Psychological Assessment, Therapy and Training in Hampshire and Online
Autism & aDHD Assessments
Is this right for me?
People come to me for autism and ADHD assessments for many different reasons. You may have wondered about autism or ADHD for some time, someone may recently have suggested it to you, or you may simply be looking for a clearer understanding of patterns that have been present throughout your life.
Our assessments are neurodivergence-affirming, thoughtful and collaborative. We look beyond diagnostic criteria to understand the whole person, including your strengths, experiences, context and individual needs. The aim is not simply to reach a diagnostic decision, but to leave you with a clearer understanding of yourself and useful recommendations for what comes next.
I offer autism, ADHD and combined autism and ADHD assessments for adults and young people in Southampton, Hampshire and online. Explore each option below to see what the assessment involves.
1. Initial Consultation We begin with an initial consultation to understand what has led you to seek an assessment, explore your current experiences and answer any questions. Together, we consider whether a full autism assessment feels like the right next step.
2. Clinical Interview and Developmental History We explore your experiences in more detail through a structured clinical interview and developmental history. This helps us understand patterns across your life, including social communication, relationships, sensory experiences, routines, interests, strengths and challenges. Where possible, we may also gather information from someone who knew you when you were younger.
3. Observational Assessment A structured observational assessment, such as the ADOS, may form part of the assessment. This gives us an opportunity to explore communication style, social interaction and patterns of thinking. It isn’t a test you can pass or fail, but one source of information that contributes to the overall assessment.
4. Bringing Everything Together We bring together information from across the assessment, considering your developmental history, current experiences, strengths and difficulties as a whole. The assessment is never based on any single interview, questionnaire or observation.
5. Feedback, Report and Recommendations We meet with you to talk through the outcome and what it means for you. You will receive a detailed written report and personalised recommendations to help you understand your profile and consider useful next steps.
Assessment fee: £1,800
1. Initial Consultation We begin with an initial consultation to understand what has led you to seek an assessment, explore your current experiences and answer any questions. Together, we consider whether a full ADHD assessment feels like the right next step.
2. Clinical Interview and Developmental History We explore your experiences in more detail through a structured clinical interview and developmental history. This includes attention, organisation, impulsivity, activity levels, emotional regulation and executive functioning, as well as how these patterns have shown up across different stages of your life. Where possible, we may also gather information from someone who knew you when you were younger.
3. Questionnaires and Attention Assessment You will be asked to complete standardised questionnaires, and we may also gather information from someone who knows you well. Where helpful, we may use QbCheck, a computer-based task that provides additional information about attention, activity level and impulsivity. It is not used on its own to diagnose ADHD.
4. Bringing Everything Together We bring together all of the information gathered across the assessment. No single questionnaire, interview or task determines the outcome; we consider the overall pattern of strengths, difficulties and experiences before reaching a diagnostic conclusion.
5. Feedback, Report and Recommendations We meet with you to talk through the outcome and what it means for you. You will receive a detailed written report and personalised recommendations, which may include psychological strategies, workplace or educational adjustments and information about treatment options where appropriate.
Assessment fee: £1,100
1. Initial Consultation We begin with an initial consultation to understand what has led you to seek an assessment and explore your experiences of both autistic and ADHD traits. Together, we consider whether a combined assessment feels like the right next step.
2. Clinical Interviews and Developmental History We explore both autism and ADHD in detail through structured clinical interviews and a developmental history. This helps us understand patterns across your life, including social communication, sensory experiences, routines and interests alongside attention, impulsivity, organisation and emotional regulation. Where possible, we may also gather information from someone who knew you when you were younger.
3. Observational and Attention Assessments The assessment may include a structured observational assessment, such as the ADOS, alongside QbCheck or other measures of attention and activity. These tools provide additional information and are considered alongside the wider clinical assessment rather than being used on their own.
4. Bringing Everything Together Autism and ADHD can overlap, interact and sometimes mask one another. We bring together information from across the assessment to understand your individual profile as a whole, rather than considering each set of traits in isolation.
5. Feedback, Report and Recommendations We meet with you to talk through the outcome, including how autism and ADHD may interact for you. You will receive a detailed written report and personalised recommendations to support your understanding and identify helpful next steps.
Assessment fee: £2,500
Why choose Pinewood Psychology?
Choosing an autism or ADHD assessment provider can feel like a big decision. I work alongside a team of experienced Clinical Psychologists to make the assessment process thoughtful, collaborative and genuinely useful, whether or not it results in a diagnosis.
Clinical Psychologist-led Your assessment is led by experienced Clinical Psychologists with specialist knowledge of autism, ADHD and mental health.
A whole-person approach We look beyond questionnaires and individual traits, taking time to understand your developmental history, experiences, strengths, difficulties and the wider context of your life.
Neurodivergence-affirming Our approach recognises different ways of thinking, communicating and experiencing the world. The aim is not simply to identify difficulties, but to help you develop a clearer and more compassionate understanding of yourself.
Careful and comprehensive We draw on information from different parts of the assessment rather than relying on any single test or questionnaire, helping us reach a thoughtful and robust clinical conclusion.
Useful beyond the diagnosis Assessment is about more than whether you meet diagnostic criteria. We want you to leave with a better understanding of yourself and clear, personalised recommendations for what may help next.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can contact us directly to arrange a private autism, ADHD or combined assessment. You do not need a referral from your GP or another professional.
2. How longdoes an autism or ADHD assessment take?
Assessments take place over several appointments so that we have time to gather information carefully and build a thoughtful understanding of you. The exact timeframe varies depending on the type of assessment and your individual circumstances, and we will explain the process and likely timescales at the outset.
3. Can autism and ADHD assessments be completed online?
Some parts of the assessment can usually be completed online. We will talk you through which appointments can take place remotely and whether any parts of your assessment need to be completed in person where possible.
4. What happens if I don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis?
The purpose of an assessment is to understand you, rather than simply to confirm a particular diagnosis. If you do not meet the diagnostic criteria, we will explain our conclusions carefully and consider other factors that may help make sense of your experiences. You will still receive feedback and recommendations based on what we have learned during the assessment.
5. What happens after my assessment?
We will meet with you for a feedback appointment to talk through the outcome, answer your questions and consider what might be helpful next. You will also receive a comprehensive written report with personalised recommendations.
6. Do you prescribe ADHD medication?
As Clinical Psychologists, we are not able to prescribe medication. However, we have a partnership agreement with an independent prescribing service who accept our ADHD assessment reports. If you would like to explore medication following a diagnosis, we can discuss this with you and provide information about accessing their service.
7.Can I have a combined autism and ADHD assessment?
Yes. If you are wondering about both autism and ADHD, a combined assessment can explore both together. This can be particularly helpful where experiences or traits overlap, and allows us to consider your profile as a whole rather than looking at autism and ADHD separately.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re considering an autism, ADHD or combined assessment, you’re welcome to get in touch. We can answer any questions you have and help you decide whether an assessment with us feels like the right next step.
