Autism Diagnostic Program

Our providers take a strengths based perspective in exploring you or your child’s specific experience in the world and how it may or may not align with the Autistic profile. We look at 3 main aspects of thinking: Language & Communication, Social Relationships & Emotional Responses, and Sensory Use & Interests. We focus on identifying your current strengths, your internal experience, and potential areas of support. We are a neurodiverse team, providing neuroaffirming care, and welcoming to all race, religious belief systems, ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexuality.

Who might be a good candidate for an Autism Assessment?

If you or your child are struggling with creating and maintaining social relationships, understanding social nuances or non verbal cues.
If you have specific sensory interests or avoidances or have difficulty with feeling understood by others.
If you have received previous mental health diagnoses, but treatment has never seemed to get to the “root” problem.
Other family members have been diagnosed with ASD.

Available Diagnostic Options:

Adult or Child Standard Diagnostic process

This option includes 4 appointments including a specific Autism assessment such as the MIGDAS-2 or the ADOS-2 and a final session to review diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

Assessments can be a combination of in person and telehealth options, but Autism specific assessments for children are required to be in person at our Northfield location.

Request An Autism Assessment

What To Expect from an Autism Assessment

Standard Diagnostic Process

Our standard diagnostic is 4 appointments with 2 different providers. All 4 appointments will be scheduled at the same time and may range from 1 hour to 90 minutes in length. In any of these appointments, you are welcome to bring family or friends with you to provide additional information or support.

The first appointment will include a review of you or your child’s personal history including known developmental milestones, quality of relationships, experience at school or work, and any current concerns or symptoms.

The second appointment will dive deeper into you or your child’s sensory needs, social relationships, and individual interests. The third appointment will include an Autism specific assessment like the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum (MIGDAS-2) or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and last a minimum of 90 minutes.

Your fourth appointment will review the results of the standard assessment and provide you with some recommendations for specific supports. Our providers are holistic mental health practitioners and will assess if you meet criteria for all diagnoses in the DSM-5 TR, not just for Autism. You may be asked about non autism specific symptoms depending on what the clinician notices in your appointments.

In this process, assessments for children will include the MIGDAS-2 or the ADOS-2, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) may also be used depending on age.

Get Started