Autism testing in Ogden, Utah for children, teens, and adults.
Specialized psychological testing for autism spectrum disorder, including the ADOS-2. Every assessment is administered and interpreted start to finish by Dr. Clarissa Gosney, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist.
You noticed something early. You mentioned it. You were told to wait and see.
You waited, and the thing you noticed is still there. That is reason enough to ask.
Good Day Mental Health provides autism evaluations in Ogden, Utah for children, teens, and adults. Every assessment, including the ADOS-2, is administered and interpreted by a licensed clinical psychologist, never a technician.
There is no waitlist. In most cases we can see you tomorrow, and almost always within a few days. Testing is in person at 3785 Harrison Blvd, Suite 4, Ogden, serving Weber County, Davis County, and the Wasatch Front.
If any of these sound familiar, it is reasonable to ask.
No referral needed. No waiting for someone else to notice first.
Autism, ADHD, and anxiety can look identical from the outside. How our psychologists tell them apart →
From your first call to your report.
Four steps. Nothing to prepare, and nothing your child can get wrong.
Intake session
You meet with Dr. Gosney and tell her about your child. This is where the evaluation is actually shaped.
Why it matters: the history carries as much diagnostic weight as anything observed in the testing room.
Testing day
Usually a single visit. Some of it looks like play, some like conversation, some happens on an iPad or with paper and pencil.
Please do not coach or rehearse. There are no right or wrong answers, and we need to see how your child functions as the day gets long.
The written report
Scored, analyzed, and written by the psychologist who tested your child. This is the part that carries the value.
In a hurry? Rush turnaround as short as two days is sometimes possible for an additional fee.
Feedback session
You sit down with the psychologist who did the testing and go through every finding.
"What we really want to see is the deterioration of the masking a child may have worked so hard to keep up. We want to see what parents see after a full day of school, not the well put together person they get during first period."
Dr. Clarissa Gosney, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist · Full bio
A functional tool, not a stack of percentiles.
Scores are in the report. They are not the point of it.
Documentation the district will act on
Utah schools require medical documentation for autism. Classroom accommodation recommendations come with it.
A plan, not just a label
Testing, therapy, and psychiatry sit in one practice, so the evaluation feeds into what happens next.
Usually a relief, not a wound
The fear that keeps families from calling. In practice, many autistic people finally feel affirmed in why they never felt like they fit in.
The most underserved group in autism assessment
We evaluate adults regularly. Bring what you can about early development: old report cards, baby books, family video. A lack of it makes the evaluation harder, not impossible.
Before you call.
How do I know if my child needs an autism evaluation?
If you have been wondering for more than a few months and the concern has not resolved, an evaluation is reasonable. You do not need a referral or a teacher's agreement. More in our full guide.
Who conducts the testing?
A licensed clinical psychologist or other doctor of psychology, start to end. We do not employ psychometrists or testing technicians. Many practices use technicians with a psychologist reviewing results afterward, which means the person who reached the conclusion never watched your child.
How do you tell autism apart from ADHD or anxiety?
The behaviors overlap heavily, so the work is identifying what drives them. Restricted and repetitive behaviors, repetitive hand motions, and sensory differences point more specifically toward autism. Full comparison in Autism vs ADHD vs Anxiety in Kids.
Can my child have more than one at once?
Yes, and it is common. ADHD and anxiety frequently occur together, and autism and ADHD co-occur often enough that finding one prompts a close look for the other.
Does insurance cover autism testing?
Testing is generally self-pay. We provide an itemized superbill for possible reimbursement, and accept HSA, FSA, major cards, and CareCredit with six months interest free. Coverage varies by plan, so call and we will help you sort out your options.
Should I prepare my child?
Please do not coach or rehearse. Tell your child they will meet someone who wants to get to know them and play some games. Splitting testing across days to make it easier also works against the accuracy of the results.
Will I be in the room?
It depends on your child. If they talk fluently about things outside the room, you will not be present, and that is by design. For children with less language there are portions parents join. The hardest thing we ask is that you resist helping.
Will a private evaluation get my child services at school?
It is often the necessary first step. Utah schools require medical documentation for autism, so a private evaluation gives the district something to work from. A medical diagnosis alone is neither sufficient nor necessary for an educational classification.
Can adults be evaluated?
Yes, and we do it regularly. The main challenge is reliable information about early development, so it helps to think ahead about who might speak to your childhood and gather old records.
What if my child has anxiety? Will that affect the results?
It can, which is why it needs to be recognized rather than mistaken for something else. Our psychologists have extensive experience with childhood anxiety and selective mutism, and when anxiety limits what we can observe, we say so directly in the report.
You have waited long enough for an answer.
Autism evaluations and psychological testing for children, teens, and adults, conducted by a licensed clinical psychologist.
Ogden · North Ogden · Roy · Layton · Clearfield · Farmington
Weber County · Davis County · Wasatch Front
From the Blog