Clinical psychologists address a broad spectrum of mental health and physical well-being concerns, encompassing issues such as anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, and challenges in relationships. The goal of Clinical Psychology is to enhance individuals' quality of life by alleviating psychological distress and promoting psychological well-being.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that changes how an individual’s brain develops and means it works differently to most people’s.  Autism impacts on how people understand and interact with both the world and those around them.  Everyone with Autism is different and autism impacts on people in different ways in terms of both strengths, differences and difficulties. 

Autism isn’t “bad behaviour” and it isn’t caused by how a child is parented. 

To get a diagnosis of autism, a person must be having difficulties in communicating with, relationships and understanding other people alongside other differences such as having a preference to do things in the same ways and finding it difficult when things change, repetitively moving their hands and/or bodies, and having interests which may be particularly intense or unusual in some way.  These differences must happen in different places in their lives and be causing them significant difficulty socially, at school or work.  There must have been differences in their development from an early age and these must not be better explained by something else. 

There are many words that different people use to refer to Autism, including autism spectrum condition (ASC), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Asperger’s syndrome or high functioning autism.  We predominantly use the term Autism/Autistic in line with the expressed preference of the neurodivergent community. 

Although the current diagnostic criteria of autism is very difficulties focussed, there are many strengths linked to how the autistic brain can work, including having excellent attention to detail, being honest and loyal, expertise in niche areas, and artistic talents. 

You can find out more about Autism here: 

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism 

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 

ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that changes how a person’s brain develops and means it works differently to most people’s.  ADHD presents differently for different people and at different ages. 

ADHD isn’t “bad behaviour” and it isn’t caused by how a child is parented. 

To get a diagnosis of ADHD, a person must be having significantly more difficulties with inattention and/or impulsive/hyperactive behaviours than their peers and these difficulties are making it very difficult for them at home, school, socially or at work.  They must also happen in different contexts and since they were young.   

There are three types of ADHD: 
1. Inattentive – characterised by difficulties with sustaining attention and concentration, making frequent mistakes, forgetting things, difficulties organising yourself, trouble listening or managing time. 
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive – characterised by difficulties with restlessness and sitting still, fidgeting, finding it hard to wait your turn, talking a lot, interrupting others, doing dangerous things without thinking about what might happen. 
3. Combined (Inattentive and Hyperactive) – characterised by difficulties with both of the above areas. 

ADHD used to be diagnosed as ADD or ADHD;  hyperactive and impulsive symptoms were associated with the term “ADHD,” while inattentive symptoms were diagnosed as “ADD”.  Now these both fall under the diagnostic term ADHD. 

The symptoms of ADHD might improve over time but many adults continue to experience difficulties. 

Some people with ADHD prefer the term “ADHDers”. 

Although the current diagnostic criteria of ADHD is very difficulties focussed, there are many strengths linked to how the autistic brain can work, including imagination and creativity, spontaneity, hyperfocus, and enthusiasm.  

You can find out more about ADHD here:  
https://chadd.org/understanding-adhd/ 
https://www.additudemag.com/category/adhd-add/adhd-essentials/ 

Unlike many other services offering Autism and ADHD assessments, we are a highly qualified team of experts delivering face to face assessments. Every assessment is conducted and discussed by at least two professionals using the most up to date, evidence-based tools in a timely and organised way.

Our assessments are based on UK best practice models - they are designed in line with latest research and meet or exceed government standards including the recommendations from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This is important as it ensures that our assessments are of the highest quality and and are robust against scrutiny.

We understand the importance of rigorous and high-quality assessments to enable individuals and families to access the support they need.  Many poorer quality assessments are rejected by services that offer support around mental health, education and occupation because there is not confidence that the assessment stands up to scrutiny and does not have the evidence to back up the diagnosis. 

To enable us to complete accurate and thorough diagnostic assessments we: 

• Use only robust and evidence-based tools to collect the information we need. 

• Conduct assessments in person rather than only online.

• At least two different clinicians are involved in each case. 

• We collect information from a number of settings, including home, clinic and school (with your consent).  This enables us to accurately assess how a person presents and manages in different settings  

• Complete screening for commonly co-occurring difficulties, such as mental health difficulties and other neurodevelopmental conditions.   

• We have a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians (e.g. Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists) whose expertise we can draw on as needed.

Our assessments also include a 60 minute online feedback session which ensures that you fully understand the report, we have answered all of your questions and we have talked through the recommended next steps to help you know what to do next. 

Before beginning any assessment, it is important to check that your local services (e.g. local education authority, school, GP, local mental health services) will accept a private diagnostic assessment if it is of high quality and any additional specific requirements they have for this.

In our detailed reports, we work hard to: 

• Write a summary of the assessment and findings that everyone will understand. 

• Provide useful recommendations covering useful things to do next, including pointers about what to seek support for and where you could access this, and helpful resources.   

• Have separate sections written in technical language summarising the different parts of the assessment completed for professionals who might support you in the future to inform their work.  This level of detail enables our assessments to be used by other professionals to ensure that the individual can be understood and the correct support implemented to enable them to learn in a way that works for them and   

• Use neuro affirming language. 

Our fees for comprehensive, NICE gold standard compliant neurodevelopmental assessments

• Autism assessment: £2,195

• ADHD assessment: £1,995

• Comprehensive Autism, ADHD and learning assessment: £2,995

Each assessment comprises ‘gold standard’ standardised and validated diagnostic assessments with:

• The individual being assessed (40 - 150 minutes)

• An adult who knew them well in the early developmental period (usually their carer(s)/parent(s)) (2.5-3.5 hours),

• Collecting information from other settings such as school (if relevant and consent given) to find out how the individual presents in different environments

• A current perspectives interview/brief mental health review with the individual being assessed (30-45 minutes)

• Screening questionnaires to consider commonly co-occurring conditions,

• A thorough feedback session (1 hour)

• A detailed report which summarises the assessment, details any diagnoses given (where one can be made) and provides further recommendations.

We can offer a one hour screening appointment to discuss your concerns and explore the reasons why you think that a full diagnostic assessment may be needed. This will provide you with an indication about whether we think that pursuing a full diagnostic assessment is warranted. A clear plan will be discussed with you and a follow up email summarising this send after the appointment. If you would like a more formal report, this will be charged separately.

Many people report that having confirmation about whether they meet diagnostic criteria for Autism and/or ADHD is very helpful. Reasons for this can include:

• Aiding understanding of yourself, including things that you are good at and things that you find hard, which is linked to better self esteem.

• Particularly for children, it can be helpful for others to understand the reasons why they are behaving in certain ways or experience certain difficulties as this enables adults supporting them to provide the help and support they need.

• Children who have been formally assessed and diagnosed as neurodivergent may be offered additional support in school and even a place in a school specialising in Autism as a direct outcome of the assessment results.

This is much the same if the assessment results in Autism not being diagnosed. Knowing that can result in different options being explored.

We would be very happy to think with you about any challenges you are having and how to improve your quality of life. Autistic people have different ways of engaging in the world and this can lead to difficult experiences of systemic discrimination and social trauma. Our neuroaffirmative approach recognises the effect of these experiences on someone’s mental and emotional health. We can help you with strategies to enhance your mental health and support access to the social world.

A diagnosis of neurodivergence can be difficult to understand. You may be coping with a condition you know very little about, and trying to find new ways for everyone to live together and feel supported. Understanding what the diagnosis means and what support to offer can feel daunting, but we’re here to help.

Your child is the same person they have always been. Now that you know they are autistic and/or have ADHD, you can begin to better understand their needs, plan the right support and help them to show their full potential.

Contact us today to find out about how we can help and support you.

We have a clinic room based at Peckham Levels in Peckham, South East London.

We also offer online appointments for intervention and some elements of the assessment (e.g. parental interview) if required. However for diagnostic assessments, we would always need to meet the person being assessed face-to-face in clinic (as per best practice).

Payment will be required prior to the start of the assessment and is required for confirmation of any booked appointments..

Payment can be made via BACS transfer.

Any cancellations within 48 hours before the scheduled appointment will require payment in full.

We are not currently registered with any health insurance companies and so do not complete health insurance funded assessments or treatment.

We are not currently registered as a Right to Choose (RTC) provider and so do not complete RTC assessments.