Autism Testing & Evaluations for Women in Portland and Washington State
Understanding Your Neurodivergent Journey Through Comprehensive Autism Assessment
If you're reading this, you might be wondering whether you're autistic. Maybe your child was recently diagnosed, and suddenly your own experiences make sense in a new light. Perhaps you're navigating perimenopause and noticing that executive functioning challenges have become impossible to mask. Or you've spent decades perfecting the art of blending in, achieving success at the cost of exhaustion and authenticity.
I understand because I've walked this path myself. As a neurodivergent mom with a doctorate in psychology, I bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to autism testing and evaluations. My practice focuses specifically on supporting women and AFAB individuals who are seeking answers about their neurotype, particularly those who have been high-achieving maskers throughout their lives.
What Makes Adult Autism Testing Different
Traditional autism assessments were developed primarily through research on young, white males. This means that many autistic women, AFAB individuals, and those from diverse backgrounds have been overlooked by conventional diagnostic approaches. The way autism presents in women often looks different – we've learned to camouflage our traits, develop elaborate social scripts, and push through sensory overwhelm until we can't anymore.
My approach to autism testing recognizes these differences. I understand that your autism might look like:
Exhaustion from maintaining neurotypical expectations
Feeling like you're constantly performing rather than being yourself
Struggling with changes in routine while appearing flexible to others
Having intense interests that you've learned to downplay
Experiencing sensory sensitivities that you've masked for years
Feeling deeply connected to animals or nature while finding human connection challenging
Maintaining friendships through careful study of social rules rather than intuition
My Comprehensive Autism Evaluation Process
When you choose to pursue autism testing with me, you're not just getting a diagnosis – you're gaining understanding about how your brain works and validation for experiences you may have questioned your entire life.
Initial Consultation
Before we begin the formal evaluation process, I offer a free 15-minute consultation. This gives us the opportunity to discuss your specific concerns, questions about the assessment process, and whether my approach aligns with what you're seeking. This conversation helps ensure that autism testing is the right next step for you.
The Assessment Journey
My autism evaluations are thorough and neurodivergent-affirming. The process typically involves:
Clinical Interview: We'll explore your developmental history, current experiences, and the specific ways you navigate the world. I'm particularly interested in understanding your masking strategies, sensory experiences, and how you process information and emotions. This isn't about proving you're "autistic enough" – it's about understanding your unique neurodivergent profile.
Standardized Assessment Tools: I utilize evidence-based assessment instruments that have been validated for adult populations. However, I interpret these tools through a lens that recognizes how autism presents differently in women and AFAB individuals who have developed sophisticated masking strategies.
Observational Assessment: Throughout our interactions, I pay attention to communication patterns, processing styles, and other characteristics that might indicate autism. This observation happens naturally within our conversations – you won't feel like you're being scrutinized or judged.
Developmental and Life History: We'll review your experiences from childhood through the present, looking for patterns that align with autism. Many late-diagnosed women report that their autism became more apparent during major life transitions like pregnancy, parenting, career changes, or perimenopause.
Sensory and Executive Function Exploration: Understanding your sensory profile and executive functioning patterns provides crucial insight into your daily experiences and support needs.
Who Benefits from Autism Testing
The women and AFAB individuals who seek autism evaluations with me often share similar experiences. You might recognize yourself in these patterns:
The High-Achieving Professional
You've excelled in your career, particularly in detail-oriented or systematic fields. Your colleagues see you as competent and reliable, but they don't see the exhaustion that comes from constantly monitoring your tone, body language, and social interactions. You might work in tech, healthcare, academia, or other fields where your pattern recognition and attention to detail are assets – until burnout makes masking impossible.
The Parent Seeking Answers
Your child's autism diagnosis opened your eyes to your own experiences. Suddenly, your childhood makes sense – the social struggles you attributed to being "shy" or "quirky," the meltdowns you hid from everyone, the feeling of being fundamentally different from your peers. Now you're juggling parenting, work, and the realization that you've been navigating life with an unrecognized disability.
The Perimenopausal Woman Facing New Challenges
Hormonal changes have made masking increasingly difficult. Executive dysfunction that you once managed through rigid systems and routines now feels overwhelming. You're questioning everything about your identity and wondering what you want from the second half of your life. Understanding your neurotype becomes crucial for navigating this transition with self-compassion.
Beyond Diagnosis: Integration and Identity
Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult can be transformative. Many of my clients describe it as finally having a map after navigating without directions their entire lives. The evaluation process I provide goes beyond simply determining whether you meet diagnostic criteria. I help you understand:
How your specific autistic traits manifest in your daily life
Which of your struggles are related to living in a neurotypical world versus personal challenges
Your unique strengths and how autism contributes to them
Strategies for self-advocacy and boundary-setting
Ways to unmask safely and build authentic connections
The Importance of Neurodivergent-Affirming Assessment
I approach autism testing from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. This means I don't view autism as something that needs to be fixed or hidden. Instead, I recognize it as a valid neurological difference that comes with both challenges and strengths. My evaluations focus on:
Understanding your authentic self beneath the mask
Identifying environmental factors that support or challenge you
Recognizing how intersecting identities (being queer, trans, BIPOC) influence your autistic experience
Validating the real challenges you face without pathologizing your existence
Celebrating the unique perspectives and abilities that come with autism
Supporting LGBTQ+ and Trans Individuals
As someone who specializes in supporting my LGBTQ+ community, I understand the unique considerations for queer and trans individuals seeking autism evaluation. Research shows that autistic people are more likely to be LGBTQ+, and many experience their gender and sexuality in ways that don't fit conventional narratives. My practice provides a safe, affirming space where all aspects of your identity are welcomed and understood.
Online Evaluations for Oregon and Washington
I provide all autism testing and evaluations through secure online sessions, making assessment accessible regardless of where you're located in Oregon or Washington State. Online evaluation offers several advantages:
Comfort of being in your own environment during assessment
No need to navigate unfamiliar sensory environments
Easier scheduling without commute time
Ability to take breaks in your own space when needed
Taking the Next Step
Deciding to pursue autism testing as an adult takes courage. You might worry about being dismissed, not being "autistic enough," or what a diagnosis might mean for your life. These concerns are valid and common. What I can tell you from both professional and personal experience is that understanding your neurotype – whatever the outcome of the evaluation – provides valuable self-knowledge.
If you're ready to explore whether you're autistic, or if you'd like to learn more about my evaluation process, I invite you to reach out. We can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your questions and determine whether autism testing with me feels like the right fit for your journey.
Schedule Your Autism Evaluation Consultation
Understanding your neurotype shouldn't feel like another performance. My autism testing and evaluation services provide a space where you can show up as yourself – without the mask, without the scripts, without the exhausting effort of appearing neurotypical. Whether you're seeking diagnosis for self-understanding, workplace accommodations, or simply validation of your experiences, I'm here to support your journey.
Contact me today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward understanding your authentic neurodivergent self. Together, we can explore what autism means for you and how this knowledge can support you in creating a life that honors your neurological differences rather than hiding them.