Map your cognitive stats. Play a game that works for you.
Neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-focused cognitive assessments for adults and adolescents. Non-diagnostic* and diagnostic approaches available.
Cognitive Character Profile
Human brains are complex and diverse. No two minds process the world, organize information, or manage energy in the exact same way. Many highly capable people possess a "spiky profile,” which means they have exceptional strengths in certain areas paired with challenges and processing bottlenecks in others. People with “spiky profiles” often describe exhaustion, confusion, frustration and even shame as they wonder why some things are so easy and others are so much harder than they seem for others.
Fighting our own neurology is a losing battle. When you try to force a unique mind into standard, one-size-fits-all systems, it can lead to chronic exhaustion and friction. You don't need a medical label to customize your life; you just need to understand your brain's blueprint.
Together, we can build a better understanding of what kinds of challenges in your environment and routines might be draining you, and what strengths you might leverage to make life a little easier. Using a streamlined, remote assessment process we will gather and explore data about your cognitive and sensory processing, executive functioning, and social preferences.
Instead of a medical report we will co-create a TTRPG-style Character Sheet that summarizes how your unique mind shows up in the real world and provides insight to creatively apply your talents to building environments and systems where you can thrive.
Diagnostic Psychological Assessments
While I prefer to offer a non-diagnostic approach to assessment, I am also able to offer diagnostic psychological assessments to explore the possibility that a category like ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders might describe you.
These assessments can sometimes be billed to insurance if approved and can result in documentation that may be useful in some settings.
All of my assessments (diagnostic or not) are strengths-focused and neurodiversity affirming. At the end of a diagnostic assessment you will received a psychological report discussing your cognitive style, executive functioning, any diagnoses, and treatment recommendations.
*Non-diagnostic assessments cannot be billed to insurance and do not create a therapist-client relationship.
Is The Cognitive Character Profile Right For Me?
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No, The Cognitive Character Profile is not a clinical service and will not lead to a diagnosis. I prefer a non-pathologizing approach to neurodiversity. I will not provide clinical expertise on if your cognitive profile is suggestive of diagnoses like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, or other medical terminologies. In addition, a non-diagnostic model allows for increased privacy in a time of surveillance around neurodiverse communities.
You will receive a diagnosis only through the process of a Diagnostic Psychological Assessment.
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If you are interested in receiving an official diagnosis, formal psychological assessment is recommended. Diagnoses are useful and sometimes required for: accessing medications, providing documentation for academic or workplace accommodations, legally establishing a diagnosis or disability, and guiding specific mental health treatment recommendations. If these apply to you, the Cognitive Character Profile might not be the right fit.
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You are 16-years or older.
If you identify with, or have been diagnosed with, any labels associated with the neurodiversity movment including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders and want to understand your strengths and weaknesses more practically.
If you feel confused because some tasks that “should” be easy are especially difficult for you.
If you were described as “gifted” as a child and struggle with perceptions that you have not met your “potential.”
If you just want a better picture of how your brain works and how to use it better.
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No, because this is a non-clinical, non-diagnostic service, I cannot bill to insurance and cannot provide a Superbill for out-of-network reimbursement. All Cognitive Character Profiles are self-pay.
Diagnostic Psychological Assessments are billable to insurance but may require prior authorization and costs will reflect the terms of your policy.
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The Cognitive Character Profile process costs a flat fee of $1000 and includes:
An one hour meeting to explore your goals and discuss your experiences.
Remote administration of an assessment battery assembled by a clinical psychologist.
Expert scoring, analysis, and interpretation of the results.
An one hour feedback session to discuss the results and how they show up in your life.
A final report including a Character Profile that provides customized insight and tools for playing the game of life in a way that fits for you.
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Formal, diagnostic assessments can be useful but I prefer to offer this service instead for a number of reasons:
Diagnostic categories were created through looking at large groups of people. When we turn around and use them to label people, it simplifies the questions we ask. Instead of asking what specific challenges you face and strengths you have, we ask only: do you fit in this broad category?
Medical approaches to neurodiversity are frequently and historically pathologizing. I am so grateful that our brains all work differently and do not believe these differences constitute “disorders.”
In today’s political atmosphere there is increased surveillance on a number of minority groups, including those with diagnoses related to neurodivergence. If a diagnosis is not practically necessary, many people prefer to not document these diagnoses and protect their privacy.
Formal psychological testing is expensive too and may involve long waits and complicated paperwork. There are providers who offer brief, targeted assessments that will provide a diagnosis for less money. But often those will only give that “yes or no” answer on diagnosis, and standard treatment recommendations. These are not always the questions and answers that matter most in your daily life.
Woah! That is way too much information! Can I just get the TLDR?
If you’re finding all of this overwhelming but you might be interested, please reach out to schedule a time for me to answer your questions for free!