Speaking with a Therapist

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I'll be speaking with a therapist soon about Asperger's and I wanted to maybe get some opinions on here. I'm not set up for an official diagnosis (as I think that does require a neurologist and potentially thousands of dollars) but am meeting with a therapist who specializes in individuals with AS. I mentioned to him that I have wondered for a while whether I have it and want to sort of plan out beforehand how I'm going to best communicate that when I go in for the appointment. The issue with me is that I don't meet some of the criteria, for instance I seem to have no Prosopagnosia, or emotion face-blindness, no motor-clumsiness (in fact the opposite is true), and I probably have fewer visible deficits than would be expected from a person on the spectrum, but some AS traits are a big deal for me which I have trouble stressing enough; namely sensory sensitivity, restricted and obsessive interests, and lack of social reciprocity, gestures, emotional intelligence, and so on. Also, when I was a child I engaged in what to me was very obvious "stimming" which I still sometimes do (mainly through hair twirling; the same lock or strand over and over again until knotted). I had bad tantrums and was hypersensitive as a kid which I sometimes link to being overwhelmed and having meltdowns. In some ways I'm not sure whether I can "prep" for this because someone experienced with AS should recognize it in me if it's there without too much need for effort on my part, right?

This post is good enough presentation. I have seen three AS Phd's and have never done any sort of "prep" for it. Just go in and be yourself and talk to the things that are bothering you. If they actually do know of AS, they will be able to help you.

IMHO, prepping is not a good idea for appointments like this. They need to see who you are, not who you want them to see. Just be yourself. After all, you want to know if you really have it, don't you? If you "prep," you're more likely to accentuate your characteristics. More likely to focus your conversation on the topic, which is going to come across to the therapist as if you've studied AS, and just know what to present.

They don't want to see that.

You are going to see a professional, who presumably has some degree of pride in their abilities. They aren't going to want you to "educate" them. Doing so gives the impression you may not have faith in their ability to diagnose properly.

Just go, and say what you've got to say.

The ONLY "prepping" I would recommend is to write up a brief (and I DO mean BRIEF) list of past behaviors you really think they should know about, that you DON'T currently present. That at least should encourage them to look a little deeper by talking to your parents or anyone else they can reach, who knew you as a child.

BTW: No, you don't have to see a neurologist, nor does it cost thousands of dollars to get a diagnosis. You do however need to find a doctor (Phd is fine) who specializes in Autistic diagnoses. Look for one who advertises this specifically. It CAN cost thousands, depending on how in depth the testing is. I got mine done for around $600. It was worth every penny.