One-on-one with Julie Bjelland, LMFT

In your session, we can discuss any topic that feels important to you. Common areas include:

• Understanding Your Sensitivity or Neurodivergence: Explore your unique traits as a highly sensitive, autistic, or neurodivergent individual.

• Navigating Challenges: Address issues like overwhelm, burnout, anxiety, or difficulty in relationships.

• Self-Compassion and Identity: Build self-understanding, embrace your neurodivergent identity, and challenge internalized ableism.

• Tools and Strategies: Develop personalized tools to manage sensory sensitivities, regulate emotions, and set healthy boundaries.

• Relationships and Communication: Learn strategies to share your needs, set boundaries, or manage misunderstandings with loved ones.

• Workplace or School Support: Explore self-advocacy and accommodations to thrive in work or educational settings.

• Life Transitions: Navigate changes like a new diagnosis, career shifts, or unmasking.

• Celebrating Strengths: Identify and nurture your unique strengths, sensory joys, and special interests.

This is a safe, supportive space tailored to your needs, where you are free to focus on what matters most to you.

1. Please use headphones or a separate microphone (not the computer mic) for the best audio quality for our sensitive ears.

2. Please turn off all notifications on your phone and devices before the session begins so we can focus best.

3. You’ll want to be alone in a private place for these sessions, free from distractions and interruptions.

4. It’s good to have paper and a pen to take notes on.

5. For consultations, I recommend thinking about what you want to achieve in this session. Have questions written out ahead to make the best use of your time.

Yes! During the sign-up process, you can set up any number of recurring sessions, which is a good idea to hold specific time slots for you.

Payment & Cancellation Policy

We accept payments via credit card or PayPal. If needed, Zelle or Venmo may also be an option—please contact us in advance to arrange alternative payment.

Payment is collected at the time of booking to secure your appointment and reserve the time specifically for you.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice:

• Cancellations with 48 hours’ notice will receive a refund, minus a $50 fee to cover credit card processing and administrative costs.

• Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice will receive a 50% refund, as this time has been held especially for you and may not be able to be offered to someone else on short notice.

You are always welcome to reschedule your appointment at no additional cost, as long as the change is made at least 48 hours in advance.

If you have any questions or need assistance with scheduling, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help.

Understanding Your Options for an Autism Assessment or Consultation

Finding practitioners who truly understand how autism presents in adults—especially in those with more internalized or masked traits—can be challenging. While this experience is often underrecognized in women, all genders can present with these nuanced traits, and my approach is affirming and inclusive of everyone.

Due to licensing laws, therapists can only provide formal diagnoses in the states where they are licensed. I am licensed in California, which means I can offer formal autism assessments only to individuals who are physically located in California at the time of the session. Residency in California is not required—just your physical presence during the assessment.

Options for Support

If You Are Physically in California:

You are eligible for a formal autism assessment, which may lead to a diagnosis when all criteria are met. These comprehensive assessments are completed in a single session (with built-in breaks) and offer in-depth exploration, validation, and clarity.

If You Are Outside of California:

I offer global consultations for individuals of all genders who are exploring whether their traits may align with autism. While these consultations do not include a formal diagnosis, they provide education, insight, and support in better understanding yourself through a neurodivergent-affirming lens. Many people find this process to be deeply validating and sufficient for their needs.

Important Note

If you need documentation to request accommodations through a school, university, government agency, or workplace, it is your responsibility to confirm whether a formal diagnosis is required—and if so, whether it must be conducted by a specific type of provider (such as a psychologist, medical doctor, or psychiatrist). Please check with the institution to ensure this assessment will meet their requirements.

If you don’t see a time that works for you above in the scheduler, please reach out to us here and let us know your preferred days/times, and we can see if we can find something that works.

We will use Zoom Video for assessments. If you book consultations, you can use an audio-only, video, or live written chat session. If you live in the United States and want to do audio-only, we can also talk by phone for consultation sessions. If we work together via Zoom, you will be sent a unique link by email. If you have never used Zoom before, please watch the video below and arrive early to get set up.

The autism assessment is completed in one comprehensive session, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes, with built-in breaks to support comfort and regulation.

This single-session format includes everything needed for an accurate and affirming assessment:

• A guided exploration of your lived experiences

• Time for reflection and emotional processing

• Review of traits through a neurodivergent-affirming lens

• Space for your questions and support with next steps

This format allows for depth, connection, and clarity—without the need for multiple appointments.

I provide a simple letter confirming your diagnosis to make the assessment process more affordable. Detailed formal written reports are extensive and time-consuming for practitioners, which significantly increases costs. For most individuals, a simple letter stating the diagnosis is sufficient. However, if you are seeking accommodations through a specific agency, school, or organization, a detailed report may be required, and I do not provide those. It is your responsibility to confirm the specific requirements of the institution to ensure that the simple letter will meet their needs.

Why This Assessment Is More Accessible—and Still Thorough

Most private adult autism assessments in California range from $5,000 to $10,000, largely due to extensive work done outside of sessions, including scoring standardized measures and writing detailed reports. These assessments often follow a clinical model that may not fully capture the nuanced experiences of sensitive or late-identified autistic adults.

In contrast, my assessment process is offered at $750 for one comprehensive session (2 hours and 15 minutes total). This includes exploration, integration, and reflection—with built-in breaks and space for emotional processing. The cost remains accessible by streamlining the process and focusing on collaborative, conversational assessment rather than lengthy written reports.

Instead of standardized testing, I rely on in-depth, guided dialogue tailored to your lived experience. While no formal written report is provided, you may request a simple letter stating the outcome of the assessment if needed.

This approach not only saves you thousands of dollars—it also fosters a more human, validating, and accurate process. By creating a space where you feel emotionally safe, seen, and respected, we’re able to gather richer insights. This model is especially supportive for those with sensitive nervous systems or a history of masking, and it often results in a more accurate identification of autism in adults.

Making this kind of assessment more affordable, affirming, and accessible is deeply important to me.

If you're looking to understand whether you might be Autistic for personal reasons, undergoing an assessment with me is a suitable option. However, if you need a written report for submission to a school or a government agency to secure accommodations or services, in that case, opting for a formal neuropsychological assessment that concludes with a comprehensive written report is advisable. Many colleges mandate an assessment report for accessing accommodations, so ensuring compliance is important.