For adults seeking psychological evaluations, particularly for autism, ADHD, or mental health diagnoses, deciding between private pay and insurance can have significant long-term implications. While insurance may appear to offer financial convenience, there are compelling reasons why private pay could be the better option for many individuals. This article explores the benefits of choosing private pay, focusing on privacy, autonomy, and potential future impacts.

The holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s, offers opportunities for joy and connection, but can be overwhelming for neurodivergent children. Sensory challenges, changes in routine, and social expectations can make these festivities stressful. As a parent, your support and understanding can help your autistic or ADHD child feel more comfortable and engaged. By adapting traditions and focusing on their unique needs, you can create a holiday experience that is both meaningful and manageable. Here’s how to help your autistic or ADHD child thrive during the holidays while honoring their unique needs.

The holiday season, spanning Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, and other celebrations, often brings joy, but can also pose unique challenges for autistic adults. The blend of sensory overwhelm, shifting routines, and heightened social expectations can make this time particularly difficult. Here’s a neurodiversity-affirming guide to understanding these difficulties and practical strategies to manage them.

Living with ADHD brings unique challenges, especially in professional settings, where the demands for organization, focus, and multitasking can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, U.S. laws provide protections and accommodations for employees with ADHD, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed at work. This article will guide you through the legal rights of individuals with ADHD, the process for requesting workplace accommodations, and tips for navigating this conversation with your employer.

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also referred to as Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, is a behavioral profile often associated with autistic children, though it can appear in individuals with other neurodivergence. PDA is characterized by an extreme need to avoid everyday demands, often due to the overwhelming fear of losing autonomy. While PDA is not officially recognized as a standalone diagnosis in the U.S., parents frequently seek evaluations to determine whether their child's behavior fits this profile. In the U.K., PDA is considered a profile of autism, but from my clinical experience, I’ve seen that PDA traits also manifest in children who are not autistic.

When you’re an adult seeking autism testing, finding the right clinician is crucial. It’s important to ensure that the person you choose to work with is not only knowledgeable about autism but also neurodiversity-affirming. This means they respect and understand the diverse ways autism can present in adults, and they approach the assessment process with an open mind and a supportive attitude, not a gatekeeping approach.

As a Psychologist who specializes in psychological testing, every day, people ask me whether I take insurance. Some are just checking, not really expecting me to accept it. Others are hoping to use their insurance, so they seek out in-network providers. Then there’s a group that, upon learning I don’t take insurance, becomes very angry. Once, someone even told me, “You’re what’s wrong with the healthcare system in America. You’re why we’re in a mental health crisis.” While I understand the frustration of not being able to use insurance, it still hurts to hear such things. It’s not about greed, nor is it my intention to limit access to care. In fact, I would love to take insurance—I did for nine years. But ultimately, it became an unsustainable business practice, and the fault lies with the insurance companies.

"Inside Out 2," the sequel to Pixar’s beloved exploration of emotions, promises to delve even deeper into the intricate world of our inner emotional lives. Just like its predecessor, this movie offers valuable insights into how we experience and manage our emotions, making it a powerful tool for understanding real-life emotional challenges, particularly anxiety.

In "Inside Out 2," we continue to follow the journey of Riley and her emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – as they navigate the complexities of adolescence. The film beautifully illustrates how these core emotions interact, influence our behavior, and help us respond to the world around us. By personifying these emotions, "Inside Out 2" provides a visual and relatable way to understand the often abstract and overwhelming nature of our feelings.

Giftedness is often perceived as a high intellectual ability, but it encompasses much more than just a high IQ. It refers to individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills or talents in one or more areas, such as academics, creativity, leadership, or the arts. Gifted individuals often possess unique cognitive abilities, advanced problem-solving skills, and a deep passion for learning. However, giftedness can also come with its own set of challenges, particularly when it intersects with other conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is a condition characterized by extreme emotional sensitivity and pain triggered by the perception of rejection, criticism, or failure. For those experiencing RSD, these perceived rejections can lead to intense emotional reactions that may seem disproportionate to the situation. While anyone can experience sensitivity to rejection, RSD is particularly prevalent among individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Adult ADHD often plays a significant, yet misunderstood role in romantic relationships. From daily interactions to long-term commitments, the dynamics of partnerships can be uniquely challenged by the symptoms of ADHD. This article will explore how ADHD can impact relationships and provide practical advice on communication, setting boundaries, and maintaining a healthy, fulfilling partnership.

Autism and BPD can share overlapping symptoms, further complicating diagnosis. Both conditions may involve challenges in social interactions, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties with identity and sense of self. However, the underlying reasons for these symptoms differ. In autism, social difficulties stem from challenges in understanding social cues and norms, while in BPD, they arise from unstable self-image and intense fear of abandonment.

Psychosis, though often associated with adults, can also occur in children, albeit less frequently. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of psychosis in children is crucial for early intervention and support. In this article, we'll explore the manifestations of psychosis in children, the prevalence of hearing voices, and when psychosis may be indicative of a severe mental illness versus a transient experience.

Demand avoidance is a concept that many parents encounter in their children's behavior. It's important to understand that demand avoidance, in general, is a normal part of human behavior. We all have moments when we resist doing something we're asked to do, whether it's a mundane task or a more challenging request. However, when demand avoidance becomes persistent and significantly impacts a child's functioning, it may be worth exploring further.

If you're reading this, chances are you've been on a journey to understand yourself better, seeking answers to questions that have lingered for far too long. You may have found yourself questioning whether you could be autistic, only to be met with dismissive responses or misdiagnoses from other providers. I understand the frustration, the uncertainty, and the fear that comes with feeling misunderstood and overlooked.

Parents play a pivotal role in their child's academic journey, especially when the child is neurodivergent. Children with ADHD often exhibit remarkable creativity, energy, and the ability to think outside the box. These strengths, when harnessed effectively, can lead to academic success and a fulfilling educational experience. Here are some strategies parents can use at home to support their children with ADHD in a way that affirms their neurodiversity and promotes academic achievement.