NeuroAffirming Assessments
When: Saturday, November 15th at 4:45pm EST
Where: LIVE on Zoom
Presented By: Dr. Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD, Jamie Roberts, LMFT, Dr. Jess Hogan, PsyD and Molly Herold, LCMHC
Continuing Education: 1.25 NBCC CEs
This presentation for mental health clinicians on Autism-affirming diagnostic assessments focuses on essential strategies and tools for enhancing the diagnostic process. It begins by introducing affirming assessment tools, such as the MIGDAS and some of the questionnaires from Embrace Autism, emphasizing their importance in recognizing and validating autistic individuals’ experiences. Given the commonality of ADHD & Autism co-occurrence (40-80 percent) differential and co-occurring lived experiences will also be discussed to prepare clinicians for evaluations that explore both diagnoses/identities.
Clinicians are guided on how to discuss non-affirming tools with individuals and families, given the limited options available. The presentation stresses the importance of using affirming and strengths-based language in reports, fostering a positive understanding of autism.
Participants learn to identify qualities of affirming testers, highlighting red flags to avoid and green flags to seek. The discussion includes the distinction between self-diagnosis and clinical diagnosis, alongside guidance on when to pursue testing and the types of assessments available, from master’s level evaluations to neuropsychological assessments.
Central to the presentation is the commitment to centering autistic voices throughout the testing process, ensuring that assessments are respectful and inclusive. The importance of creating sensory-friendly testing environments and considering both virtual and in-person options are addressed. Finally, the session concludes with strategies for sharing findings and personalizing recommendations, empowering clinicians to provide tailored support to autistic individuals and their families.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will be able to identify the current standard of affirming assessment tools.
- Participants will be able to summarize the benefits and differences of varying assessment options.
- Participants will recognize and utilize affirming language within assessment reports.
Is the course recorded?
Yes! We record live & email replay access to the recordings a few days after the course.
HOWEVER. LIVE attendance is required to qualify for the Continuing Education Certificate of Completion.
How do I qualify for NBCC CEs for this course?
Attend the presentation live & try to not be more than 10 minutes late! Complete the survey which will be distributed in the last 20 minutes of the presentation. You will get your CE Certificate automatically after you complete the survey.
Meet the Presenters
Dr. Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD
On the Web: https://playfultherapy.net
Venmo: @JaclynHalpern
Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD (she/her) - Dr. Halpern is a licensed psychologist who has worked in private practice since 2010. She has extensive experience as a clinical director, evaluator, therapist, parent coach, and supervisor. Dr. Halpern provides individual, group, and family therapy for clients of all ages. She also provides attachment-based parent coaching and couples therapy for those exploring neurodiversity within their relationship. Dr. Halpern’s approach is based in the relational neurosciences.
As Partner, Clinical Director of Psychology & Psychology Supervisor at Playful Therapy Connections in Maryland, Dr. Halpern supports clinical staff to ensure that therapy and testing are empathic, strengths-based, affirming, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and anchored in up to date, evidenced-based neuroscientific and psychological research. Dr. Halpern’s primary focus is on helping clients and supervisees affirmingly navigate neurodiversity. She supports both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals navigating daily life, with its many ups, downs, and daily stressors. Dr. Halpern identifies as neurodivergent and is part of a neurodiverse family.
Jamie Roberts, LMFT
On the Web: https://equilibriumcs.com/ and https://www.neuropebble.com/
Social Media: @neurodivergenttherapist
Venmo: @jamie_d_roberts
Jamie Roberts, LMFT (she/her) is a licensed marriage and family therapist, AuDHD Neuroqueer pan cis-white woman. As a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor she founded Equilibrium Counseling Services, specifically for Neuroqueer teens and young adults in California. Jamie has providing psychosocial assessment with in an adolescent psychiatry practice for 10+ years. She now provides comprehensive diagnostic Autism assessments for adults in her private practice as well as training master level clinicians on affirming practices through NeuroPebble. In 2024 she completed a practitioner certification through UCLA Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (UC-LEND). She is the Author of Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety and is currently writing her second book on Neurodiversity for teens.
Dr. Jess Hogan, PsyD
Social Media: @neuronandrosepsych and @thedivergentclinician
Venmo: @JessicaHogan
Dr. Jess Hogan is an auDHD licensed clinical psychologist in Minnesota and California, where she has a group practice and oversees a neuroaffirming assessment training program for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. With over a decade of experience conducting autism and ADHD assessments, she is now offering individual and group consultation services. Additionally, Dr. Hogan teaches assessment in a clinical PsyD program and serves as the principal investigator on a research project examining the experiences of autistic therapists. Her special interests include neuroaffirming care, true crime, reading, and circus arts.
Molly Herold, EdM, MA, LCMHC
Social Media: @NeuroAbundant
Molly Herold (They/Them) is an AuDHD licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina. They work primarily with trans/nonbinary folks, trauma and fellow AuDHD adults.
Their company NeuroAbundant (the host of Autistic Clinical Insights) offers continuing education to clinicians on neurodiversity affirming therapy, clinical practice, assessment & diagnosis. The course Neurodiversity Affirming ADHD Evaluation is a comprehensive introduction to methods and assessment tools and has been offered to over 100 clinicians and is entering it's third year!
NeuroAbundant offers neurodiversity affirming education for clinicians and neurodivergent professionals, integrating clinical practice, social justice, multicultural frameworks with the ever evolving lived experience and culture of AuDHD people and the growing neurodiversity movement.
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Autistic Clinical Insights is a scrappy group of autistic clinicians and allies with a desire to advance knowledge and clinical support for autistic people.
This virtual conference is hosted by NeuroAbundant, LLC an NBCC ACEP #7589.
© Copyrights by NeuroAbundant. All Rights Reserved.
Autistic Clinical Insights is a scrappy group of autistic clinicians and allies with a desire to advance knowledge and clinical support for autistic people.
This virtual conference is hosted by NeuroAbundant, LLC an NBCC ACEP #7589.
© Copyrights by NeuroAbundant. All Rights Reserved.