AUTISM SPECTRUM AND "ASPERGER'S" IN TEENS AND ADULTS -

Are you a teen or adult who is wondering if you might be on the spectrum/Autistic? You have come to the right place. I have been certified in evidence-based gold standard assessment tools to evaluate for a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (also previously known as “Asperger’s Disorder” or “High Functioning Autism”).

Are you a teen or adult woman who wonders if you have been overlooked or misdiagnosed? Rest assured that I am familiar with how females on the autism spectrum/Autistic women often present differently than males, are effective in many situations at “masking,” and thus are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and/or under-diagnosed. I have worked with adults on the autism spectrum since 2009 professionally, and throughout my life personally. I also teach about Autism in adults to other mental health providers, for continuing education credits.

Read Dr. Emily’s blog about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I have the knowledge and experience to help you sort through whether or not you might be on the spectrum and/or have other difficulties, such as Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/”ADD”), interpersonal patterns, or other factors causing your concerns.

Please note that any assigned diagnoses are based on current DSM 5 clinical criteria, and results may or may not affirm one’s own self-diagnosis.

No matter what the results are, I will help you navigate resources and get the help you need.

Click here to read more about Adults with Autism /Autistic Adults.

Your comprehensive evaluation will consist of an initial interview (approximately 1 hour long) in which I hear your concerns and ask you questions about your history. We will then schedule a second appointment that works for your schedule. This second appointment will be approximately 3-4 hours long, and will be individualized according to your specific needs. Measures that might be included:

Cognitive measures of intellectual abilities (Here, I am gathering information about how you approach different tasks, as well as knowledge about strengths and areas of growth)
Standardized semi-structured interviews for Autism such as the ADOS-2 and MIGDAS-2.
A personalized set of questionnaires, depending on your individual needs. The questionnaires will give us information about how your personality is similar and how it is different from others. These measures will also help us determine whether your symptoms reflect Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or another diagnosis (es), as well as provide information that is used to form specific recommendations for your treatment.
Collateral information from those who you give permission to share with me. Ideally, I will talk with a parent or other family member who is familiar with your developmental history. I will ask them portions of the ADI-2, another gold-standard Autism assessment tool. You might also want me to speak with a spouse or friend who knows you well.

After I review your results, I will discuss them with you in a detailed feedback session (approximately 1 hour long). You will receive a comprehensive written report with detailed and concrete treatment recommendations and resources. I will make every effort to answer all your questions, and if more questions arise later after our session, I am always happy to hear from you and talk with you more.

Looking for Resources for Autism? See additional resources, and Learn more about our Social Skills Groups here.

REQUEST A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION WITH DR. EMILY-CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE REFERRAL FORM

What is a Psychological Evaluation?

What is a psychological evaluation?

A psychological evaluation is the collection and integration of information on an individual’s functioning, to inform treatment planning. It includes evidence-based assessment measures (interviews, questionnaires, and tests) that are carefully chosen to answer your specific questions and concerns. It is a therapeutic intervention in that it provides in-depth data that helps you and your treatment team, because you deserve the most efficient, effective, and compassionate care.
During a psychological evaluation, you will meet with Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, to discuss areas of your life that are puzzling or troubling to you.
Dr. Emily will ask you questions about you and your concerns and ask you to complete tasks and questionnaires designed to help you, and help your treatment providers provide you with the best care.
A psychological evaluation allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment, which saves on overall costs for mental health services.

What Ages do you work with?

What Types of Evaluations do you do?

Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D. has specialized experience in psychological evaluations since 2009 including:
Autism Spectrum Disorder in Teenagers and Adults(“Asperger’s”), using standardized semi-structured interviews for Autism such as the ADOS-2 and MIGDAS-2.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), using objective measures of sustained attention and effort
Learning Disorders in Reading, Writing, and Math
College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders
Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other effects of trauma
Diagnostic Clarity
Strengths-Based Treatment Recommendations
Anxiety, Mood, and Thought Disorders
Behavioral Concerns
Personality/Interpersonal Patterns
Intellectual Ability/IQ Testing
Independent Living Skills
Guardianship
Bariatric Pre-Surgical Evaluations
Pain Stimulator Pre-Surgical Evaluations
Transplant Pre-Surgical Evaluations
Emotional Support Animal Letters

How will an Evaluation Help Me?

Are you a teen or adult who wonders about the possibility of Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or another diagnosis(es)? I do comprehensive psychological evaluations with the best evidence-based measures in order to differentiate diagnosis, so that you can be confident in your results and treatment recommendations, including College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders.
While clarifying diagnosis and making treatment recommendations is certainly a large part of what I do, I also try to help you discover and restore your true identity. I focus on “what’s right” with you, and help uncover strengths that you may not have realized were strengths, or that may have been dormant and hidden for a long time. People who meet with me find that I make this process both comfortable and rewarding.
Learn what is right; heal what is left When I ask people what their goals are, I often hear, “I want to know what’s wrong with me.” While I will help you learn more about your struggles and how to heal them, I also emphasize learning what is “right” with you. I help you discover your strengths in the midst of the struggle. I take my time to really get to know you and understand how you see yourself, and the use of standardized assessment tools ensures that you are getting the most accurate information about you and the diagnosis(es) or struggles you have.
Do you want to know more about your personality or why you do what you do? Maybe there is something that you have been struggling with for a long time, and you feel “stuck” and hopeless about making progress. I have a lot of experience helping people get “unstuck” from a variety of complex problems, with my psychological evaluation process. In this process, I take my time with you to really get to know you and hear you talk about yourself. I believe that people know themselves better than they are often given credit for, and each and every individual deserves to be really listened to and heard.
With our evidence-based and collaborative psychological evaluations, you learn a lot about yourself and you walk away with a tangible product that you can review every time you need a bit of hope or encouragement-when you complete an evaluation with me, I provide you with a comprehensive and strengths-focused written report with detailed and practical recommendations for treatment and services. I also discuss all the results with you and answer your questions in a detailed feedback session. Evaluation is an intervention that creates an opportunity for a detailed dialogue and objective understanding of your concerns and treatment goals.

How will an Evaluation Help my Teenager?

An evaluation can help us better understand the reasons why your teen may be having problems with mood, learning, and/or behavior.
An evaluation provides clarity on any relevant diagnosis(es) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or other diagnosis(es), and offers detailed and thorough treatment recommendations, including College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders.
An evaluation can also serve as a bridge between your teenager and the school and/or community support services that they may need.
A thorough evaluation of cognitive and social-emotional domains helps you understand your teenager better and make more informed decisions about their future.
An evaluation provides a comprehensive, holistic understanding of your teenager’s strengths and challenges or areas of needed growth.
An evaluation is an investment in your teen’s future.

How will an Evaluation Help my Counselor?

Completing a psychological evaluation accelerates your therapy progress. Psychological evaluations help you hit the ground running by identifying treatment goals, and focusing in on the most pressing issues with a more in-depth understanding of the specific symptoms and struggles you are experiencing.
Each evaluation report contains thorough data and summaries of all the tests, diagnosis(es), and specific and practical treatment recommendations and resources. An evaluation provides clarity on any relevant diagnosis(es) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or other diagnosis(es), and offers detailed and thorough treatment recommendations, including College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders.
In addition, psychological evaluations help you become more aware of one of your most powerful inner resources-your strengths. Every person has a purpose. Every person has a message. Every person has a unique set of strengths. It is my life’s passion to help you discover or re-discover who you really are. You are NOT your symptoms, diagnosis, or struggle. Your strengths are an untapped resource and major clue into who you are. It is my pleasure and honor to help empower you to discover these strengths, which will help you in current and future struggles. Psychological Evaluations help you and your counselor build on your strengths.
In addition, many people find that the process of participating in a psychological evaluation fosters increased insight, as the questions you are asked naturally lead to self-reflection and raise awareness of patterns in thinking and relationships.

What is the Process like?

A psychological evaluation with Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D. takes place in three sessions:

In the first session, you will meet with Dr. Emily for about an hour so that she can learn more about you and your history, understand what problems or concerns you are currently experiencing, and learn about your goals for the evaluation. You are encouraged to reflect on areas of your life that are puzzling or troubling to you.
In the second session, you will meet with Dr. Emily again for anywhere from 2-4 hours to answer some more specific questions tailored to your individual needs. You will likely complete some standardized, evidence-based questionnaires, which will help you learn more about your personality, any possible diagnosis, and specific recommendations to help you, your counselor, and your other treatment providers. Depending on your goals, you might also be asked to participate in some tasks that help us learn more about your strengths as well as areas where you might need help. You are not expected to answer everything correctly or to excel at everything, there is no way to “fail” a psych eval, and so you are simply asked to do the best you can. Every effort is made to ensure your comfort throughout the evaluation (e.g. snack breaks and opportunities to ask questions, etc.), and most people find that the time goes by surprisingly fast.
After Dr. Emily reviews all the data, a comprehensive report is written and provided to you in the third session, a feedback session (about an hour) in which you have the opportunity to review all the results and recommendations and ask questions about the report, which is yours to keep. Dr. Emily emphasizes a collaborative, humanistic approach to evaluation that highlights your strengths and promotes resilience.

How Long will it take?

During the testing (second) session, you will meet with Dr. Emily for anywhere from 2-4 hours to answer specific questions tailored to your individual needs. Knowledge is power, and psychological evaluations help us gain knowledge about the whole person to a depth that can’t be achieved in a one-hour counseling session. The standardized, evidence-based assessment measures (questionnaires and tasks) are some of the most objective and scientific tools that we have in the mental health field. These measures provide you with valuable information about yourself.
Your health is important, and deciding on the type of counseling or medications or other treatment is a big decision. It is wise to gather as much data and information as possible before making any major decision. Psychological Evaluations help you gather data to make the most informed decisions about your mental health treatment.
Remember, the time goes by quickly, most people find the process interesting and comfortable, and I sure do let you take breaks!
After I have compiled all the data, I will discuss all the results and recommendations with you, and give you a copy of your detailed evaluation report.

What do you think about Personality Disorders?

It is not uncommon for individuals with a trauma history to develop ways of relating to themselves and other people that reflect wounds. Trauma can wound us in many ways; for example, in one evidence-based treatment for trauma, Cognitive Processing Therapy, we address how trauma has affected the ability to trust, feel safe, have a sense of power or control, be intimate or close with others, and hold people (including ourselves) in high esteem or regard. Rather than judging interpersonal patterns as a “disordered personality,” I prefer to think of these patterns as a complex reaction to trauma.
In general, diagnostic labels are useful when they are used correctly; that is, to communicate a lot of information in a succinct manner that facilitates treatment. Beyond that, they are just a term that should not ever be used in a manner that judges, causes shame, or encourages stigma.
Interested readers might also take note that Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., the psychologist who developed the treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, acknowledged that she herself has had this diagnosis. This should give all those who have received such a label hope that no diagnosis, no matter how stigmatizing its label appears to be, need prevent you or limit you in any way from living into your full potential. After all, Dr. Linehan is a very successful psychologist and professor who has helped a great deal of people.

Do you take Insurance?

Do you take insurance?

Check with your individual provider here, as some of our providers may be in network with insurance.
In order to provide you with the highest quality care, Dr. Emily and her supervisees are NOT in network with insurance. You may be able to submit to insurance for reimbursement under your out of network coverage. Upon request, Dr. Emily will provide a super bill showing the services invoiced. Dr. Emily and her
supervisees do not bill insurance directly, nor do we communicate with insurance on your behalf. You might find assistance with resources such as the Missouri insurance commissioner or www.reimbursify.com. Please verify with your insurance any out of network coverage you may have if you plan to submit to insurance.
Since Dr. Emily does not directly bill health insurance plans, payment for services is required in order to reserve an appointment. Please note that your psychological services are tax deductible when paying out-of-pocket.
Insurance companies often work better with you directly, as they want to keep your business, than they do with us healthcare providers. Your insurance company is invested in keeping you happy, and therefore is likely to reimburse you in a shorter amount of time compared to provider reimbursement schedules.
Here is information for you to ask your insurance company for reimbursement: When asking your insurance carrier about the possibility of getting reimbursed for your psychological services, ask about these specific “CPT codes” that are used for psychological services: 90791 (initial interview), 96136 (1st 30 minutes of testing/scoring), 96137 (each additional 30 min. testing/scoring)96130 (first hour interpretation/report-writing), 96131 (each additional hour interpretation/report-writing), 90837 (feedback/therapy session), and 90853 for group therapy.
I am not contracted with insurance companies because, particularly when it comes to psychological evaluations, I believe that treatment works best when you and I make the decisions about your care in a way that does not include unnecessary restrictions from a third-party insurance company. This is because when providers contract with insurance companies, insurance companies often delay the start of treatment, limit the amount or type of treatment that can be provided, require certain mental health diagnoses (and reject to reimburse certain diagnoses), and require the release of your private information. The insurance company decides what is “medically necessary,” what tests I can and cannot use, how much time I spend with you, and how much time I spend compiling your evaluation report.
In the interest of providing you with the most efficient and highest quality care, I am not on insurance panels. This means that you get scheduled with me very quickly, due to the treatment delays and hassles caused by health insurance companies. The unreasonably low reimbursement rates that providers who contract with insurance companies are forced to accept means seeing more clients within a shorter amount of time, thus providing less quality care. At Columbia Psychology Healing Center LLC, we believe in efficient and quality care.

What are your Payment Policies and Fees?

What are your payment policies and fees?

Read more about our individual providers’ policies and fees here.
For Dr. Emily and her supervisees, the scheduling portal is set up so that you can simply pay with a credit card to reserve your appointments. Please keep in mind that no-shows or late cancellations (less than 24 hours) may not be fully refunded. Dr. Emily does understand that life happens, and will make every effort to accommodate you and reschedule.
Initial interview (1^st session) $250
Testing (2^ndsession) $2000 (most testing is 3-4 hours, and an additional 7-10 hours is spent scoring/interpreting tests, compiling collateral information, reviewing any available records, gathering treatment recommendations/resources, and writing the report. You are not being charged for the cost of the testing materials, which are significant.) Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson or her postdoc personally administers, scores, and interprets all tests. NO psychometrists are utilized. Learning Disorder Evaluations are $2500 as they require additional testing and report-writing time.
Feedback (3^rdsession) $250
Bariatric, pain, or transplant Evaluations take place in one session $600
Individual counseling sessions $200
Group counseling sessions $40
Individual counseling sessions with Dr. Emily’s PLPC Interns are $100

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AUTISM SPECTRUM AND “ASPERGER’S” IN TEENS AND ADULTS

MISSION STATEMENT/WHO WE ARE

CONTACT US

Office Hours

Non-Discrimination Statement