By: Melissa McMullin, PsyD
The power of a diagnosis is undeniable. A label not only provides an answer, but a compass for finding help, support, and symptom management. Seeking a psychological assessment is often a powerful tool in forging ahead meaningfully. For many, it also serves as a conduit to connecting to community and further developing individual identity. While many have trepidation about receiving a diagnosis, the political climate of 2025 complicated the landscape for those with a disability and highlighted some potential drawbacks of a diagnosis. Does the benefit outweigh the risk?
For someone struggling with addiction, autism, or a host of other mental health conditions there may be worry related to seeking a diagnosis and/or treatment.
Prospective clients are voicing various concerns:
- What if I am forced to go to a “wellness drug rehabilitation farm”?
- What if there is going to be a registry for those with autism?
- What if a 504 plan is no longer an option for my struggling child?
- What if I finally gain access to life changing medication and the government outlaws it?
Historical and tangible ways a diagnosis can impact you in 2026
Private Insurance Rejection and Pre-existing Conditions
If you use insurance for mental healthcare or even discuss your mental health with a physician, you may have a mental health diagnosis on record with an insurance company. Insurance companies make note of a mental health diagnosis and this information is readily shared with other insurance companies when you apply for private coverage. This can lead to things like being rejected for long-term private disability insurance. Meanwhile, insurance companies are once again instituting pre-existing condition refusals. So if you have any diagnosed condition and switch insurers anticipate a waiting period before you can seek coverage for said condition.
Government Employment
My standard advice is to be mindful of seeking a mental health diagnosis if you have plans to join the FBI, Secret Service, CIA or potentially the Department of Defense. Furthermore, individuals who want to enlist may find they struggle if they have been diagnosed with ADHD. While I would never go so far as to say a diagnosis would prevent employment at the above agencies, hiring and promotions may be impacted by a diagnosis that is seen to impact your ability to do the job in the exact manner that is expected.
Employment and education
Knowing what you need to support your educational or occupational journey is important and knowing what a reasonable accommodation is as well. There are times that if you disclose a need for an accommodation that a company or school cannot reasonably provide you won’t receive the support and may have the job offer rescinded. The key way to discern if an accommodation is legally defensible is the word REASONABLE. One way to evaluate this is to consider this example. When I was training to become a psychologist, a fellow student had pivoted to psychology after a fruitful career as a neurosurgeon. He had developed carpal tunnel syndrome and sadly his ability to continue to do surgery was dramatically impacted. There was no reasonable way to accommodate him within the realm of neurosurgery any longer. Carefully consider your employment and/or career plans and if reasonable accommodations are available.
Despite these limitations a diagnosis becomes a key that is of the utmost importance. It is the key to self-understanding, self-compassion, and even self-esteem. A label can validate pain and clarify uncertainty, with that validation a door that was once shut can be opened and create space for solutions and planning for the future. Here at Aspire we witness firsthand the power of unlocking potential by providing answers. A label, while at times tinged with stigma can provide a clear path forward where there once was an unpassable forest. Whether you are concerned about you or your child’s learning, time management, distractibility, social skills, lack of response to intervention or development assessment can provide the answers and plan to forge ahead and thrive.