Neuroaffirming Psychologist (Assessment)

Paperflower Psychiatry, LLC; Oro Valley (AZ); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Support staff provided

Job summary

Paperflower Psychiatry is seeking a licensed psychologist in Arizona to perform neuroaffirming diagnostic evaluations for autism and ADHD across the lifespan, with the option to build a therapy caseload.

You will administer cognitive and psychoeducational testing, write clear, strengths-based reports, and collaborate with psychiatry, occupational therapy, and physical therapy to support clients across the Mesa hub.

Qualifications

• Licensed psychologist in Arizona or license-eligible via PsyPACT.
• Experience in autism evaluations.
• Skilled in cognitive and psychoeducational assessment.
• Familiar with neurodiversity-affirming practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct neuroaffirming diagnostic evaluations for autism and ADHD across the lifespan, integrating history, self-report, collateral input, and observation.
• Administer and interpret ADOS-2 and MIGDAS-2 as appropriate.
• Identify masking and differences in presentation across genders and life stages.
• Provide feedback sessions that are collaborative and non-pathologizing.
• Optionally carry a therapy caseload aligned with your interests.
• Collaborate with psychiatry, OT, and PT on shared clients.

Skills

Autism evaluations

Cognitive testing

Psychoeducational assessment

Neurodiversity-informed practice

Education

AZ psychologist license

Tools

WAIS/WISC

WIAT/WJ

NEPSY

D-KEFS

Job description

Neuroaffirming Psychologist (Assessment) — Mesa, AZ

Type: 1099 independent contractor · Percentage-based compensation · Part-time to start, build to full-time as your caseload grows · In-person in Mesa, hybrid possible

Population: Children and/or adults (you choose your scope)

The role

We're looking for a licensed psychologist who does diagnostic assessment the way it should be done: thorough, contextual, affirming, and useful to the person receiving it. You'll be the assessment anchor for our Mesa hub, working alongside psychiatry, OT, and PT.

You'll conduct comprehensive evaluations for autism, ADHD, learning differences, giftedness/twice-exceptionality, and co-occurring conditions — and you'll write reports people actually understand. A therapy caseload is optional and can be built around your interests.

What you'll do

• Conduct neuroaffirming diagnostic evaluations for autism and ADHD across the lifespan, integrating developmental history, self-report, collateral input, and direct observation
• Administer and interpret the ADOS-2 and/or MIGDAS-2, understanding when each is appropriate and where the ADOS falls short — particularly for high-masking presentations
• Recognize and assess for masking, camouflaging, and internalized presentations, and understand how autism and ADHD show up differently in girls, women, AFAB people, gender-diverse people, and late-identified adults
• Administer cognitive, achievement, executive function, memory, and psychoeducational testing as clinically indicated (WAIS/WISC, WIAT/WJ, NEPSY, D-KEFS, etc.)
• Differentiate and identify co-occurring conditions: anxiety, OCD, trauma, PDA profiles, sensory processing differences, giftedness/2e, and learning disabilities
• Write reports that lead with strengths, use identity-first or person-first language per client preference, and translate findings into concrete accommodations and supports
• Provide feedback sessions that are collaborative, unhurried, and non-pathologizing
• Optional: carry a therapy caseload (ACT, DBT-informed, IFS, autistic-adapted CBT, or your modality of choice)
• Collaborate with our psychiatric providers, OT, and PT on shared clients
• Consult and supervise as interested (practicum students, postdocs, or peer consultation — we're a practice that loves students!)

Who you are

• Licensed Psychologist in Arizona (or license-eligible via PsyPACT / imminent AZ licensure)
• Trained and experienced in autism evaluations
• Experienced with cognitive and psychoeducational assessment
• Fluent in current neurodiversity-affirming literature and community perspectives, including the double empathy problem, monotropism, autistic burnout, and interoception
• Understands why "doesn't make eye contact" is not a diagnostic criterion — and why a 40-year-old woman who's never been assessed might present as socially fluent and still be autistic
• Comfortable telling a family or an adult the truth, kindly
• Willing to be credentialed (we handle that)
• Lived experience of neurodivergence is welcomed and valued, not required

Compensation & logistics

• 1099 contractor, percentage-based split on collected revenue
• We accept insurance for accessibility; you'll also see private-pay clients
• In-person in Mesa; hybrid schedule available for intakes, feedback sessions, and therapy
• Testing materials, kits, scoring software, office space, billing, credentialing, support staff, and scheduling all provided
• Set your own hours and caseload
• Sensory-considerate testing space with adjustable lighting and quiet rooms

About Paperflower Psychiatry

Paperflower Psychiatry is an Arizona-based, neurodivergent-informed mental health practice with locations across the Valley and in Flagstaff. In Mesa, we're building something different: an interdisciplinary, neuroaffirming hub where psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy work side by side to provide inclusive care.

We see ages 5 to 65, with a growing focus on creating a space where late-diagnosed adults and low-support-needs individuals can access non-judgmental, comfortable care to explore their needs.

We take insurance because access matters. We hire clinicians who are curious, unhurried, and passionate about social justice — many of us are neurodivergent ourselves.

What we believe

• Neurodivergence is not a disorder to be fixed. It's a way of being in the world. Our job is to reduce friction between a person and their environment, not to make them look more neurotypical.
• Masking can be useful, but costly. We assess and treat with that in mind, especially for women, girls, people of color, gender-diverse folks, and adults diagnosed later in life.
• Bodily autonomy and consent. No compliance-based approaches. No hand-over-hand without consent.
• Accessibility is a value. Sliding scale where possible, insurance accepted, sensory-considerate spaces, plain-language reports.
• Collaboration over hierarchy. Clinicians own their work and help shape how the practice grows.
• Transparency and authenticity. We tell people what we see, in words they can use. We show up as real people — not as "professionals" in the stereotypical sense.