Avery Axel, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
CA #35705, PA #PS018896

I provide comprehensive psychological evaluations for adults, including ADHD Diagnostic Evaluations (including Telehealth ADHD Diagnostic Evaluations), autism assessments, cognitive testing, and broader diagnostic evaluations. Evaluations are individualized and focused on understanding each person's strengths, challenges, and overall functioning within the context of your life.

Many adults (individuals 18 and older) pursue evaluations after years of unanswered questions, prolonged stress or "burnout," or feeling misunderstood. Some are seeking clarity for personal growth and understanding, while others are interested in clinical recommendations to support self-understanding and guide consideration of possible accommodations or next steps.

No. We specialize in psychological assessment and diagnosis only. If treatment or additional support is recommended, this may be discussed during the feedback appointment, along with referral options.

A psychological evaluation is a holistic process that brings together multiple sources of information to answer specific questions about a person’s functioning. Psychological testing is an important part of an evaluation, but it is not the only important part.

An evaluation typically includes:

• A detailed clinical interview (beginning at intake)

• Psychological testing

• Review of relevant history and records

• Clinical interpretation and professional judgment

The goal of a psychological evaluation is to provide clarity and understanding. While this may include a diagnosis, the intention is not to label or define you. Results, along with personalized recommendations to support self-understanding and guide consideration of possible accommodations or next steps, are shared in a feedback session and written report.

Psychological testing refers to the use of standardized tools designed to better understand how a person thinks, learns, pays attention, processes information, and experiences emotions. These tools may include questionnaires, problem-solving tasks, memory activities, or other structured measures.

Although it is natural for some individuals to feel nervous about testing, the psychological testing process is not about passing or failing. Instead, it helps identify your unique patterns of strengths, challenges, and ways of processing information and emotions. Psychological testing can provide valuable data that promotes more accurate, thoughtful diagnosis and clinical recommendations.

Psychological testing refers to the individual tools or measures used during the evaluation process. A psychological evaluation is the full, integrated assessment, which includes testing plus clinical context, interpretation, and individualized recommendations.

In other words, testing provides pieces of information, and the evaluation looks at how those pieces fit together within the context of your life.

Adult psychological evaluations typically include:

• A detailed clinical interview, which begins during the intake appointment

• Standardized psychological testing/assessment measures

• Review of relevant history and records

• A feedback session to discuss results, answer questions, and review recommendations (if indicated)

Evaluations are typically completed across multiple appointments, often including an intake interview, testing session(s), and a feedback appointment. The exact process varies depending on your specific questions and needs.

The exact evaluation process varies depending on your specific questions, referral concerns, and the type of evaluation being completed. The overall process is typically completed across multiple appointments scheduled over days or weeks, depending on scheduling availability and evaluation type. Most comprehensive psychological evaluations involve multiple steps, which may include:

• A detailed clinical interview, which begins during the intake appointment

• Standardized psychological testing/assessment measures

• Review of relevant history and records

• A feedback session to discuss results, answer questions, and review recommendations (if indicated)

After the evaluation is completed, you will receive a comprehensive written evaluation report summarizing testing results and, when applicable, diagnostic conclusions and clinical recommendations.

Not meeting criteria does not mean your experiences aren’t real or important. Evaluations are designed to help clarify what is going on — whether that involves ADHD, autism, OCD, another mental health or neurodiversity-related diagnosis, or patterns related to stress, life history and lived experiences, learning style, or individual personality and preferences.

You will receive a comprehensive written evaluation report summarizing testing results and, when applicable, diagnostic conclusions and clinical recommendations.

Learning about ADHD, autism, neurodiversity, and mental health can be both validating and overwhelming — especially for adults who have spent years wondering why certain things felt more challenging or different. The resources on the following page are meant to support understanding, self-advocacy, and informed decision-making. These materials are not a substitute for an evaluation or treatment, but they may be informative references as you explore your next steps.

Learn more here: https://www.axeltesting.com/resources

Evaluations may be completed via telehealth, hybrid format (telehealth combined with in-person testing), or fully in-person, depending on the type of evaluation and clinical needs. Hybrid evaluations typically include one in-person testing day for standardized assessment and cognitive testing when indicated. Some evaluations, such as Telehealth ADHD Diagnostic Evaluations, may be completed fully via telehealth. Cognitive testing and some other forms of assessment are conducted in-person only. Please contact me with any questions about evaluation format or recommendations.

You can get started by contacting the office by phone, text, or email.

Get in Touch by Call, text, or email for a free consultation or to schedule an evaluation.

Phone (call or text): 215-873-3838

Email: draxel@axeltesting.com

You may also submit a contact form on my Psychology Today profile by clicking "Email Us."

Please note: These are not emergency lines and are not monitored 24/7. For medical or mental health emergencies, or other life-threatening urgent matters, please contact 911 (emergency services) or 988 (suicide & crisis hotline), or visit your local emergency room or crisis center.

You don’t need to be certain to reach out. Many people contact me because they’re noticing patterns that are making it harder to live life the way they want. These patterns may be difficulty with focus, sensory overwhelm or "overload," exhaustion or "burnout," social fatigue, or a lifelong sense of “working harder than others" in order to succeed.

An evaluation is not about labeling, defining, or changing who you are. The goal is to help you gain more clarity, better understand your brain and emotional experience, and having language that helps you advocate for yourself. If you are not sure whether an evaluation makes sense, you are welcome to ask questions and explore all of your options.

Please feel free to contact me via call, text, or email to help determine if an evaluation is right for you.

215-873-3838 (call or text)

draxel@axeltesting.com (email)

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You may also submit a contact form on my Psychology Today profile by clicking "Email Us."

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These are not emergency lines and are not monitored 24/7. For medical or mental health emergencies, or other life-threatening urgent matters, please contact emergency (911) or crisis services (988), or visit your local emergency room or crisis center.