Find Adult Autism Care Near You

Hello! I'm glad you're making an investment in better understanding yourself. My name is Dr. Alison Bateman (she/her). I've been licensed as a Psychologist in California for over 20 years, and I am located in the SF Bay Area. Throughout my career, I have been driven to help people better understand themselves and support them in using that information to improve their quality of life. I have been especially drawn to working with folks from marginalized identities and groups, supporting their resilience, and improving connections, communication, and coping. I would love to partner with you to help gain clarity by creating a safe and compassionate environment where you feel supported and understood.

Hi, I’m Claudia Cruz, PsyD, but I go by CJ. I’m a licensed clinical psychologist out of California. My clinical background includes working with eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, emotion dysregulation, and self-harm/suicidality in addition to autism assessment. Many of these difficulties can overlap with autism and neurodivergence. I approach assessment with warmth, curiosity, and an open mind. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable being yourself and can better understand how your brain works, why certain things may feel harder, and what support might actually be helpful.

Welcome! Exploring the possibility of autism can be an important journey of self-discovery. You don’t have to navigate that process alone. I'm here to guide you. I’m a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience working with individuals across the lifespan, including those with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. My professional background includes psychological assessment, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral health, and clinical consultation, with a particular focus on understanding how neurodiversity can influence the way a person experiences themselves, relationships, work, and everyday life.

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I believe an assessment should be more than a series of questions or a diagnostic label. It can be an opportunity to better understand oneself, your experiences, and the strengths that make you who you are. My goal is to create a comfortable, respectful environment where you can be yourself, ask questions openly, and know that your experiences are being genuinely heard and understood throughout the assessment process.

As a clinician living and working in San Francisco, I have the opportunity to work with a diverse population and learn about many different perspectives on mental health.  I enjoy meeting with people who are different from me, discovering what we have in common and new ways to think about familiar subjects.  When you meet with me I will be focused on understanding you, making sure you feel safe and are comfortable being honest.

I am a psychologist who enjoys working with adults who are seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and the ways they experience the world. One of the areas I find particularly meaningful is working with adults who are wondering whether they may be autistic and helping them navigate the diagnostic assessment process with curiosity, respect, and compassion.As someone who identifies as neurodivergent myself, I bring both professional expertise and personal understanding to this work. I recognize that discovering that you may be neurodivergent can bring a mixture of questions, relief, uncertainty, and even a new way of understanding your life experiences.My approach to assessment goes beyond simply determining whether someone meets diagnostic criteria. I believe a thoughtful assessment can be an opportunity for adults to make sense of their experiences, recognize their strengths and challenges, and develop a more compassionate understanding of who they are. My goal is to help people leave the assessment process with greater clarity—not simply a diagnosis, but a deeper understanding of themselves and how they navigate the world.