ADHD Assessments · Washington, DC
What if the way your
brain works finally
made sense?
Our evidence-based adult ADHD assessments are designed for people who have been asking that question for years — and are finally ready for an answer.
Serving adults 18+ in Washington, DC · Maryland · Virginia · and PsyPact Telehealth States
Learn About the Process Below
For many adults, the question of whether they have ADHD has been sitting quietly in the background for years — sometimes decades. Maybe you've always struggled to finish tasks, stay organized, or keep up with the demands of a busy life, even when you're genuinely trying. Maybe you've been told it's anxiety, or stress, or just the way you are. Maybe you're only now, in your 30s or 40s, starting to wonder if there's something more to the story.
An ADHD assessment won't change who you are. But it can change how you understand yourself — and that changes everything.
At Dr. Emma Basch & Associates, we offer evidence-based Adult ADHD Assessments for adults 18 and older in Washington, DC and via telehealth across PsyPact-participating states. Our assessments are designed to be thorough, collaborative, and — above all — clarifying. We don't just tell you whether you have ADHD. We help you understand what that means for your life, and what to do next.
Who Is This For
Is this assessment right for you?
You don't need to be certain that you have ADHD to reach out. Most people who come to us for an assessment have spent years second-guessing themselves — wondering if their struggles are "real" enough, or whether they're just not trying hard enough. They are real. And you deserve clarity.
Never Been Evaluated
You've wondered for years whether ADHD might explain your difficulties with focus, follow-through, or staying organized — but never received a formal evaluation.
Diagnosed in Childhood
You had an ADHD diagnosis as a child and want updated clarity about how it shows up now, in your adult life and responsibilities.
Adults Experiencing Persistent Challenges with:
Focus and concentration
Organization and time management
Procrastination or task initiation
Emotional regulation
Forgetfulness or distractibility
Concerns about consistency or follow-up through
We offer a free 15-minute consultation call — no commitment, just a conversation. We'll help you figure out if an assessment makes sense for where you are right now.
Not sure if an assessment is the right fit?
How it Works
A thorough, 5-step process
built around you
Our assessment integrates multiple sources of information — not just a questionnaire — to ensure an accurate, well-supported picture of your experience.
-
An in-depth clinical conversation exploring your developmental and educational history, current symptoms and challenges, mental health and medical background, and how ADHD may be showing up across your work, relationships, and daily life.
-
We administer the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5), a widely used structured diagnostic tool that evaluates ADHD symptoms based on DSM-5 criteria — covering both childhood and adult presentations across multiple life domains.
-
Standardized questionnaires assessing attention, executive functioning, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and functional impairment — providing objective data that supports the diagnostic process.
-
When available and appropriate, we may review previous evaluations, medical records, or input from partners, family members, or others who know you well — helping build the most complete picture of how your symptoms have appeared across settings and over time.
-
A clinical feedback session in plain language — no jargon — plus a personalized written report with your diagnostic determination and tailored recommendations. Our goal isn't just to give you a label. It's to give you a roadmap.
Understanding Your Options
How this differs from
neuropsychological testing
If you've been researching ADHD evaluations, you may have come across the term "neuropsychological testing" and wondered whether that's what you need. The short answer, for most adults seeking clarity about ADHD, is probably not.
Our ADHD assessments are focused diagnostic clinical evaluations — designed specifically to determine whether ADHD is present and to provide clear recommendations for what to do next. Neuropsychological testing is a broader, more intensive battery of cognitive tests typically used when there are complex neurological or learning concerns, or when documentation is needed for academic or workplace accommodations.
For most adults wondering whether ADHD explains the challenges they've been living with, a focused clinical ADHD assessment is the most appropriate, efficient, and clinically sound place to start. If you're unsure which is right for you, we're happy to talk it through.
A Note on Our Specialty:
ADHD in Women
If you're a woman who has arrived at this page after years of struggling and wondering, we want you to know something: the fact that you weren't diagnosed sooner is not a reflection of how serious your symptoms were. It's a reflection of how poorly ADHD has historically been understood in women and girls.
Research consistently shows that women with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms, more likely to mask their difficulties, and more likely to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before anyone looks for ADHD (Attoe & Climie, Journal of Attention Disorders, 2023).
Many women we work with in Washington, DC come to us after a turning point — a period of burnout, a shift in life responsibilities, or the hormonal changes of perimenopause — that made their symptoms impossible to push through alone. Wherever you are in that journey, we understand the particular experience of women navigating a late ADHD diagnosis, and we bring both clinical expertise and genuine care to that work.
Your Assessor
Meet the clinician who will conduct your assessment
Caren Ann Appel
LCSW · Certified ADHD Diagnostic Assessor
Washington, DC & Virginia · Trauma-Informed Care · Neurodivergent Adults
Caren is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker certified to conduct ADHD diagnostic assessments, with specialized training in supporting neurodivergent clients. LCSWs with specialized assessment certification are qualified to conduct clinical diagnostic evaluations using structured instruments like the DIVA-5 and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria — the same standards used across disciplines. It's worth noting that LCSWs do not prescribe medication; if medication is part of your follow-up care, we will work collaboratively with your prescribing provider or help connect you with one.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Whether or not the assessment confirms an ADHD diagnosis, you will leave with something you may not have had before: clarity. If ADHD is not present, the assessment process often helps identify what IS driving your experience — whether that's another condition, a different pattern of functioning, or a combination of factors. You'll receive a written report with our clinical impressions and personalized recommendations for next steps, regardless of the outcome. There is no wrong result — only a clearer picture of what's actually going on and what to do about it.
-
We're happy to discuss fees when you reach out. We want to make sure you have what you need to make a decision that's right for you.
-
Yes. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) who hold specialized certification in ADHD assessment are qualified to conduct clinical diagnostic evaluations using structured instruments and DSM-5 criteria. Caren Ann Appel, LCSW, is certified to conduct ADHD diagnostic assessments and brings specialized training in working with neurodivergent adults. One important distinction: LCSWs do not prescribe medication. If medication becomes part of your care plan, we will support you in connecting with a prescribing provider — and many clients find that a combination of assessment, therapy, and medication management works well together.
-
We hear this often, and we take it seriously. Many of the adults — particularly women — who come to us for assessments have spent years feeling like their struggles weren't serious enough, or being diagnosed with anxiety or depression without anyone looking deeper.
Our assessment process is thorough, collaborative, and built around actually listening to your full history, not checking boxes. Caren's approach is specifically attuned to the ways ADHD presents in adults who have spent years masking, compensating, and second-guessing themselves.
-
Absolutely. We offer a free 15-minute consultation call to help you figure out whether an assessment is the right next step for you — with no commitment and no pressure. If you're curious but not certain, that's exactly what the consultation is for. Simply reach out through our contact page and we'll be in touch within one business day to schedule a time.
You've been wondering
long enough.
Getting an assessment isn't about labeling yourself. It's about finally having a framework that makes sense of your experience — and a real plan for moving forward.
Here's what happens when you reach out:
→ We'll answer your questions.
→ No commitment, no pressure — just a conversation.
→ If an assessment is a good fit, we'll get you on Caren's schedule