Understanding Your Diagnostic Evaluation Results: Diagnosis Letter vs. Comprehensive Report
At Thriving Wellness Center in New Jersey and New York, we provide neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluations for adolescents and adults. Our comprehensive assessments are tailored to each individual, combining clinical interviews, developmental history, direct observation, and evidence-based tools.
Understanding Your Results: Diagnosis Letter vs. Comprehensive Report
Following an Autism and/or ADHD diagnostic evaluation at Thriving Wellness Center, you may receive two different documents: a Diagnosis Letter and a Comprehensive Diagnostic Report. Each serves a distinct purpose.
Take the First Step Toward Clarity and Support
Start understanding your neurodiverse profile and access personalized guidance with a comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluation. Whether for work, school, or daily life, our evaluations provide clarity, validation, and actionable recommendations tailored to your needs.
Diagnosis Letter (Included in Evaluation Fee)
A diagnosis letter is a concise, official clinical document intended for formal or administrative use.
What it includes:
Your identifying information and date of evaluation
Your formal diagnosis or diagnoses using DSM-5 terminology
Severity level or clinical specifiers (when applicable)
The assessment tools used
The clinician’s name, credentials, license information, and signature
What it does not include:
The diagnosis letter does not contain detailed history, test-by-test interpretation, or a narrative formulation of how your symptoms developed over time.
When a diagnosis letter is most useful:
Situations where a clear, formal statement of diagnosis is required
Comprehensive Diagnostic Report (Optional for additional fee)
The comprehensive report is a detailed clinical document designed to help you fully understand your diagnosis, how it applies to your life, and how to move forward.
What it includes:
Referral Reason and Background: Why you sought the evaluation, your main concerns, functional challenges, goals, and what has or has not helped in the past.
Developmental and Family History: Early development, childhood patterns, family context, speech history, attachment, and possible genetic or neurodevelopmental influences.
Educational History and Academic Functioning: How attention, learning, organization, and motivation showed up across school years, including patterns such as procrastination, last-minute work, masking, and strengths.
Occupational Functioning, Strengths, and Challenges: Work history, feedback from supervisors, preferred work styles, executive functioning demands, and core strengths and values.
Social and Interpersonal History: Relationship patterns, people-pleasing, fear of rejection, conflict styles, masking, and romantic experiences, with clinical interpretation of what drives these patterns.
Psychiatric History, Substance Use, and Treatment: Therapy history, medication trials, mental health diagnoses, substance use, and how these interact with attention, anxiety, OCD, trauma, or emotional regulation.
Assessment Results: In-depth interpretation of each measure used, including what it assesses, your results, how they compare to clinical norms, and what they indicate about executive functioning, sensory processing, stress, masking, and social functioning.
Diagnostic Impressions: A clear clinical formulation explaining which diagnoses are supported, which were considered but not supported, how overlapping conditions interact, and what is most responsible for current impairment. This includes DSM-based rationale and differential diagnosis.
Treatment Recommendations: Personalized, actionable recommendations for therapy approaches (such as ADHD-focused CBT, ERP, ACT, or DBT), practical strategies for daily life, work and school accommodations, sensory regulation supports, medication consultation guidance when relevant, and next-step planning.
When a comprehensive report is most useful:
When you want a deep understanding of how your brain works and why certain patterns exist
For treatment planning and selecting the most effective therapy approach
For academic or workplace accommodations that require detailed documentation
For personal clarity, long-term growth, and creating sustainable systems that fit your profile
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose a Diagnosis Letter if you would like official documentation.
Choose a Comprehensive Report if you want insight, clarity, and a roadmap for treatment, self-understanding, and long-term functioning.
Many clients benefit from having both.
If you have questions about which option best fits your needs, we are happy to help you decide.
Take the Next Step
At Thriving Wellness Center, we specialize in neurodiversity-affirming care and support for individuals with autism, ADHD in New York, New Jersey, and virtually. Our approach emphasizes understanding and celebrating neurodivergent strengths while providing the tools and support needed to navigate challenges in daily life, school, work, and relationships.
Our neurodiversity-affirming services include:
Comprehensive Autism Diagnostic Evaluations - We provide thorough, evidence-based assessments to help you understand your unique neurodivergent profile. Our evaluations, including Adult Autism Testing, are designed to uncover strengths, challenges, and areas of support, giving you clarity and actionable guidance. This is especially helpful for individuals who were diagnosed late in life or are seeking clarity about ASD traits.
Autism Focused Therapy - Our therapy services are tailored to support social, emotional, and executive functioning challenges commonly associated with autism. We use neurodiversity-affirming strategies to help clients manage sensory sensitivities, improve communication skills, regulate emotions, and develop coping strategies for daily life.
Autism Support Groups - Connecting with others who share similar experiences can be powerful. Our support groups provide a safe, structured environment where individuals can share, learn, and develop skills together. Topics include social interaction, self-advocacy, sensory regulation, and emotional well-being.
