Private Autism Asssessments for Adults

Autism often has a genetic basis, meaning it can run in families. What this means is that some of the unique challenges you face, or the particular ways you feel and respond to things, could be tied to how your brain is wired. This wiring is influenced by your genes, the same way your eye colour or height is.

It’s essential to recognise that these differences in brain wiring are a natural part of human variation. Just like the diversity in culture, language, or physical abilities, the way brains develop in autism is simply another aspect of what makes us all unique. People with autism might experience the world, connect with others, or process information in their own distinct ways. It’s a testament to the fact that human brains can develop in various ways, and with unique patterns and characteristics.

Understanding autism as a part of neurological diversity helps us appreciate the full spectrum of human variation. It’s about seeing neurological differences, including autism, as an integral – and positive – part of the human experience. This perspective helps us be more accepting and inclusive. It shows us the importance of valuing the unique strengths and challenges of people with autism, recognising the invaluable perspectives they bring to our diverse world.

Following your appointment, you will see one of our specialists in this area who will determine whether you meet the criteria for these diagnoses using a range of specialist tools and clinical interviews.

Treating autism, especially if you’ve received a diagnosis later in life, requires a personalised approach. It’s about providing support for the years of masking and adapting you may have gone through, often without having your unique needs fully recognised or met.

An important part of treatment involves therapy that focuses on self-understanding. Your therapy will focus on helping you explore and navigate your identity, understanding how you perceive the world, and how you communicate. It’s a journey to uncover the authentic ‘you’, especially if you’ve spent years adjusting your behaviour to fit with societal norms.

Managing sensory difficulties and emotional regulation will also make up a key part of treatment. Many people with autism experience sensitivities and emotional dysregulation. It’s important to understand that these aren’t inherent aspects of autism but rather responses to feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Therapy can provide strategies to manage these sensitivities and help you regulate your emotions more effectively.

In sessions, we’ll explore strategies to enhance communication skills, improve emotional understanding, and develop coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety that are specifically tailored to you. This includes helping to identify and modify patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be impacting your relationships or work experiences, using a combination of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy’s skill-based approach and Schema Therapy.

For those diagnosed as adults, there’s often a journey of self-discovery ahead. Many haven’t had the opportunity to fully explore who they are or to develop an authentic identity that reflects their true selves. Therapy can offer a supportive space for this exploration, helping you build an identity that feels genuine and fulfilling.

Treating autism is not about changing who you are but about supporting you to live your life in a way that is authentic for you. It involves equipping you with the tools and understanding necessary to navigate life’s challenges while honouring your unique perspectives and experiences.

When we talk about autism we often hear about the idea of a spectrum, but a more accurate representation might be to think of it as a wheel, encompassing a continuum of diverse experiences and needs. In this wheel, everyone with autism is unique, and they experience things in their own way – this includes how they handle sensory stimuli like noise and lights, how they talk and communicate with others, how they understand other people’s feelings, and even how they move.

Some people with autism might find certain lights or sounds really overwhelming, for example, while others might not be bothered by them at all. In terms of talking and understanding others, some might find these things challenging, while others might not have as much trouble. And just like anyone else, physical coordination can vary too – some people might find certain activities like sports or handwriting difficult whilst others may not.

It’s also important to remember that the kind of support someone with autism needs can change from day to day. It’s not about thinking of autism as ‘mild’ or ‘severe.’ Instead, it’s about understanding what each person needs at different times to help them feel comfortable.

Understanding autism as this wide range of experiences and traits allows us to fully appreciate each person’s uniqueness and tailor our support to their specific needs.

Our autism assessment package costs £2100. This includes:

• 2 hour diagnostic observation appointment (ADOS-2) – £1000
• 2 hour developmental history appointment (comprised of 1 hours with the client and 1 hour with the informant) – £850
• 1 hour feedback session, and a report sent a few weeks after this final session – £250

No, you don’t need a referral from your GP. You can self-refer for an autism assessment, which simplifies the process and allows you to do the assessment whenever you feel ready.

Yes, it’s quite common to receive a diagnosis of autism later in life, especially among women, though it’s not uncommon in men either. Historically, the diagnostic criteria for autism has sometimes missed the less stereotypical presentations of autism which are more widely acknowledged and accepted today. Autism is a very varied condition, and our growing knowledge about how to understand and diagnose it has led to more adults being diagnosed in recent years.

Women often have a heightened awareness of being socially accepted, which can sometimes make them better at masking their autistic traits. While many women with autism may handle socialising fairly well, they are likely to struggle with self-monitoring, anxiety and a fear of judgement. This can sometimes make autism in women a little less obvious and more challenging to diagnose.