Asperger Center NYC Dr. Geller

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Hey everyone!
I am finally going for my official diagnosis ! ! I am going to the US because spotting aspergers in women is very hard and I want a specialist. Since I am far from rich and I am going to spend all the saved money this trip is going to be an once in a lifetime opportunity. It is very important I get a great evaluation.
So I searched for a specialist and I am setting an appointment with dr. Lynda Geller from the Asperger Center in NYC and I wanted some feedback. It's very expensive, each session is 300 dollars. I don't mind since getting a misdiagnosis or doubting my evaluation would be much worse, so if it's worth it I am paying, but I need to know first if it's worth it. Has anyone here been treated in the Asperger Center or with Dr. Geller? What was your experience? Any other specialist you would like to suggest?

What do you need the diagnosis for? In the US, they use the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, which isn't used in most other parts of the world. If Brazil uses the ICD-10 manual published by the World Health Organization a diagnosis you obtain in the US may not help you with accessing services or support in Brazil. Also, in the US you won't get an Asperger's diagnosis anymore. In DSM-5 Asperger's was eliminated and it's now all autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Under ICD-10 you can still get diagnosed with Asperger's until at least 2017 (when ICD-11 will get published). Bear that in mind before spending all your money on seeking a diagnosis abroad. Surely, there must be professionals qualified to diagnose Asperger's/autism in Brazil?

I hail from NYC. I know Dr. Geller and her colleagues. They are very well-know and well-respected in the community here.

If you are set on coming to NYC for your evaluation, the other place I would recommend is The ASPIRE Center.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Dr. Geller diagnosed me with both Moderately Severe Aspergers syndrome under the DSM IV and Autism Spectrum Disorder under the DSM 5 AFTER the DSM 5 manual came out. The DSM 5 is a guideline not a rulebook. Clinicians do not have to use it. United States clinicians will not lose their licenses or be fined if they the use the DSM IV. I concur with the information Nymeria8 gave because when we were researching clinicians she was repeatedly recommended. She has over 30 years specializing in Aspergers including adults and including females.

I do not know the diagnostic situation for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Brazil so I can not compare the advantages or disadvantages.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 07 Mar 2014, 12:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

I want the diagnosis to get a better understanding of myself and to get some specialized help. I am not applying for government help or anything like that so I don't think the DSM ICD difference would matter, I just want to know myself whether I have it or not. I am not using the diagnosis itself for an end.
The thing is I want to go straight to a specialist so I have no doubt. I don't want to tell my parentes my suspicions to go to doctor nobody in a corner of my city and not have my traits recognized and my Family ending up thinking I wanted the diagnosis as na excuse for my behavior. I would still doubt if I have aspergers but then my parentes would not let me be evaluated anymore. (All my life I have come up with psychological conditions to try to explain why I was diferente so my parentes think I have low self-steem and have to stop thinking I am weird etc. they don't want to incentivate this "obessession")
I think getting a misdiagnosis or not getting a diagnosis when I have aspergers would lead me to wanting to clear this doubt all my life and going for a second, third, fourth opinion and it would end up as expensive and emotionally much worse.
Besides I am going to NY for tourism anyway (there is this discount of 1700 dollars everything included and I have saved money), so why not?


How many sessions did it take? How was the process?

You know people believe what they want to believe, they often ignore facts.....

I don't get it. What do you mean?

I was given a series of questionnaires over a several month period to mail back to her. My siblings were structurally interviewed. Following that I was given one session where we discussed my life as a child and as a younger adult. I was asked to list reasons why I think I have Asprgers and why I think I do not have Aspergers. I was then told there was no doubt I have Aspergers and that the reasons I listed for not having Aspergers were coping mechanisms. A few months after the diagnoses I had to fill out a followup questionnaire before I received my diagnostic report. I have read accounts of people having several sessions with Dr. Geller before getting diagnosed.. I was diagnosed in my mid 50's so my school records were destroyed a long time ago, so the precess of getting diagnosed might be different for you.

I hope you enjoy your stay in New York and get helpful information from Dr. Geller.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 07 Mar 2014, 1:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sorry but I have to write about it.
This diagnosis thing is driving me madmadmadmad.
I don't know if I should go for a diagnosis or not! It's killing me.
I am desperate, I need to improve my quality of life. I need to get out of this angustiating identity crisis and to find who I am, and I need specialized help because I am sucking at college, and I need to get rid of this generalized anxiety I feel all day that makes me want to jump out of the window. I need to get better at socializing, and to be able to organize myself, and to be independent.
On the other hand I have been reading there are lots of possible disadvantages and I am scared of being labelled as autistic. It could make my life worse, and close many doors despite my potential and skills. It is scary, very scary - and definite! What if all those bad things I am feeling are only a phase? A phase that is going to pass, and I am rushing things with a diagnosis which is going to be forever?

I'm sorry, I meant if your parents are convinced of what they believe, they may remain thinking the same way no matter what. I was suggesting to be careful getting yourself believing they will change based on the outcome of an evaluation unless there is reason from their past behavior to believe that will happen.

Save this post and make sure she sees this.