​I look beyond what is visible from the outside

Being successful doesn't rule out ADHD. One of the things I pay particular attention to is the difference between outward functioning and the internal cost required to maintain it.

 

• You may meet deadlines,but only through intense anxiety and last-minute urgency.

• You may be organized, but because you've developed elaborate systems you're afraid to stop using.

• You may have excelled academically, but at the expense of sleep, relationships, or your own well-being.

• You may appear calm while internally managing constant mental activity.

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Understanding those compensatory strategies is especially important when evaluating women and adults who have spent years masking their difficulties. The goal isn't simply to ask, "Can you do it?" It's to understand what it takes for you to do it.

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Multiple data points, not one test score

There isn't one test that determines whether an adult has ADHD. That's why I use a multi-method approach and integrate information from multiple sources rather than relying heavily on any single questionnaire, score, or snapshot of your functioning.

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Our evaluation will include:

• An in-depth clinical interview

• Developmental and educational history

• Review of current functioning across work, relationships, home, and daily life

• Evidence-based ADHD measures

• Assessment of executive functioning and functional impact

• Exploration of masking and compensatory strategies

• Self-report and, when available, collateral information

• Assessment of emotional and nervous-system regulation

• Review of relevant records when available

 

Each piece provides information, and my job is to integrate those pieces into a coherent picture of you. This is particularly important for high-masking adults, whose test scores or outward functioning may not fully capture how hard they are working to compensate.

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I consider ADHD and what else could be going on

Difficulty concentrating doesn't automatically mean ADHD. Anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress, burnout, sleep difficulties, autism, and other concerns can overlap with ADHD or affect attention and executive functioning in similar ways.

 

Sometimes more than one thing is happening at once. A good evaluation shouldn't begin with the assumption that ADHD is the answer. We'll look carefully at your broader mental health history and current experiences so that I can consider alternative explanations, co-occurring concerns, and the ways different factors may be interacting. The result is an evaluation that makes sense of your lived experience, not just your data.

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If the findings support ADHD, I'll explain why. If they don't, we'll talk about what does seem to explain your experience and what I recommend next. The goal isn't to leave with a particular diagnosis. The goal is to leave with greater clarity, so that you have more information about how to move forward in a sustainable way.

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Looking beyond surface-level symptoms

 

ADHD, anxiety, depression, burnout, and emotional dysregulation frequently overlap. Rather than defaulting to labels that don’t quite fit, I take time to carefully differentiate what’s actually driving your difficulties.

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This includes exploring:

• Internalized ADHD symptoms (mental restlessness, overthinking, time blindness)

• Emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity

• Masking and overcompensation strategies

• Sensory sensitivities and nervous system patterns

• Executive functioning strengths and challenges

• Social communication patterns that may not be obvious on the surface

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Gender- and neurodiversity-informed

 

Women and gender-diverse individuals are frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed because their symptoms don’t align with traditional models. I intentionally assess factors that are often overlooked, including:

• The impact of hormonal shifts and menstrual cycles on attention, mood, and regulation

• Chronic masking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing

• Anxiety or depression that develops secondary to untreated ADHD

• Emotional intensity that reflects regulation differences rather than personality pathology

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Reports That Are Meant to Be Used

 

Clients often tell me, “This is the first time I’ve felt truly understood.”

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Reports are intentionally written to be:

• Clear and respectful for clients to read

• Clinically useful for psychiatric providers

• Specific enough for academic disability offices

• Practical for workplace accommodations

• Actionable for therapists and coaches

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Rather than generic recommendations, you’ll receive tailored guidance that translates findings into real-world supports across medication, therapy, school, work, and daily life.

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Depth Over Volume

 

I see fewer clients so I can do this work well. That means:

• Extended clinical interviews

• Thoughtful measure selection

• Careful integration of findings

• Detailed feedback sessions

• Time to answer your questions

 

This level of care is especially important for people who have spent years being told they are “just anxious,” “too sensitive,” or “not trying hard enough.”

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An Evaluation That Is Therapeutic, Too

I approach evaluations through a therapeutic assessment framework. That means assessment isn't something that's simply done to you while you wait for someone to give you an answer at the end. The process is collaborative and designed to help you develop insight and understanding along the way.