Story and a Question About Diagnoses

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First post here, so bear with me please. Story for context, and the question follows.

So when I was in middle school, around the middle of 7th grade, I ended up in family therapy with my parents and later in a psychiatrist's office via a chain of events that I do not remember clearly. I remember his name as Albert Ma, but the only thing I'm certain of is that he was a he and his last name, and there's half a million Mas in the Bay Area, at least a dozen of whom are psychiatrists, so finding him again is nearly hopeless. I think I saw the guy for six weeks, but it could have been two months or even more (or maybe less), and at the end of it all he told my mom that I might have Asperger's. (To add to the poeticism of it all, "I think your son might have Asperger's" is the last thing I ever heard him say.)

My parents kind of ignored it and for a while so did I, but as I've gotten older and particularly as I've gone through high school it's started eating at me more. I did my research and I have my suspicions, but I've decided that I need to know for certain. I leave for college in late August and my school's insurance plan covers mental health services inculding therapy and psychiatry, and if it really comes down to it I'm willing to pay for it myself.


So I guess my question is how to get an answer? All of the resources I found on the internet were geared towards parents and wanted teacher referrals to be sent to the kids' doctors. Do I need something like that? Can I just call a psychiatrist's office and schedule an appointment? Should I go through my doctor? How long does it take to get a yes or a no; do I have enough time before I leave for college? I assume it takes multiple visits, so can I start now and continue with a different person?

I really don't know where to turn. I don't really trust my parents; one of the reasons I've waited this long is so I could go to a psychiatrist without their knowledge or consent. I don't even know if this is the right forum. Any help is greatly appreciated.

https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/studen ... vices.aspx
More than likely you will need to visit a page like this one to find out what services are available. If you are living on campus there will usually be a resident adviser you can ask and they will go online and look it up for you.

The rules are different for every organization. And they change all the time.

Are you still living in the Bay Area? If so, contact the local Autism Society to ask for suggestions on where to get a diagnosis. Here is a page on their website that also lists various local in-person support groups. Also, here is a news story that mentions some adult ASD specialists in the Bay Area.