the first half due up to 72 hours prior to the clinical evaluation session and the second due up to 24 hours prior to the report review session. We understand if you need to space these two sessions out to make the payments more manageable; you can do so up to 2-months post-interview.

    • Payments are made securely through our Carepatron portal.