*** DUE TO A FULL CASELOAD, WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO TAKE NEW AUTISM / ASD ASSESSMENTS***
THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.
Autism / ASD Assessment
Autism Testing for Adults and Adolescents (19y - 35y) in Halifax,
Nova Scotia
At Green Leaf Psychological, we are committed to offering services that are collaborative, respectful, and affirming of neurodiversity. In our adult autism assessments, we work closely with our clients to assist in their self-discovery, and to ensure that they feel comfortable and supported throughout the process.
We use a comprehensive approach that includes standardized interviews, questionnaires, and observations, so that we may provide each client with a thorough evaluation of their unique strengths, challenges, and needs. Our goal is to produce assessment results and recommendations that will support self-understanding, inform goal-setting, and facilitate access to helpful resources and accommodations.
What are Autism and ASD? Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that consists of characteristic differences in how people perceive and process information, communicate, and interact, across the lifespan.
Autism encompasses many characteristics (e.g., sensory hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity, intense or highly focused interests), and each autistic person will experience a unique combination of characteristics that will evolve over the course of their lifetime. Characteristics will also vary in degree, from person to person, and across the lifespan. Autism is often referred to as a spectrum condition to reflect the diversity in how it presents.
Not all autistic people will require supports and services at every stage of life, and needs will vary across life domains and contexts.
Autism is not a disease, and it is not degenerative; in fact, autism is associated with a wide range of strengths and abilities, and it is now recognized as being an asset to many individuals and to society. Increasingly, autism is understood as a natural and valuable outcome of neurodiversity, (i.e., human brain variability), and differences are not seen as inherent deficits. Rather, differences may result in disability due to a mismatch between the needs and abilities of autistic individuals and environments that were designed for non-autistic people.
Why Participate in an ASD Assessment? When differences associated with autism are affecting someone's quality of life, assessment may be a reasonable option. An autism diagnosis can help individuals and their social networks to understand their differences and respond with compassion, while facilitating self-advocacy and access to professional support and academic/occupational accommodation.
Adult ASD Screening Questions If you are thinking about initiating an ASD assessment with us, consider the degree to which you agree with each of the statements below, as a quick self-test:
1) I notice small sounds when others do not
2) I concentrate more on the small details, rather than the whole picture
3) I find it difficult to do more than one thing at once
4) If there is an interruption, I can't switch back to what I was doing very quickly
5) I find it difficult to ‘read between the lines' when someone is talking to me
6) I don't know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored
7) When I'm reading a story I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions
8) I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g. types of car, types of bird, types of train, types of plant, etc.)
9) I find it difficult to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
10) I find it difficult to work out people's intentions
If you agreed strongly with 6 or more of the above statements, research suggests that you may have autism. If you experience significant difficulties as a result of these characteristics, an ASD assessment may be warranted, particularly if the characteristics have persisted since you were a child.
Adult & Adolescent (18+) ASD Assessment at Green Leaf Psychological
Here at Green Leaf Psychological, we offer adult autism assessments that are based on best-practice standards in adult autism diagnosis. We prioritize creating a comfortable and supportive environment for our clients, and we encourage open communication throughout the assessment process.
Depending on your particular situation, a specialized adult autism assessment at Green Leaf Psychological in Halifax may involve:
A detailed psycho-diagnostic interview
A collection of self-report questionnaires specific to autism and to commonly co-occurring disorders
A structured, interactive evaluation, using formal assessment tools
A structured interview (in person or over the phone) with someone who can provide important developmental information relevant to autism (typically a caregiver)
We work closely with our clients to identify their strengths and challenges and to develop personalized recommendations that support their unique needs and goals. Following the assessment, we will provide you with a detailed report of all findings, and we will carefully explain your results and recommendations.
We feel strongly that the autism assessment process should not feel stigmatizing or limiting, and we strive to ensure that the assessment process is a positive and affirming experience for every client, regardless of the results of the assessment.
We recognize that participating in an assessment can be stressful or overwhelming for some individuals, and we do our best to create a safe and welcoming environment, where our clients can feel at ease.
Ready to have your questions about autism / ASD answered?
Are you considering getting an assessment for adult ASD? Do you live in the Halifax, Dartmouth, or Bedford area?
If you have any questions about our service or our specialized testing, pleasecontact usor complete the form below…we are happy to help you in any way we can.
IMPORTANT After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is sometimes filtered into junk mail folders by mistake. To prevent this from happening, please add [email protected] to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours. Thanks!
Green Leaf Psychological Services, Inc.
ADHD Assessment for Adults in Halifax, Nova Scotia