Adult Autism Assessment in Tennessee
Neurodivergent-affirming autism assessments for high-masking and late-identified adults. Available virtually throughout Tennessee and in-person in Murfreesboro.
Wondering If You Might Be Autistic?
Many adults seeking an autism assessment have spent years quietly carrying something they couldn't quite name.
You may have spent much of your life:
-
Feeling different from others without being able to explain why
-
Masking - learning to mirror, adapt, and perform in ways that left you exhausted
-
Overanalyzing social interactions long after they were over
-
Struggling with sensory overwhelm, emotional intensity, or transitions
-
Working harder than everyone around you just to keep up
-
Feeling like you're always slightly out of step with the world
You may have found your way to this page through burnout, through a child's diagnosis, through a late-night scroll through neurodivergent content that felt uncomfortably familiar, or through years of therapy that helped - but never quite explained the deeper pattern.
However you got here, you're in the right place.
Autism Can Look Different in Adults
Autism in adults, especially those who were missed in childhood, often looks nothing like the stereotypes. Many adults go unidentified for decades because their presentation didn't match what clinicians, teachers, or parents were looking for.
Autism is frequently missed or misidentified in:
-
Women and gender-diverse individuals
-
High-masking and socially camouflaging adults
-
Highly verbal or intellectually strong adults
-
Adults with co-occurring anxiety, depression, or trauma histories
-
Anyone who learned early to hide, adapt, or perform neurotypicality
Being missed doesn't mean you weren't autistic. It often means the people around you were looking for the wrong things.
My Approach to Adult Autism Assessment
Assessments can feel clinical, transactional, and detached. This process is different.
I use the MIGDAS-2 (Monteiro Interview Guide for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum) - a conversational, narrative-based instrument specifically designed to explore the full complexity of the autistic experience, including presentations that are routinely missed by traditional checklists.
What this looks like in practice:
-
A genuine conversation, not an interrogation or a performance test
-
Questions about your actual lived experience -
-
your history, your patterns, your inner world
-
Sensory and communication needs accommodated throughout
-
No "gotcha" moments or trick questions
-
A collaborative exploration, not a verdict being handed down
My goal is to understand how your mind and nervous system actually work - and give you something useful and honest at the end.
What the Autism Assessment Process Includes
Assessment Options
Screening Session
$170 A single 50-minute session to explore your history and questions related to autism. You'll leave with clarity on whether a more in-depth assessment would be helpful.
Focused Therapeutic Assessment
$510 + $75 deposit An interview-based process for those who have done prior self-reflection and want professional collaboration and validation. Two assessment sessions plus one feedback session, intake forms, screenings, and optional family input.
Comprehensive Therapeutic Assessment
$850 + $150 deposit A thorough five-session process using the MIGDAS-2. Four assessment sessions plus one feedback session, intake forms, screenings, and optional family input.
Optional add-ons for any assessment:
Written summary ($170), Additional feedback sessions ($170 each), Accommodations letter session ($200)
What Happens After the Assessment?
Your assessment includes a feedback session where we review results together, discuss what they mean for your daily life, and explore next steps. You'll receive personalized recommendations and a resource list.
If you'd like to continue working together in therapy following the assessment, we can discuss that , or I can provide a referral if needed. Many clients find that an assessment opens up new territory that they want to explore more deeply in IFS therapy.
Who This Assessment Is For
This may be a good fit if you are:
-
An adult in Tennessee questioning whether you might be autistic
-
Self-identified and seeking professional clarity
-
High-masking and unsure whether your presentation will be "enough" to be taken seriously
-
Seeking a second opinion
-
Simply curious and wanting to understand yourself more fully
You do not need to be certain. You do not need to present a particular way. You just need to want to understand yourself better.
Is It Also ADHD?
Autism and ADHD co-occur frequently - research suggests that somewhere between 40 and 70 percent of autistic people also have ADHD, and the overlap between the two is significant enough that one is often mistaken for the other.
If you're exploring autism, you may find yourself wondering whether ADHD is also part of your picture. The two can look similar on the surface - both can involve difficulty with transitions, emotional intensity, sensory sensitivity, and a nervous system that doesn't always cooperate with daily demands. But they also interact in specific ways that are worth understanding.
Common signs that ADHD may also be present alongside autism:
-
Difficulty sustaining attention even on topics you care deeply about
-
Inconsistent energy and motivation that feels outside your control
-
Impulsivity that feels distinct from sensory overwhelm or shutdown
-
Time blindness - a persistent, frustrating disconnect from how long things take
-
Starting things with intensity and losing momentum before finishing
If you suspect both may be relevant to your experience, I offer a combined autism and ADHD assessment. We can also explore this during your consultation if you're unsure where to start.