What is a Comprehensive ADHD Assessment and How Might One Help You?

If you’re online, you might see people posting, “I think I might have ADHD.” You might also have seen a TikTok or been struggling with symptoms that make you think, “Wait. . .do I actually have ADHD?”

Wondering how you’d figure out if you have ADHD? The next step is what’s called an ADHD assessment. The word “assessment” might sound a little scary or intimidating– it’s a word often used with judgement or stressful experiences like school tests. Rest assured, an ADHD evaluation at Self Made Psychology is a compassion-driven experience where clinicians with real, lived experience of neurodivergence help you explore if you have ADHD in a safe, supportive way.

What Happens During an ADHD Assessment? 

At Self Made Psychology, our ADHD assessments involve a three-step process: 1) intake, 2) assessment and evaluation, and 3) feedback. 

ADHD Assessment Intake Process

During the intake process, you’ll speak with one of our highly-trained staff members to gather basic information, discuss the symptoms or events that are leading you to consider an assessment, and discuss payment plans or payment options, such as using your insurance for an ADHD assessment. 

ADHD Assessment and Evaluation Appointments

The ADHD assessment process at Self Made Psychology begins with a clinical interview conducted by one of our clinicians trained in ADHD evaluations. The interview includes discussing relevant information that helps our clinicians get a full picture of your history: medical history, academic experiences, any mental health concerns, and any important background information. You’ll also discuss how ADHD symptoms show up in your life and in which areas of your life–such as at work, school, or in your relationships. 

During both evaluations sessions, you will also complete multiple self-report questionnaires. “Self-report” means you fill it out on your own based on how you observe your experience. These questionnaires help the clinician understand how symptoms are showing up for you. This information is gathered during two one-hour sessions scheduled about a week apart. 

Once the interviews and self-report questionnaires are complete, your evaluating clinician will pull together all of the information you provided during your assessment sessions and determine whether or not you meet criteria for ADHD, as well as any other presenting mental health concerns. Results from your interviews will be discussed during a comprehensive feedback session shortly after, as described below.  

The ADHD Assessment Feedback Session

About two weeks after your assessment sessions, you will meet with the clinician to review the results. During your ADHD assessment feedback session, the clinician and you will look at the outcomes of your questionnaires and interview process. The feedback session also looks at whether or not there are other factors or mental health-related symptoms that are impacting your symptoms and challenges. For example, some elements of anxiety or depression can appear very similar to ADHD or can amplify the impact of underlying ADHD symptoms. These distinctions are very important for helping people identify and address their challenges, especially related to medication or therapeutic interventions, as well as academic accommodations.

The ADHD feedback session is also a time to learn about the unique features of how ADHD impacts one’s brain and nervous system around topics like motivation, organization, and any specific areas you might want help in. Techniques for supporting yourself based on your individual needs will be discussed at length during this session. At Self Made Psychology, we provide a detailed list of resources, suggestions, and options to discuss with a doctor or mental health professional for further support. Importantly, we also provide the documentation needed if you decide to pursue medication for ADHD with a psychiatric medication prescriber. 

ADHD Evaluation Results: Comprehensive Reports or Diagnostic Letters

In addition to a comprehensive feedback session to discuss your ADHD diagnosis, the clinicians at Self Made Psychology also offer flexible options to confirm the results of your assessment depending on your individual needs. For folks who simply want a letter stating their diagnosis, we provide a single page diagnostic letter confirming the dates of your ADHD evaluation, the methods used to complete the assessment (e.g., clinical interview and self-report questionnaires) and the diagnostic outcomes (which may include but are not limited to ADHD). For folks who want a more in-depth, comprehensive report that outlines their challenges and symptoms, we also provide comprehensive written reports that incorporate all of the information gathered during the assessment process. This includes your background history, symptoms, areas of difficulty, and a thorough overview of your executive functioning challenges. The comprehensive report also provides more in-depth recommendations for addressing ADHD related symptoms that are specific to your areas of difficulty. 

Why get your ADHD assessment at Self Made Psychology?

Self Made Psychology is a practice run by, and for, LGBTQ2IA+ and neurodivergent people. That means we have experienced an ADHD or neurodivergent diagnosis ourselves, and we have compassion and a deep understanding of all the feelings and questions this process can bring up. Plus, the recommendations you get from your assessment aren’t scientific paperwork but clear, easy-to-read reports tailored to your specific experiences. 

On top of that, there are no waitlists, which helps you move through the process on your timeline. We accept Aetna insurance and also have payment plans or sliding scale options for out-of-pocket ADHD assessments, too. Self Made Psychology offers ADHD assessments in Manhattan and Brooklyn, or virtually.