Last updated: Feb 21 2024

This page contains policies that clients need to understand prior to signing up for an assessment, and by signing up, you’re indicating that you have read and understood the information below.

Understanding the Process

Before proceeding, it's essential that you've reviewed the details page and FAQ. You should have a clear understanding of the assessment process, its scope, and limitations to avoid misunderstandings. Remember, the process requires your active collaboration and you having a reasonably thorough understanding of the adult autistic experience. The process also involves a quite substantial amount of writing (several hours in total, at your own pace though), which you need to be comfortable with doing in a timely fashion. Relevant resources will be provided to you after scheduling the interview for you to ensure you're well informed prior to the interview.

By scheduling an assessment, you acknowledge that you have read, comprehended, and will act in accordance with the policies (this page) and FAQs outlined on www.ndpsych.com. It is your responsibility to ensure that you fall within the jurisdictional scope of our services (i.e., be in AB, NS, NB, or YK at the time of the interview). Our assumption is that you are engaging with our services in good faith, having understood and accepted these terms. Any oversight in this regard will be considered your responsibility.

Payment and Insurance

Payment for the assessment is required upfront, and we only accept E-transfers. While we do not directly bill insurance companies, a receipt will be provided for you to submit for possible reimbursement. It is your responsibility to confirm whether your insurance plan covers our services, which you should do before signing up. An area for concern for a few insurers is that I am licensed in AB but I often live in ON, so while the college of psychologists (my licensing body) is okay with this cross-jurisdictional practice, some insurers create their own policies that differ from that problematically. Note that you must be in AB, NS, or NB at the time of the interview due to the nature of provincial licensing of psychologists.

Refund policy and Timeliness

If you cancel within 24 hours of initial payment, you'll receive a full refund minus administrative fees based on the time already spent on your case. Beyond this period, a minimum of $500 becomes non-refundable. Assessments must be completed within 4 months of receipt, or sooner, ideally. If the assessment process is significantly delayed due to incomplete tests, you ceasing to communicate, or if you choose to discontinue the process, we reserve the right to terminate your assessment, with a refund dependent on the time and resources already committed. We highly recommend only signing up if you are confident you can complete the process in a timely manner.

Additionally, please provide at least 24 hours notice if you can't attend the clinical interview. Without this notice, there will be a $350 CAD fee, payable by you before rescheduling.

Remote Assessments and Their Requirements

Remote assessments offer increased accessibility but do come with unique requirements. You need to be capable of independently initiating and engaging with our services and be prepared for the emotional challenges that may arise during the assessment. We recommend having therapy or social supports in place. Our assessments are conducted with a dedicated 'single clinician' approach, ensuring personalized attention and expertise tailored to your needs.

To preserve the integrity and validity of the assessment process, it is crucial that participants complete all tests and written questions on their own. This means not discussing or working through them with a romantic partner, therapist, or any other individual, nor having someone else read the questions to you or type out your answers. Completing the tests independently is essential. If you find you are unable to meet this requirement, we advise opting for an in-person assessment to ensure the most accurate and reliable evaluation.

While online assessments can't replicate every aspect of in-person testing, they still yield reliable results. Remember, you won't be in a standardized environment, you won’t be observed during testing, and some tests that otherwise might be ideal to use (depending on each client’s unique needs) can’t be performed online due to logistical and test security concerns. Remote assessments have pros (e.g., accessibility) and cons, and only you can decide if you're comfortable with proceeding with a remote assessment.

Scope of Assessment

Our focus is primarily on autism (and ADHD if added). We will explore alternative explanations for your behaviours when relevant for a differential diagnosis, but a comprehensive investigation of all possible explanations won't be conducted nor will other diagnostic labels be provided (though they may be suggested if you’re not autistic). If you desire a broader assessment, you may need to consider services offered elsewhere.

It is essential to recognize that my practice specializes in addressing psychological concerns. If you have a history of conditions with physical/neurological implications, such as strokes, brain tumours, or neurodegenerative disorders, a team-based medical assessment would likely be more appropriate than using my services. Please disclose any such medical history before initiating an assessment. Discovery of these details later in the process, for instance during the interview, may preclude a complete diagnosis, and preclude the possibility of a refund for services already rendered. For those with a history of concerns such as anxiety disorders or PTSD (i.e., within a psychological scope than physical health) that’s okay, as these are generally within the scope of my practice—please refer to the FAQ on my website for further details.

Administration and Confidentiality

You understand that in conducting our assessments, we utilize trusted administrators for tasks like emailing, initial report preparations, and more. By proceeding, you agree to the sharing of pertinent information with these administrators and our clinical team when relevant. Also, we typically do not assist with the completion of government forms or applications (e.g., disability tax credit), or similar. We can, however, provide a letter of accommodation for work or school when appropriate. Refer to the FAQ for details.

Report Options after the fact:

If you wish to change your chosen report type, you must notify us immediately after sign-up; early notifications are more likely to be accommodated. Changes become increasingly difficult as the assessment process advances and cannot be made after the interview stage or once the final report is dispatched. Please refer to the FAQ for options on adding the ADHD add-on subsequently.