Frequently Asked Questions

Yes I only work with adults, providing online assessments for people who suspect that they may be autistic. This service is available to adults who are in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or the Yukon at the time of the assessment.

Start with the free self-screening, then if you’d like to continue with the full assessment, go here to get started. Timeline:

• Sign up and send the payment (any time!)

• Fill out the tests online (you do this ideally within ~6 weeks or less)

• We book and then complete your interview (often within ~4 weeks of test completion)

• I write your final report (within ~1 week of your interview)

• We chat to debrief your results and then I send you your final report and various resources (ASAP)

Full details here.

Online assessments can match the accuracy and reliability of in-person ones, depending on the type and process of the assessment (and given an appropriate client contexts). However, they can come with limitations like non-standardized environments and fewer test options due to practicality and test security concerns. I use a thorough process with optimized unproctored internet-based testing to mitigate these limitations, ensuring competent and ethical service. Clients should consider the inherent differences and decide if they are comfortable with the constraints of remote assessments, as I only provide online services. Rest assured, I provide only services that adhere to the requisite standards of competence and ethics.

Iain Dolan, a registered psychologist in Alberta who is autistic. See the About page for more information about me.

I regularly assess clients with existing diagnoses related to anxiety, depression, (misdiagnosed) borderline personality disorder, extensive trauma histories, OCD, and more. These concerns do not typically pose any challenge to my assessment process. On the rare occasion—perhaps once a year—where multiple disciplines might offer complementary insights, I may recommend a team-based evaluation available through hospitals or certain clinics.

For medical concerns that have a significant neurological impact, such as a history of stroke, brain tumours, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), traumatic brain injury (not ‘merely’ a few concussions over your lifetime, but an injury that permanently altered your cognition), schizophrenia, or other similar conditions, it is strongly advisable to pursue a team-based assessment that includes physicians specialized in these areas. Additionally, if you have attempted suicide within the last year or so, the complexities of care likely require the more immediate and comprehensive support that is best provided by an in-person (and likely a team-based) approach. Such complexities require the collaborative expertise of a multidisciplinary team to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. In these cases, if you still think my service may be appropriate, please contact me before initiating services with me, or simply consider seek assessment services in-person and in a team-based setting.

Online assessments, with their convenience and accessibility, have proven highly effective for a wide range of clients, including those with challenges like anxiety, sensory issues, or limited local services. My approach prioritizes providing personalized attention and expertise to each client.

No. For an effective online assessment, clients should have a good degree of independence. If you're reaching out on behalf of someone else, my services might not be the best fit. Typically, clients should be comfortable to:

1. Find and contact me on their own to start the process.

2. Answer test questions independently, though seeking clarification from me is okay.

3. Participate actively in a 90 to 120-minute video call, answering questions on their own.

Those needing extra support might be better suited for in-person assessments, which can provide more guidance. I don’t conduct extensive psycho-educational testing online. The less able a person is to independently participate in an online assessment, the more important it becomes to include a thorough psycho-educational component in their assessment.

Fill out and submit the form on the getting started page and send your payment to initiate the assessment.

No, you don’t have to do the self-screen. You can simply get started whenever you feel ready.

No, not necessarily. While some autism assessments may include interviews with family members, it's not mandatory in my process. If you can provide informed consent, complete the tests, and engage in the interview, I trust you can share your experiences related to autism. However, for a more comprehensive assessment, input from a caregiver, adult sibling, romantic partner, or similar can be beneficial, especially regarding early life experiences.

Upon registration, I recommend sharing any school report cards or similar documents, such as psycho-educational reports. These provide valuable insights into early life, aiding in the diagnosis, but it's not a requirement if you don't have them. I understand that typically, the older a person is, the less available these kinds of documents from childhood become.

No, currently I only assess autism and ADHD. There are numerous conditions that are often co-occur with autism (e.g., OCD, anxiety), but I currently don’t provide diagnoses for that. Diagnosing neurodivergent conditions like this is complex and a therapist must have extensive experience in each particular area. I do some screening for relevant conditions, but that’s for the purposes of a differential diagnosis and screening. If I have evidence to suspect that a client likely does have a co-occurring or different diagnosis (e.g., depression, PTSD), I will tell them that and encourage them to seek a thorough assessment or treatment.

I specialize in autism assessments. While I can evaluate related conditions like ADHD, it's typically within the context of an autism assessment. This approach mostly stems from concerns about the occasional misuse of ADHD diagnoses. While I don't assume any intent to malinger on your part, the prevalence of such cases requires practitioners to exercise caution. Assessing ADHD separately can lead to ethical and legal complexities I prefer to avoid. However, if you're a past client or are undergoing an autism assessment, I can evaluate ADHD for you. For standalone ADHD assessments, many family doctors and remote services like TalkwithFrida are available. Given the available alternatives, I believe my approach doesn't limit anyone seeking an ADHD diagnosis.

Interviews are done via secure online video call, last approximately 2 hours, and are completed by an autistic psychologist. See the details page for information on the content of the interview.

Concerns about masking autistic traits during assessments are common and understandable. With my extensive experience working with and assessing hundreds of autistic adults, I can assure you that this hasn't been a problem in assessments. Occasionally, perhaps once or twice a year, a client’s masking may present a unique challenge. However, we've always successfully managed these situations.

My background as an autistic psychologist offers unique insights into the nuances of masking, enhancing my ability to recognize and understand these behaviours in others. Approximately 80% of my clients use the pronouns she/her or she/they. Many of them have backgrounds that might facilitate above-average social skills for masking, such as therapists or actors. Despite this, masking has not posed a significant issue during my assessment interviews. Our assessments differ from casual conversations where masking typically occurs; these interviews are specifically focused on exploring autistic traits, which creates a distinct context. My approach is carefully designed to sensitively and accurately identify autistic traits, regardless of one's ability to mask them.

For an accurate diagnosis, I require current and detailed data. Even if you've taken certain tests recently or in a past assessment, you'll need to retake them. It's essential for me to review your answers to individual questions and see subscale totals. Simply recalling a score, like a 38 on the AQ, isn't sufficient. However, sharing past assessment reports when you're being tested can be beneficial.

Yes, the assessment tools used are both accurate and reliable, combining results from various research-backed tests, both modern and established, to ensure comprehensive understanding and diagnosis of autism. Tests are selected for their validity to truly measure autistic traits, including recognized quality tests such as the SRS-2. A thorough assessment involves conversations with the client, behavioural observations, collateral information, and an in-depth exploration of the individual's experience with autistic traits. My personal late-diagnosis and extensive experience working with autistic adults further enhance the insight of the assessments provided. For detailed information on the specific tests used, please see here.

No, I can only assess adults located in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Yukon (Canada) at the time of the assessment. You don't need to reside there, but you must be present there during the assessment. It's similar to traveling to see a specialist in another city, except online. While online cross-jurisdictional practice is growing, legislation lags behind. Generally, psychologists in Canada are licensed and regulated provincially.

Because generally, psychologists in Canada are licensed and regulated provincially. I'm licensed in Alberta, which typically restricts my practice to clients in that province. However, there are exceptions:

• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have updated regulations allowing any psychologist licensed in a Canadian province to offer remote services within their borders.

• The Yukon doesn't currently have a College of Psychologists, making it unregulated, so I can practice there remotely.

The progressive change shown by NS and NB, allowing for broader remote practice, is becoming more common. In the USA, the PSYPACT initiative now includes over 40 states, permitting similar cross-state remote practice.

Yes, your assessment and diagnosis are generally confidential—the same as it would be for most healthcare/therapy situations in Canada. There are standard exceptions to this, explained in the informed consent. While you're free to share your diagnosis or report, I will not disclose your information to anyone unless required to.

Currently, I cannot offer regular therapy sessions after the assessment. My clinical schedule is fully booked. While I've reserved weekly slots for assessment interviews to minimize wait times, I'm unable to provide therapy sessions. Additionally, there are ethical concerns regarding the dual roles of assessor and therapist, especially if therapy precedes assessment.

No, I don't typically handle government or disability forms. While I can provide letters of accommodation for work or school when suitable, for government forms like the disability tax credit, you're better off consulting your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist. Check the specific form's requirements; some, like the disability tax credit, require the medical professional signing to have access to a decade of your healthcare records. You can share the diagnosis page from my report with your doctor if needed.

Coverage depends on your insurance plan. Before starting the assessment, consult your provider about the types of psychological assessments they cover and the required credentials for the service provider. I'm a registered psychologist in Alberta, though I often reside in Ontario. Occasionally, an insurance company may have issues understanding cross-jurisdictional practice; for example, BlueCross Medavie in NS has faced substantial challenges with me with this aspect, and “Canada Life” has a history of denying claims for my services since I’m licensed in AB but sometimes provide assessments in NS (which my license and the NS college of psychologists allows me to do).

Note that upon signing up, you will receive a receipt for your payment that is technically a “deposit.” As the assessment work is completed in the following weeks or months, that work is credited against the deposit until the assessment is completed and I send you your report. Sometimes insurers will want a receipt that details what work was done on which day, and that can’t be provided until after the assessment is completed.

No, I will provide you with a receipt for services which you can submit to your insurance company, assuming they cover this service.

Payments can only be made by e-transfer from your bank account to payment@ndpsych.com See the Payments page for more details. You can not pay for this assessment with a credit card (I also don’t accept: Paypal, Venmo, Zelle, or anything similar).

I will email you a receipt after you make a payment, within 2 business days.

The receipt details a breakdown of how many hours are spent on each activity, by $180/hour. It also details (at a high level) what the assessment included: what tests were used and that it's a semi-structured interview based on the DSM5-TR criteria, the ADOS2, and the MIGAS2. These details are included because insurance companies often want to know more specifically what was included in an assessment.

Note that upon signing up, you will receive a receipt for your payment that is technically a “deposit.” As the assessment work is completed in the following weeks or months, that work is credited against the deposit until the assessment is completed and I send you your report. Sometimes insurers will want a receipt that details what work was done on which day, and that can’t be provided until after the assessment is completed.

You need to give me at least 24 hours notice to reschedule. If you are unable to attend the interview as scheduled, please give me as much notice as possible. I understand that this happens sometimes, but it’s not ideal. Other than in the case of emergencies, you’ll have to pay for the cost of the time in advance before I’ll re-attempt booking the interview with you.

See the policy page for up to date details on this.

Please allow 1 to 2 business days after signing up to receive your tests and receipt. If you haven’t heard from me in longer than that, please send me an email assessment@ndpsych.com with your details.

Once in a while someone typos their email address in the ‘get started’ form and I am left with money and a name but no way to contact this new client!

Your test results and reports are as secure as online data can be. They are stored on a secure, anonymized service and I transfer them offline as soon as possible, storing my local copy encrypted. I also encrypt final reports before sending them.

Your name isn't attached to your online tests or file names. After I download your tests, I promptly delete the online version. The online test is merely a document with questions and answers, connected to you only temporarily via a link that was sent in an encrypted document. For added security, test links are placed in an encrypted PDF, ensuring they aren't plainly associated with your email.

In addition to the (hopefully) convenient online option for filling out the tests, I can instead email simple PDF copies of the tests to you. You could print, fill out, and scan these back to me, or something similar.

Either use your web browser’s built in zoom function like you would on any site, or use the zoom function in the web app that the test is in. Access this in its View menu > Zoom. Set it to 125% or 150% to enlarge everything. Alternatively, find the zoom menu item in the ribbon.

• Test: is a single set of questions, like the Autism Quotient is a test, as is the Toronto Alexithymia Scale

• Screener: often a brief and simplified version of a more robust psychometric, typically for the purposes of quickly checking someone’s state or a particular aspect of their experience. The results of these can usually be interpreted by anyone, and their results only indicate suggested paths forward, not definitive diagnostic information by themselves

• Psychometrics: “a field of study within psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement...devoted to testing, measurement, assessment, and related activities. Psychometrics is concerned with the objective measurement of latent constructs that cannot be directly observed.” By ‘psychometrics’ I mean tests that measure these sorts of ‘latent’ aspects of cognitive experience. I tend to use this term to indicate the kinds of psychological tests whose use are restricted to health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, etc), whereas screening tests can usually be done and interpreted by anyone

• Assessment: the larger process of gathering information from a client about their mental health and experiences, in this case to determine if a person meets the criteria for the DSM-5-TR’s “autism spectrum disorder.” This assessment consists of all the tests listed here as well as the clinical interview

• Diagnosis: determination, based on information gathered in an assessment, of whether a person meets the DSM-5-TR criteria for a particular ‘disorder’ (I dislike such pathologizing language, particularly with autism)