3400 1st. Street North, Suite #105 St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303
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Understand Yourself.
Build Skills
Find your Community.
heal
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Affirming therapy for children, adolescents, and adults.
- Anxiety & Stress
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Relationships
- Identity & Self Esteem
- Life Transitions
grow
Build Skills
Communication and relationship skills classes designed for autistic adults.
- Social Communication
- Conversation Skills
- Workplace Communication
- Relationships & Dating
- Confidence & Boundaries
belong
Find Community
Connection and resources so you never have to do this alone.
- Community Meet-Ups
- Resources
- Community Partners
The Importance of a Comprehensive Evaluation
A comprehensive psychological evaluation provides far more than a diagnosis—it offers a deeper understanding of the individual as a whole. Through clinical interviews, standardized testing, behavioral observations, and a careful review of developmental, educational, medical, and social history, the evaluation identifies cognitive strengths, learning styles, executive functioning abilities, communication patterns, adaptive skills, emotional functioning, and areas of challenge. This integrated approach helps explain why difficulties occur, not just what they are. The result is a personalized roadmap that informs treatment planning, educational supports, workplace accommodations, and strategies designed to build upon each individual’s unique strengths while addressing areas of need.
Kristen Math, MS, MA, LPCC-S
Kristen Math is the founder of Therapy Dynamics and specializes in comprehensive psychological evaluations for autism, ADHD, learning disorders, cognitive functioning, and diagnostic clarification across the lifespan. She combines a strong scientific background with extensive clinical training to provide thoughtful, evidence-based assessments and neurodiversity-affirming therapy.
Her unique educational background includes graduate training in Molecular Biology and Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Psychological Assessment, allowing her to integrate scientific rigor with compassionate clinical care. Kristen is committed to helping individuals and families gain meaningful answers while building confidence, understanding, and hope for the future.
Evidence-Based Standardized Assessments
Every evaluation at Therapy Dynamics incorporates carefully selected, research-supported assessment instruments chosen to answer each individual’s unique referral questions. Depending on the purpose of the evaluation, standardized measures may assess intellectual functioning, attention, executive functioning, academic achievement, adaptive behavior, autism characteristics, emotional and behavioral functioning, language, memory, and social communication.
Assessment tools may include the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2/BRIEF-A), Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3), Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), MIGDAS-2, Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WIAT-4), Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities and Achievement, and other nationally standardized instruments as clinically indicated. Each assessment is interpreted within the context of a comprehensive clinical evaluation to ensure conclusions and recommendations are individualized, meaningful, and evidence-based.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Any Questions For Us?
I understand that starting therapy or pursuing an assessment can bring up many questions. This FAQ section is designed to provide clear answers and helpful information so you can feel informed and confident as you take the next step.
Why are your evaluations less expensive than many other evaluations in Minnesota?
My goal is to provide high-quality, clinically sound evaluations that are financially accessible to the people who need them. Many assessment practices operate within business models that require significant overhead, extensive testing batteries, lengthy reports, multiple staff members, or large administrative structures. These factors can contribute to higher costs.
My approach is different. I focus on gathering the information necessary to answer the referral question accurately and ethically while keeping the process as efficient as possible. My fees reflect the time, expertise, and clinical judgment required to provide a thorough evaluation, without adding unnecessary costs.
I believe formal assessments should be available to individuals who genuinely need them for diagnosis, accommodations, services, disability determination, or personal understanding, not just to those who can afford several thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
How Do I Know If I Need a Formal Evaluation?
A formal evaluation may be helpful if you need documentation for school accommodations, workplace accommodations, disability services, SSDI, vocational rehabilitation, or other situations that require a written report and diagnosis. Evaluations can also be valuable when the diagnosis is unclear or when several conditions may be contributing to your experiences.
However, not everyone who wonders about autism, ADHD, or another diagnosis needs a comprehensive evaluation. In many cases, individuals are primarily seeking self-understanding, support, and practical strategies. These questions can often be explored through therapy, consultation, and clinical discussion without the time and expense of a formal assessment.
If you’re unsure which option is right for you, I am happy to discuss your goals and help determine whether a formal evaluation would be beneficial or whether another approach may better meet your needs.
Can Autism Be Diagnosed During Therapy?
Yes. In some cases, autism may become apparent through the course of an ongoing therapeutic relationship. As we work together, I may gather information about your developmental history, life experiences, sensory differences, social communication patterns, masking, burnout, and other characteristics that help clarify whether autism is an appropriate diagnosis.
Therapy is not intended to be a stand-alone autism evaluation service, and clients do not enter therapy solely for the purpose of obtaining a diagnosis. Instead, diagnosis may emerge naturally as part of understanding your experiences and supporting your therapeutic goals. When clinically appropriate, I can diagnose autism within the context of therapy; however, individuals who need formal documentation for accommodations, disability services, legal purposes, or other specific needs may require a separate comprehensive evaluation and written report.
do you accept insurance?
I currently accept a limited number of insurance plans for therapy services. However, formal psychological and autism assessments are provided on a private-pay basis and are not billed to insurance.
For therapy clients who are paying out of pocket, I strive to keep services affordable and will work with individuals to establish a private-pay rate that is manageable for their circumstances whenever possible.
My goal is to make mental health care and assessment services accessible while maintaining the time and attention needed to provide thoughtful, individualized care.
What makes your practice different than others?
I believe assessment and therapy should be accessible, practical, and focused on helping people understand themselves, not creating unnecessary barriers to care.
i have advanced training in both psychological assessment and counseling and bring together the perspectives of an evaluator and a therapist. This allows me to look beyond test scores and diagnostic labels to understand the whole person, your strengths, challenges, and goals.
My approach is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and individualized. I recognize that autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence can present differently across individuals, especially in women, high-masking individuals, and adults who may have been overlooked earlier in life.
I also believe that not everyone needs an expensive, comprehensive evaluation to gain meaningful insight. When a formal assessment is necessary, I strive to provide high-quality evaluations at a reasonable cost. When therapy, consultation, or clinical discussion is a better fit, I will tell you that as well. My goal is not to recommend the most expensive service. it’s to help you find the support and answers that best meet your needs.
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