Adult ADHD Therapy & Evaluations
Chicago & Illinois (Telehealth)
Supporting ADHD, Autism & AuDHD in Adults
Some people come here looking for therapy.
Others want clarity first through a structured ADHD or autism evaluation.
YOU’RE INTELLIGENT. WELL-MEANING. SELF-AWARE.
SO WHY DOES LIFE STILL FEEL SO HARD?
This didn’t start yesterday.
But something about right now is making it harder to ignore.
Maybe the way you’ve been managing things isn’t holding.
Work takes more effort than it used to
Relationships unravel in familiar ways.
Burnout doesn’t resolve with a weekend off.
You overthink everything — and still feel unsure.
A new baby. A breakup. A career shift.
Or maybe nothing dramatic at all.
Just the growing awareness that you need more support and clarity.
You know you’re smart.
You also know life shouldn’t feel so destabilizing.
You May Have Always Felt Slightly Different
Have you felt like you were studying social rules instead of absorbing them?
Masking more than you realized.
Working harder to appear steady than anyone knew.
Maybe you’ve learned to compensate.
To overthink.
To try harder than most people realize. White knuckle your way through.
And still, certain patterns keep repeating.
You’ve probably spent time researching.
Reading late at night.
Wondering quietly.
Is this ADHD?
Autism?
Trauma?
Am I overreacting?
I’m Jennifer, a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience working with adults navigating complex emotional, relational, and neurodivergent patterns. I received my AM from The University of Chicago.
Many of the people I work with are beginning to explore ADHD, autism, or other forms of neurodivergence later in life — often after years of quietly wondering why things feel harder than they seem to for other people or after some life event pushes them to their limit.
If you’re questioning ADHD or neurodivergence, I take that seriously.
Self-recognition often comes after years of careful reflection. Sometimes it is after everything you’ve tried still comes up short. It could be ADHD. It could be something overlapping. There’s often more than one layer.
I don’t rush to label — and I don’t dismiss what you’re noticing either.
We look at the full picture, including:
• how your nervous system responds to stress
• what happens in relationships
• how you experience transitions and change
• what you’ve been through and how you feel (i.e. trauma history, depression / anxiety symptoms.)
Many of the people who find their way here have already tried therapy, coaching, or self-help approaches that offered useful tools but didn’t fully explain or solve the deeper patterns they were experiencing.
In therapy, the goal isn’t just one-size-fits-all coping strategies or productivity systems.
It’s understanding how your brain, nervous system, relationships, and life history interact — so things start making more sense and you’re equipped to move through life happy and successful.
Some people begin this work through therapy, tackling in-the-moment struggles and breakdowns, while also exploring how long-standing patterns have shaped their relationships, work, and emotional life.
Others prefer to start with a structured Adult ADHD and Autism Evaluation to better understand whether ADHD, autism, or another form of neurodivergence may be part of the picture.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in exploring, I welcome you to reach out! A consult call is a great way to briefly connect and get clear on whether we’re a good fit to work together.
How I Work With Clients
Sometimes the First Step Is Clarity
Many adults arrive here wondering whether ADHD or autism explains patterns in their lives.
For some people, therapy is the right place to start. The root-cause understanding emerges through the course of reflecting and problem-solving.
Others prefer to begin with a structured evaluation process to better understand what may be happening before deciding what kind of support they want.
I offer Adult ADHD & Autism Evaluations designed specifically for adults exploring neurodivergence later in life.
These evaluations include:
• Intake questionnaires and screening measures to gather background information before we meet
• A 90–120 minute diagnostic interview exploring developmental history, relationships, work experiences, and current patterns
• Clinical review and scoring of standardized rating scales using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
• A feedback session where we discuss findings, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations
• A written clinical summary report outlining diagnostic impressions and suggested next steps
The goal of this process is not simply to assign a label, but to develop a thoughtful understanding of the patterns that have shaped your life.
Some people complete an evaluation and move forward with greater clarity on their own.
Others choose to continue into therapy to explore how these patterns affect relationships, work, and emotional life.
Both paths are welcome here.
Where Things Tend to Break Down
When neurodivergence goes unsupported for a long time, the strain often shows up in predictable places.
In Relationships
Sometimes it looks like intensity:
Falling fast
Hyperfocusing
Choosing unavailable partners
Feeling devastated when it ends
Sometimes it looks like distance:
Chronic loneliness
Second-guessing every interaction
Masking to stay connected
Rejection hitting harder than it “should”
Either way, you’re tired of not understanding why this keeps happening.
In Work & Burnout
You may perform well in a crisis.
You may even thrive in novelty or intensity.
But sustaining everyday life?
That’s different.
Many adults with ADHD or AuDHD describe cycles like this — periods of intense focus followed by burnout, shutdown, and difficulty maintaining the routines that other people seem to manage more easily.
Executive functioning drops.
Anxiety spikes.
You shut down.
You judge yourself.
You start wondering if you’re just lazy.
You know you’re capable.
You also know something isn’t adding up.
What Actually Changes
We start with what feels acute:
Reducing rumination
Softening shame spirals
Building emotional regulation in ways that fit your brain
Supporting executive functioning without relying on willpower alone
Then we widen the lens:
Neurodivergence. Attachment. Trauma. Long-standing compensation.
Often the first shift is simple but profound:
“This explains so much.”
From there, things begin to organize differently.
Not perfect.
But steadier.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I offer diagnostic evaluations for ADHD and autism in adults. Since there is a lot of overlap between the two, I assess for both at the same time in my evaluations.
In the context of therapy, there is ongoing assessment for ADHD and other conditions. Diagnostic clarity usually emerges in 4-6 weeks.
For quicker diagnosis and to receive a written report, you can choose to book a formal evaluation.
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This is a private pay practice. My standard fee is $250 per 50-minute session, with a limited number of reduced-fee spots beginning at $175. I am happy to provide monthly superbills for you to submit to your insurance for out-of-network coverage.
Evaluations are private pay only. They cost $1200 and include a 90-120 diagnostic interview, 50-minute feedback session, evaluation of surveys and measures, and a written report.
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For psychotherapy, we begin with regularly scheduled weekly meetings for a minimum of six weeks. This allows a good cadence for information gathering on my end and building rapport and momentum. After this this point we assess collaboratively whether meeting less frequently will support you enough to meet your goals.
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Yes. I work with clients throughout Illinois and California via telehealth.
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That’s very common. Many people arrive with questions rather than certainty. Part of our early work together is exploring the patterns you're noticing and making sense of them.
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For many neurodivergent adults, telehealth actually creates a more comfortable and accessible environment for therapy. Come as you are and get comfy; no stressful commute required.
Considering Reaching Out?
If you’re unsure whether this is ADHD — that’s okay.
If you’re wondering whether you’re overreacting — that’s okay too.
The consultation call is simply a conversation. No certainty required.
If what you’re reading here feels familiar, let’s talk about what’s been happening in your life and whether this kind of work would be helpful.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out!