Autism Assessment for Adults

Our assessments focus on gathering a history of both your lived experiences and diagnostic information through a neurodiversity affirmative lens. Together, we will use this information to create a whole picture of your strengths and challenges as a neurodivergent person.

We are  neurodiversity affirming and we recognize that human brains have great diversity among them and this diversity is a natural part of our human genome. We believe that diversity is to be celebrated. Neurodivergent people (Autistic, ADHD, OCD, Bipolar, etc.) have unique strengths and ways of thinking that can be assets in many situations. And it is also true that challenges may be experienced at times, depending on the individual’s everyday environment, previous trauma and childhood experiences. We can work together to determine your strengths and needs as well as identify your specific areas that challenge you. Our focus is to support you.

Please contact us here.

“Am I Autistic?”

The criteria for autism is based on a deficit model and does not include all of the strengths and positive attributes of the autistic experience. At Past and Present Therapy, we do not shy away from the challenges that being an autistic adult can bring; however, we accept these as products of living in a neurotypical / allistic world that was not designed for neurodivergent people.

Some autistic experiences and traits are listed below: (these are not diagnostic criteria) but many of our autistic clients have described these in their lived experiences or have found affinity with them.It’s important to remember that autistic traits occur along a spectrum.   We believe that the traits or “symptoms” of autism in adults can vary significantly.  It’s possible you may relate to some or all of these descriptors. We don’t think that “everyone is a little autistic”, that is dismissive of neurotype differences.

Have more questions?

Complete the intake form below and we will be in contact within 2 or 3 business days.

Some Traits of Autism in Adults

At times….

• You feel different from your peers now or in childhood

• You feel out of place or very uncomfortable in social gatherings (even when included by peers)

• You find it challenging to relate to most people. It’s hard to understand why they like the things the do.

• Others often misinterpret your behavior, mistake your tone of voice for rudeness or acting “impolite”

• Practicing or rehearsing what to say to prepare for outings so you have scripts of what to say

• Echoing or mimicking others after spending a lot of time with them, (phrases, style of dress, behaviors)

• You don’t always understand others non-verbal cues which can cause misunderstandings or others getting their feelings hurt

• Small talk is boring and feels un-natural when you do it or you may love to talk about your passions to break the ice

• You enjoy talking about your passions and can spend hours talking with others

• You prefer to have a few friends that are deeply close over superficial acquaintances

• Some of your friendships have ended but you are unsure why

• You are very loyal to friends and family and stick up to defend them

• You value honesty, integrity and truth in your relationships

• Empathy- so much empathy it can hurt sometimes.

Sensory Characteristics of Autism in Adults

• Eye contact *can be very uncomfortable or painful

• You are a very sensitive person and may identify as a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), empathy is your superpower yet can be draining

• There are certain foods that you prefer, some call you a “picky” eater. We like to call them safe foods.

• When you are excited or nervous, it feels good to move your body in a certain way (rocking back and forth, swaying, wringing hands or tapping)

• Sometimes you feel the need to keep your body in motion to focus or ramp up energy. This can look like fidgeting while others can be dancing or rocking back and forth

• You enjoy some sensory inputs and it helps you regulate your emotions. Rubbing a fabric against your face, smelling a pillow, picking at skin or pulling hairs, chewing ice.

• Other sensory input can be overwhelming at times, tags in clothing, seams in socks or fabrics that pinch or pull hairs on skin. Loose clothing feels great

• Doing the same thing receptively is soothing, watching the same movie every day or listening to songs in the same order.

Cognitive Characteristics of Autism in Adults

• Routines and consistent patterns in your day help you feel best or do your best work

• When you know what to expect next-you feel safest

• It is natural to think in absolutes and finding the “gray” can be difficult and take a lot of “spoons”.

• You care deeply about a few specific areas of interest, have deep passions and may be an “expert” or mean people say you act like “a know-it-all” when you care about sharing facts

• Sudden changes plans really bother you and can ruin your mood

• Time management, organization, working memory and task initiation can be a challenge for you

• You find puzzles soothing and fun or irritating and overwhelming depending on the day

Emotional Characteristics of some Autistic Adults

• You feel anxious most of the time

• Social anxiety may be an issue for you

• You are better able to regulate your emotions when you have control of the environment (Ex: Room will be quiet enough, dark enough, able to leave an event when you need to, have safe items nearby to stim)

• Sometimes emotions are intense and seem to overcome you without any specific trigger

• When something unexpected happens you may have a panic attack or meltdown

• You feel very upset when your things are touched, moved, or rearranged without advance notice or your permission.

  
  

  Please note, that some Autistic people have many, all or none of these characteristics because all Autistic people are unique.

  If you find these descriptions resonate with your lived experiences, it might be helpful to pursue an adult autism assessment.

An assessment that focuses on acceptance of brain differences can pave the way for self advocacy and self awareness. Often times, clients say that just the “knowing” they are Autistic gives them a relief from year s of isolation due to being perceived as “different” from those around them.

Having an autism assessment can bring a sense of relief.

Many of my clients have said that having a name for how they feel gives them great relief and comfort.  Drawing from my knowledge and experience of working with autistic adults identified later in life, there are may benefits to getting an autism assessment as an adult.

First, having an assessment by an adult autism specialist can bring in support for the areas that you struggle. Many mental health professionals are unfamiliar with adult autism and subsequently the therapeutic interventions used for allistic (non-autistic) people don’t always work well for autistic people.  When you work with an autism specialist that utilizes an affirming framework, your lived experiences are validated and very helpful in the diagnosis process. Having a neurodiversity affirming assessment will ensure you are not inundated with abelist attitudes that are harmful for autistic people.

How much does an autism assessment cost?

Most clinicians do not accept insurance for adult autism assessments.  In the Central Texas area, the cost for a private autism assessment can range from $3,000-$6,000.  This usually includes an intake session, one or two testing appointments, a feedback session and a written report.

Most of the assessment cost is the time spent outside of the sessions when the assessor completes scoring of the assessment measures and then writing the final eport.

In comparison, an assessment with Ms. Del Bello costs, $1,900-$2,500 total.  The price range is due to how we assess for autism in adults at Past and Present Therapy.  An adult autism assessment consists of four to six weekly (4-6) sessions, this cost is made affordable by making this process collaborative with some time spent outside of sessions for you to complete online assessments. Ms. Del Bello will then reflect on the assessment data collected and discuss during your assessment appointments.  Because we do not provide a written final report, you are able to save thousands of dollars on your assessment.

Is Past and Present the right place for my adult autism assessment?

If you would like to know if you are autistic for personal identity reasons, then an assessment with us is a great fit.   In the event you are needing work or school accommodations, please confirm with your school disability office or work HR department what documentation is needed to determine if an assessment with Past and Present Therapy is appropriate for your needs. Once your assessment is completed, we can provide a short letter confirming your diagnosis, but there is no option for a written report.  Should you need additional documents completed, we will complete paperwork at an additional cost.

On the other hand, if you are needing a written in-depth psychological evaluation with a report for government benefits you are better served by obtaining a formal neuropsychological evaluation. Please reach out to us for a list of Neurodiversity affirming Psychologists or visit ND Therapists Directory

If your goals for an adult autism assessment align with our assessment process and you are physically within Texas, email us today at Hello@pastandpresenttherapy.com.   In your email, please mention that you read this assessment webpage and would like to move forward with an assessment. Ms. Del Bello may let you know that she has a waitlist and will explain the waitlist process to you. The majority of the time there is a waitlist for assessments.

We do not accept insurance for Autism and ADHD assessments. Autism assessment with Ms. Del Bello costs, $1,900. ADHD assessment is $600. Both may not be necessary depending on your specific individual needs and situation, please reach out for an estimated cost.