For many adults, receiving an autism diagnosis can be a profound and validating moment. It can bring clarity to lifelong patterns, ease years of self-doubt, and open the door to self-compassion and understanding. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

At our practice, we have the privilege of working with adults from all walks of life who are exploring whether they may be autistic. Some have spent years feeling out of sync or misunderstood. Others are just beginning to connect the dots, often after a friend, therapist, or family member raises the possibility, or they see a video on social media that resonates a little too much. When someone chooses to pursue a neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluation with us, we take care to ensure that the experience is as supportive, thorough, and empowering as possible.

We assess not just for a diagnosis, but for the person as a whole, taking into account their lived experiences, strengths, challenges, coping strategies, and goals. After this process, we share our findings in a feedback session, where we walk through the testing results, the diagnostic formulation, and provide tailored recommendations.

Many people tell us this process is incredibly validating. But it can also be overwhelming.

The “Now What?” Moment

It’s not unusual for clients to leave the feedback session feeling both seen and stunned. We sometimes describe it as the “deer in the headlights” moment: a mix of relief, recognition, and confusion about what comes next.

Even when the diagnosis fits and the insights feel accurate, it’s a lot to take in—especially after years or decades of masking, second-guessing, or being told a different story about yourself. For many people, the evaluation is just the beginning of a longer process of self-discovery, healing, and navigating a world that often wasn’t designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

We’ve heard things like:

“That makes so much sense… but I don’t know what to do with it yet.”
“I feel like I need time to process all of this.”
“Can we talk more about what this means for my relationships?”
“I wish I could come back and ask more questions.”

Until now, those questions and feelings have often been left for clients to navigate on their own, with a summary report in hand and a list of resources to explore. While many people thrive with this information, others benefit from having more structured, individualized support to help bridge the gap between diagnosis and integration.

Also Read: How To Support a Loved One Newly Diagnosed with Autism?

Introducing Autism Follow-Up Sessions with Dr. Jaime Long

In response to these needs, we’re excited to share a new offering: individualized follow-up sessions with Dr. Jaime Long for adults who have received an autism diagnosis.

Dr. Long is a licensed psychologist who brings warmth, insight, and a deep understanding of neurodivergence to her work. After several conversations about the post-diagnostic experience and how best to support our clients beyond the evaluation, she will now offer follow-up sessions to help adults explore what their diagnosis means and how to move forward in an intentional and affirming way.

These sessions are designed to be flexible and tailored to your needs. There is no one “right” path after a diagnosis, and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, these follow-up sessions are an opportunity to:

Revisit testing results and diagnostic language in more depth
Ask questions about what the diagnosis means in everyday life
Explore how to communicate the diagnosis with family, friends, or employers
Reflect on your identity and how you want to integrate this new self-understanding
Problem-solve around work, relationships, routines, sensory needs, or burnout
Learn about supports, accommodations, or strategies that might help
Validate and work through mixed emotions—relief, grief, hope, anger, pride

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or still trying to make sense of what it all means, these sessions offer a safe and supportive space to process and plan.

MEDICAL HISTORY FORM

Who Are These Sessions For?

We’re initially offering these sessions to previous clients of our practice—those who have already completed a neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluation and would like more support. If you’ve found yourself with lingering questions or have been meaning to reconsider for a deeper conversation, this is for you.

In time, we also plan to open up availability for adults who were evaluated elsewhere but feel their experience was lacking in clarity, compassion, or follow-up. We recognize that not all evaluations are created equal, and unfortunately, many individuals leave the diagnostic process feeling more confused than before. We hope to offer a re-grounding point: a thoughtful and affirming place to make sense of your diagnosis and how it fits into the larger picture of your life.

If you had an evaluation that felt too clinical, too brief, or too invalidating—or if you didn’t get a chance to talk about what the results meant for you—we invite you to connect with us.

Why Post-Diagnosis Support Matters?

An autism diagnosis doesn’t change who you are—it reveals who you’ve been all along. But even a welcome realization can come with emotional weight.

There may be grief for the years spent not knowing, or for the way your needs were misunderstood. There might be confusion about what parts of your experience are “autistic” and what parts are just…you. There can be excitement and curiosity, but also fear about what lies ahead.

Post-diagnostic support helps create space for these feelings. It’s a chance to move beyond the label and into a fuller understanding of your story—one that makes sense of the past and opens possibilities for the future.

These sessions are psychoeducational and individualized. They are guided conversations focused on education, insight, and self-advocacy. They’re meant to help you build a bridge between insight and action, between diagnosis and identity.

Also Read: Assessing Autism in High-Masking Adults for Accuracy

What to Expect?

Follow-up sessions with Dr. Long are typically 50 minutes in length and are held virtually. The content of the session depends on you—your questions, your goals, your concerns. Some clients may benefit from a single session; others may wish to schedule multiple sessions over time as they continue to reflect and grow.

When you schedule a session, you’ll share ahead of time what you’d like to focus on, so Dr. Long can prepare resources or guidance tailored to your needs. Whether you’re wondering about employment supports, navigating relationships, coping with sensory sensitivities, or just trying to make sense of your internal landscape, she will meet you with curiosity, validation, and clarity.

Looking Ahead

We’re genuinely excited about the potential of these sessions to meet a very real and deeply felt need. Diagnosis can be a decisive first step, but it’s not the destination. It’s the beginning of a different way of seeing yourself.
If you’re a previous client and would like to schedule a follow-up session, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be sharing more information about scheduling and availability soon.
If you were evaluated elsewhere and would like to explore a follow-up session with us, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We’re happy to talk about whether this service is a good fit for you.

You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out at Once

One of the things we often say to clients is, ‘You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to have all the answers right away.’
Coming to understand your autistic identity is a process—sometimes a lifelong one. These sessions are here to help you take the next step, whatever that may look like.
Whether you’re seeking clarity, direction, reassurance, or simply a space to talk through what you’re learning about yourself, we’re here for you.

Need Professional Support?

Dr. Jessica Myszak, Dr. Jaime Long, and Dr. Aimee Rovane have significant experience performing psychological evaluations with children and adults. They offer both in-person and telehealth assessments for children, teens, and adults looking for answers. In addition to seeing clients on the Chicago North Shore, they can work with families who reside in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming! Dr. Long is also now available to see clients in New York and California. If you are interested in learning more about potentially working with them, you can visit their website here to initiate the process.