Neurodiversity Affirming Evaluations for Children, Teens, and Adults in Middlesex, NJ

In-person & Online in New Jersey!

ADHD AND AUTISM ASSESSMENTS IN MIDDLESEX, NJ 

True Reflections Mental Health Services offers comprehensive ADHD & Autism evaluations for individuals ages 2.5 to adulthood. Evaluations are available both in-person in Middlesex, NJ, and virtually for residents of New Jersey.

As someone diagnosed neurodivergent later in life, I'm deeply committed to offering ADHD & Autism evaluations for people of all ages. Diagnosing children can facilitate getting them the necessary academic accommodations and support. Likewise, diagnosing adults can lead to workplace accommodations and offer clarity about lifelong struggles. It provides answers, helping individuals understand themselves better and embrace their differences.

My neurodiversity-affirming approach emphasizes the strengths and abilities of each client. Recognizing that ADHD and Autism are not limitations. But rather aspects of a diverse and multifaceted human experience. I have extensive training in identifying masking in girls and women with ADHD and Autism who get undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

ADHD & Autism Assessment Process

The ADHD & Autism Evaluation assesses sensory processing, social-emotional skills, memory, learning, language, communication, neurodevelopment, cognition, and adaptive behavior. The assessment process is designed to evaluate various aspects of an individual's neurodevelopmental profile.

• Sensory Processing: involves how the brain receives and interprets sensory information from the environment.

• Social-Emotional Assessment: focuses on understanding the individual's emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, and social interactions.

• Memory Evaluation: examines the capacity and efficiency of the individual's memory functions. Including short-term and long-term memory processes.

• Learning Assessment: investigates the individual's ability to acquire and retain new information across different domains.

• Language Evaluation: assesses the individual's linguistic abilities, including comprehension, expression, and pragmatics.

• Communication Assessment: examines the individual's communication skills, encompassing both verbal and nonverbal communication modalities.

The Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluation involves assessing various aspects of brain development and functioning. Including motor skills, executive functions, and attentional capacities. The cognition assessment explores the individual's cognitive abilities. Such as reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Finally, the adaptive behavior assessment evaluates the individual's ability to effectively function in everyday life situations. Including activities of daily living, social participation, and independent functioning.

I understand that everyone is unique and the assessments used during the Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluations are personalized. Some of the screeners/assessments that may be used during the ADHD & Autism Evaluation are: 

• Childhood Autism Rating Scale Second Edition (CARS-2)

• Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

• Brown Executive Function/Attention Scales (Brown EF/A Scales)

• Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS)

• Sensory Profile

• Delis-Rating of Executive Functions (D-REF)

• The Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-3rd Edition

• Conners 4th Edition (Conners 4)

• Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3)

• RCADS (Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale)

• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BDI–2)

• Beck Depression Inventory (BAI)

• Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ'07)

• Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS-2)

• Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2)

• Clinical Assessment of Pragmatics (CAPs)

• A Language Processing Skills Assessment (TAPS-4)

• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test | Fourth Edition (WIAT-4)

• California Verbal Learning Test, Third Edition (CVLT-3)

• Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT) - Add on option and not included in the evaluation

My Unique Approach to ADHD & Autism Evaluations

My approach to ADHD and Autism evaluations is built on the foundation of personalized care and support. Unlike traditional evaluations that can often feel impersonal and clinical, my evaluations are designed to be a deeply personal and supportive journey. I believe that an evaluation should be more than just a clinical assessment; it should be a journey of self-discovery, understanding, and growth. Here’s how I make the ADHD & Autism evaluation process uniquely personal and supportive:

Safe and Comfortable Environment: Your Comfort is My Priority

I strive to create an environment that feels safe and welcoming. From the moment you walk into my office, I want you to feel at ease. The office space is designed to be comfortable and calming, and I am dedicated to making your experience as positive as possible.

Getting to Know You and Listening to Your Story

The evaluation process begins with an intake appointment where I take the time to get to know you. This is not just about gathering information, but about building a relationship. I want to understand your background, experiences, and what brings you to seek an evaluation. This initial meeting is a safe space where you can share your story, your concerns, and your goals. This meeting is conversational and designed to make you feel at ease. I encourage you to talk about your day-to-day life, your difficulties, and your successes.

Encouraging Expression: Your Feelings Matter

I understand that discussing ADHD or Autism can evoke a range of emotions.  I encourage you to express your feelings openly, whether it’s anxiety, relief, confusion, or hope. I am here to help you process these emotions. By validating your feelings and experiences, I aim to create a space where you feel heard and understood.

Customized Assessments: Tailored to Your Needs

The Comprehensive ADHD & Autism evaluation uses a combination of standardized tests and assessments. I carefully select tools and methods that are most relevant to your specific situation. Whether it's assessing cognition, communication, sensory processing, or social-emotional, each component is chosen to provide a comprehensive picture of your strengths and difficulties. This tailored approach ensures that that I address your unique needs and concerns.

Collaborative Approach: Working Together

I believe that the best outcomes are achieved through collaboration. I work closely with you, and if appropriate, with your family members, educators, or other professionals involved in your care. This collaborative approach ensures that I gather a wide range of perspectives and insights, enriching my understanding of your unique situation.

Holistic Perspective: Looking at the Whole You

The ADHD & Autism evaluation process considers not just your symptoms, but your whole self. I look at how symptoms may impacts your life in various domains, including school, work, relationships, and personal well-being. This holistic perspective helps us to understand how different aspects of your life intersect and influence each other, leading to a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation.

Ongoing Communication: Keeping You Informed

Throughout the evaluation process, I maintain open lines of communication. I provide regular updates and check-ins to ensure you are comfortable and informed about each step. If at any point you have questions or feel uncertain, I am here to support you. My goal is to make you feel like an active participant in your evaluation, rather than a passive recipient.

Comprehensive Feedback Session

The feedback session is a cornerstone of the ADHD & Autism evaluation process. Once the assessments are complete, I don't just hand you a report and send you on your way. Instead, I sit down with you to go over the results in detail. This session is an interactive discussion where I explain the findings, helping you to fully understand your strengths and vulnerabilities.

I recognize that receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, and my goal is to provide you with the support you need to process this information. During the feedback session, I take the time to answer all your questions and address any concerns you might have. We explore what the diagnosis means for you personally and discuss practical steps you can take moving forward.

The ADHD & Autism evaluation process is designed not just to diagnose, but to empower. By understanding your unique profile of strengths and vulnerabilities, I can help you and your loved ones create a supportive environment that fosters growth and well-being. Whether it’s through therapy, coaching, or connecting you with community resources, I am committed to supporting you every step of the way.

I believe that understanding ADHD and Autism is a journey, and I am honored to be a part of yours. The ADHD & Autism Evaluation is more than just a diagnosis; it is the beginning of a personalized path towards greater self-awareness and fulfillment.

If you're ready to take the first step on this journey, request an appointment today!

ADHD & Autism Evaluation Process and Fees

• First Appointment: Intake. If the evaluation is for a child, the intake takes place with the parent.

• Second Appointment: Testing with child/adolescent/adult

• Third Appointment: Testing with child/adolescent/adult

• Fourth Appointment: Feedback appointment

• FEE for Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluation (includes 15-20 page comprehensive report with recommendations): $3,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

• FEE for Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluation (includes diagnosis on True Reflections Mental Health Services letterhead - No report): $2,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

• FEE for ADHD Evaluation (includes 15-20 page comprehensive report with recommendations): $2,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

• FEE for ADHD Evaluation (includes diagnosis on True Reflections Mental Health Services letterhead - No report): $1,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

• FEE for Autism Evaluation (includes 15 - 20 page comprehensive report with recommendations): $2,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

• FEE for Autism Evaluation (includes diagnosis on True Reflections Mental Health Services letterhead - No report) $1,600 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment) *Additional $350 for Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)

If you or a loved one are seeking a comprehensive evaluation for ADHD or Autism, schedule an appointment now! I am here to support you on your journey towards understanding, acceptance, and empowerment.

Screening for Executive Function, Sensory Processing & Interoceptive Awareness

Executive Functioning Assessment

Assessing executive functioning and attention is crucial for identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses, diagnosing conditions such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and developing tailored intervention strategies.

I assess various domains including but not limited to:

• Activation: An individual's ability to initiate, organize, and sustain activities.

• Focus: An individual’s capacity to sustain attention and effort over time. Particularly in tasks that may be boring or challenging.

• Effort: An individual's ability to regulate alertness, sustain motivation, and modulate activity level.

• Emotion Regulation: An individual’s capacity to manage emotions effectively, particularly in stressful or emotionally charged situations.

• Memory: How effectively someone can recall and manipulate information in their mind.

• Action: An individual’s ability to manage and monitor actions effectively. Including planning, organization, and problem-solving skills.

• Sleep difficulties

• Social difficulties

• Impulsivity

The administration of the scales typically involves obtaining ratings from multiple informants who are familiar with the individual being assessed. This may include parents, teachers, caregivers, family members, or the individuals themselves. Depending on their age and developmental stage.

Sensory Processing Assessment

The Sensory Processing assessment provides a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s sensory processing patterns, preferences, and challenges across different sensory domains. It provides sights into how sensory processing impacts an individual's daily functioning, behavior, and participation in everyday activities.

The sensory processing assessment includes:

• Sensory Modulation: An individual's ability to regulate responses to sensory stimuli across different sensory modalities. This includes examining how individuals respond to sensory input in terms of their level of sensitivity or reactivity (hyperresponsiveness, hyporesponsiveness) and their ability to self-regulate.
  

• Sensory Overresponsivity: It focuses on identifying heightened sensitivity or negative reactions to sensory stimuli. Individuals who are overresponsive may exhibit avoidance behaviors or experience distress in response to certain sensory experiences, such as loud noises, bright lights, or certain textures.

• Sensory Underresponsivity: Sensory underresponsivity refers to a decreased sensitivity or awareness of sensory stimuli. Individuals with sensory underresponsivity may fail to notice sensory input or require more intense stimuli to elicit a response. This can impact their ability to engage with their environment and may lead to difficulties in processing and responding to sensory information.

• Sensory Seeking/Sensation Seeking: It assesses an individual's tendency to actively seek out sensory experiences. Some individuals may engage in sensory-seeking behaviors, such as seeking out opportunities for movement, tactile input, or auditory stimulation. Understanding sensory-seeking behaviors is crucial for designing appropriate interventions and providing sensory experiences that meet individuals' needs.

• Sensory Discrimination: It assesses an individual's ability to accurately interpret and differentiate between different sensory stimuli. This includes distinguishing between different textures, temperatures, tastes, sounds, and visual stimuli. Difficulties in sensory discrimination can impact various aspects of daily functioning, such as fine motor skills, social interactions, and academic performance.

• Sensory-Based Motor Skills: It assesses the relationship between sensory processing and motor skills development. It examines how sensory processing influences motor planning, coordination, and execution. Individuals may demonstrate challenges in motor skills development related to sensory processing difficulties, such as poor balance, coordination deficits, or difficulties with motor planning tasks.

• Emotional/Social Responses to Sensory Stimuli: The emotional and social aspects of sensory processing are also evaluated through the assessment. This includes examining how sensory experiences impact individuals' emotional regulation, social interactions, and overall well-being. Individuals may demonstrate emotional responses such as anxiety, frustration, or withdrawal in response to specific sensory stimuli.

• Sensory Environment: The assessment considers the individual's sensory environment, including their preferences and aversions to specific sensory stimuli in various settings (home, school, community). Understanding how the sensory environment influences an individual's behavior and participation can inform environmental modifications and accommodations to support their sensory needs.

Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness

The Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness provides insight into how individuals perceive and interpret their internal bodily sensations, which play a crucial role in regulating emotional responses, self-awareness, and overall well-being.

Key Components of the Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness:

• Sensitivity to Bodily Signals: It evaluates an individual's sensitivity to various interoceptive signals, such as heartbeat, breathing, gastrointestinal sensations, and emotional states. This component assesses the individual's ability to detect and differentiate between different internal bodily sensations.

• Accuracy in Perceiving Bodily Signals: Accuracy refers to the individual's ability to perceive and interpret internal bodily sensations correctly. It assesses how accurately individuals perceive their internal bodily signals compared to objective measures, such as physiological recordings (e.g., heart rate monitoring). This component provides insights into the individual's level of accuracy in detecting and interpreting interoceptive cues.

• Awareness of Bodily Signals: Awareness encompasses the individual's conscious recognition and understanding of their internal bodily sensations. It evaluates the individual's awareness of interoceptive signals and their ability to identify and label specific bodily sensations. This component assesses the individual's level of insight into their bodily experiences and their ability to articulate and describe these sensations.

• Emotional Awareness: Emotions are closely linked to interoceptive processes, and the CAIA includes an assessment of emotional awareness in relation to bodily sensations. This component examines how individuals perceive and interpret bodily signals associated with emotional arousal, such as changes in heart rate, breathing patterns, and visceral sensations. It provides insights into the individual's ability to recognize and regulate emotional states based on interoceptive cues.

• Interoceptive Integration: Interoceptive integration refers to the individual's ability to integrate interoceptive signals with other sensory and cognitive processes. It assesses how individuals incorporate interoceptive information into their overall perception of self and their environment. This component provides insights into the integration of interoceptive signals with other sensory modalities, such as exteroception (perception of external stimuli) and proprioception (awareness of body position and movement).

Executive Function, Sensory Processing & Interoceptive Awareness Assessment Process and Fees

1. First Appointment: Intake. If the assessment is for a child, the intake takes place with the parent.

2. Second Appointment: Testing takes place with the child/adolescent/adult

3. Third Appointment: Feedback appointment with recommendations

FEE: $1,200 (A $500 deposit is required to schedule an initial intake appointment)

Embrace Your Differences With ADHD and Autism Assessments in Middlesex, NJ

Discover the vibrant spectrum of neurodiversity within yourself or your loved one by seeking ADHD or Autism evaluations at True Reflections Mental Health Services. Embrace the uniqueness that comes with these diagnoses, empowering individuals to navigate the world with confidence and understanding. Let's celebrate the diversity of minds and ensure everyone receives the support they need to thrive. Follow these three simple steps to get started:

1. Request an appointment to get scheduled

2. Begin meeting with a skilled neurodivergent affirming therapist

3. Embrace who you are!

Other Services Offered at True Reflections

At True Reflections Mental Health Services, I’m here to help you find your true self and help you overcome anything with therapy. So in addition to providing ADHD and Autism Assessments, I also offer Neurofeedback Therapy, Autism and Anxiety Therapy, ADHD and Anxiety Therapy, Trauma Therapy for ADHD and Autism, Affirming Therapy for those with ADHD, Affirming Therapy for those with Autism, and Prenatal and Postpartum Therapy. I also offer different treatment modalities such as Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, EMDR Therapy, DBT Therapy, and more. My services are offered in both Middlesex, NJ as well as online in the state of New Jersey. Check out my blog for more topics!