Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical Approach

  • Inner Awareness reflects the idea that understanding your internal experience—how your brain and nervous system process information, emotion, attention, sensory input, and daily life—is an important part of psychiatric care.

    For many neurodivergent people, greater self-understanding can change how symptoms are interpreted, how supports are chosen, and how treatment decisions are made, including decisions about medication.

    The Inner Awareness Psychiatry approach emphasizes awareness, self-understanding, and practical strategies that support long-term functioning and overall well-being.

  • Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how human brains and nervous systems function.

    Within this, people may be described as, or may self-identify as, neurodivergent when the way they think, process, sense, communicate, or pay attention differs from what is typically expected. Autism and ADHD are common examples of neurodivergence.

    Neurotypical generally refers to people whose cognitive and sensory processing fall within more typical or expected ranges.

    The term neurotype is sometimes used to describe an individual’s overall pattern of brain and nervous system functioning, including how they process information, attention, emotion, communication, and sensory input.

    At Inner Awareness Psychiatry, these terms are used throughout evaluation and ongoing care to support a more nuanced understanding of neurotype, context, and support needs.

  • Neurodiversity-affirming care means that differences in brain and nervous system functioning are approached with respect rather than treated as defects or character flaws. This does not mean ignoring challenges, disability, distress, impairment, or support needs. It means care is grounded in curiosity, respect for lived experience, and recognition that neurodevelopmental differences may involve both real challenges and meaningful strengths.

    Neurotype-informed care means that a person’s neurotype is part of how assessment, treatment, and support are understood. Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, sensory experience, executive functioning, communication style, masking, burnout, and nervous system regulation may all affect assessment, diagnosis, medication response, therapy, and what kinds of support are actually useful.

  • Neurotype-informed psychiatric care means that autism, ADHD, AuDHD, sensory experience, executive functioning, communication style, masking, burnout, and nervous system regulation are part of the clinical picture rather than treated as side notes.

    Slow psychiatry refers to a more deliberate approach to psychiatric care. It is not a 15-minute med check model.

    Rather than moving quickly from symptoms to diagnosis or medication changes, neurotype-informed slow psychiatry creates space to understand what is driving the concern, how it fits into the person’s nervous system, environment, neurodevelopment, and lived experience, and what kind of support is actually likely to help.

    This approach can be especially important for people with diverse neurotypes, neurodevelopmental differences, and neurodivergent identities whose experiences may not fit neatly into standard symptom checklists. The goal is thoughtful, individualized care that supports real-life functioning, self-understanding, and quality of life.

  • Working with a neurodivergent provider can be meaningful for some patients because autistic and ADHD experiences are often misunderstood, minimized, or interpreted through clinical and social frameworks that were not designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

    Clinical training is essential, and lived experience can add another layer of understanding. It may help a provider recognize patterns that are often missed or misunderstood, including masking, sensory differences, burnout, executive dysfunction, social communication differences, and the ways symptoms, side effects, or medication responses may show up differently in neurodivergent adults.

    At IAP, neurodivergent lived experience informs—but does not replace—structured clinical assessment, psychiatric training, and diagnostic reasoning. For some patients, this can reduce the feeling of having to translate or justify their experience before it can be understood. The goal is to provide care that is clinically accurate, personally meaningful, and practically useful.

  • Autism assessments are offered by several types of clinicians, including psychologists, therapists, and psychiatric providers. Each discipline brings a different clinical perspective.

    A PMHNP is trained in psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, including how medications may fit into care when appropriate. Many autistic adults or otherwise neurodivergent adults also experience anxiety, depression, executive dysfunction, or mood‑related concerns.

    For individuals who already take psychiatric medications, have complex mental health histories, or may want access to medication support in the future, having an assessment conducted by a psychiatric provider can allow for more integrated care over time.

Evaluation Basics

  • Autism and AuDHD evaluations at Inner Awareness Psychiatry are designed for adults who suspect they may be autistic, have been told they may be autistic, or are wondering whether autism or AuDHD may better explain their experiences.

    Many adults pursue evaluation after years of feeling different, misunderstood, or unsure why certain patterns have persisted despite insight, effort, therapy, medication, or other treatment.

    The goal of the evaluation process is to help you better understand how your brain and nervous system work, and how that understanding can support self-advocacy, accommodations, treatment decisions, and quality of life.

  • Many adults seeking autism or AuDHD evaluation already have prior diagnoses such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, complex or chronic PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or other mental health concerns.

    The evaluation process reviews your developmental, mental health, and treatment history and considers whether previous diagnoses fully explain your experiences, whether autism or AuDHD may be a more accurate explanation, or whether more than one diagnosis may be appropriate.

  • Yes. Inner Awareness Psychiatry offers standalone ADHD evaluations for adults, as well as Autism evaluations and AuDHD (combined Autism + ADHD) evaluations.

    An ADHD evaluation may be helpful if you have wondered whether ADHD could explain patterns such as chronic procrastination, difficulty starting or finishing tasks, inconsistent focus, time blindness, disorganization, emotional reactivity, overwhelm, or feeling like you are working much harder than others to keep up.

  • Yes. All evaluations are currently conducted through secure telehealth. In‑person evaluation is not available at this time.

  • The timeline varies depending on scheduling, individual needs, and how quickly intake materials are completed, but most assessments are completed within approximately 4–8 weeks from start to finish.

  • Inner Awareness Psychiatry provides adult autism, ADHD, and AuDHD evaluations for individuals age 18 and older. Evaluations for children and adolescents are not offered.

Evaluation Process

  • Autism, ADHD, and AuDHD evaluations at IAP include a review of developmental history, current concerns, screening measures, structured clinical interviews, and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. Additional questionnaires or assessment tools may be used when helpful to clarify the diagnostic picture. Evaluations are conducted using established clinical diagnostic criteria and structured assessment methods appropriate for adult autism and ADHD evaluation.

    The goal is to understand patterns across development and context rather than relying on a single test or score.

  • School records, prior evaluations, or input from someone who knew you in childhood can be helpful, but they are typically not required.

    A thorough developmental interview and clinical evaluation can often gather the necessary information. However, IAP may request additional records or input when needed to clarify developmental history or prior diagnoses.

  • An evaluation does not guarantee a specific diagnosis.

    Not every evaluation results in an autism, ADHD, or AuDHD diagnosis. If diagnostic criteria are not met, the assessment process can still help clarify what may be contributing to your experiences and offer a more complete understanding of how you move through the world.

    Recommendations are based on the findings from your evaluation and may include resources, supports, treatment options, or referrals.

Neurotype-Informed Continuing Care

  • Yes. Inner Awareness Psychiatry offers neurotype-informed medication management as part of continuing care for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD adults when appropriate. Some patients continue care after completing a diagnostic evaluation at IAP. Adults who have previously been evaluated or diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or AuDHD may also request continuing care services to determine whether IAP is an appropriate fit.

    Continuing care is offered within a broader psychiatric care model that may also include supportive psychotherapy, executive functioning support, psychoeducation, and practical strategies to support quality of life and day-to-day functioning.

Documentation & Reports

  • All evaluations include:

    • A diagnostic verification letter confirming the diagnosis, when diagnostic criteria are met

    • Resources for neurodivergent adults

    Evaluations that include a feedback session also include:

    • Personalized in-session recommendations and discussion of next steps

    If your evaluation includes a full report, you will also receive a written diagnostic report.

  • When a full diagnostic report is included or added, it typically includes:

    • Clinical history summary

    • Evaluation findings

    • Diagnostic reasoning

    • Neurodevelopmental profile

    • Personalized recommendations

    • Accommodation considerations, when appropriate

    Written reports are completed separately after the evaluation appointments.

  • Often, yes — but requirements vary depending on the institution requesting documentation.

    Many universities accept a diagnostic verification letter confirming the diagnosis. Some schools and workplaces may request additional documentation describing functional impacts or recommended supports.

    If more detailed documentation is required (for example, a letter outlining specific accommodation recommendations), this can usually be provided as an additional service.

    Because requirements vary widely, individuals seeking accommodations are encouraged to check with their school, employer, or disability services office to determine what documentation they require.

  • Often, no.

    IAP evaluations are not intended for Social Security disability determinations, legal proceedings, or formal neuropsychological disability assessments. Those situations typically require a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment conducted by a psychologist or neuropsychologist using standardized cognitive and functional testing.

    If you are seeking documentation specifically for disability determination, it is recommended that you confirm the required assessment type before scheduling.

Insurance & Privacy

  • No. IAP is not contracted with insurance companies and does not bill insurance directly. Evaluations are private-pay services, meaning fees are paid directly to the practice.

    If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may choose to submit a superbill to your insurance company to request possible reimbursement. IAP cannot guarantee reimbursement.

  • A superbill is a detailed receipt that includes the information insurance companies use to process out-of-network reimbursement requests, such as service dates, fees, diagnosis codes, and billing codes.

    IAP does not bill insurance directly. If you would like to seek possible reimbursement, a superbill can be provided after services are completed for you to submit to your insurance company.

    Reimbursement varies by insurance plan. Some plans reimburse part of the fee for out-of-network mental health services, while others do not reimburse for autism or AuDHD evaluations.

    Before scheduling, you may want to ask your insurance company:

    • Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?

    • Are adult autism or AuDHD evaluations eligible for reimbursement?

    • What percentage of the fee may be reimbursed?

    • Do I need preauthorization?

    IAP cannot guarantee reimbursement from insurance companies.

  • Some individuals choose a private-pay autism or AuDHD evaluation because they want more privacy and control over how their diagnostic information is used.

    When services are billed to insurance, diagnosis and billing information may become part of insurance and healthcare record systems. With a private-pay evaluation, IAP does not bill insurance or report autism diagnoses to insurance companies or government registries.

    Your evaluation and diagnosis are provided directly to you. You decide if and when you share documentation with others, such as a school, employer, therapist, medical provider, or family member. Your information is protected under healthcare privacy laws (HIPAA), and documentation is only released with your written authorization.

    Private-pay evaluation can also allow more flexibility in the assessment process because the structure and length of the evaluation are not dictated by insurance billing requirements.

Location & Availability

  • Inner Awareness Psychiatry is based in Bend, Oregon, and provides services to adults throughout the state via secure telehealth.