Autism/ ADHD Assessments

I am pleased to offer adult (18+) neuroaffirming Autism Assessments to our community.

I am especially passionate about supporting women to understand their neurotype (perhaps you have had an aha! moment since your child(ren) have been diagnosed), however I welcome all genders and all life experiences.

I am passionate about a world that is inclusive of all neurotypes and believe understanding your neurotype (no matter your age) can be validating and offer opportunities for self compassion and understanding.

Assessments are available via in-clinic on either Mondays or Wednesdays. I can also offer telehealth appointments.

Assessments usually consist of 2 appointments of approximately 1.5 - 2 hours each in length. I will organise your second appointment with you at the end of your first appointment. I can also adjust the appointment length to suit your needs.

The clinic is a warm and light-filled space. You will be greeted by our receptionist upon entry. The clinic room is bright and spacious, with plenty of room to move around.

How the assessment process works:

1. An initial appointment can be booked online

2. A consent form, an intake form and 2-3 further online questionnaires will be emailed to you shortly after you schedule your appointment. The intake form covers a range of topics, including questions about how you grew up, your relationships, your sensory preferences and interests. Please complete these prior to your appointment. This allows me to understand a little bit about you before the initial appointment.

3. Initial appointment (approx. 1.5 - 2 hours). This appointment will be focused on gathering information about your life and current day to day activities, as well as an understanding of your childhood experiences.

4. Second appointment (approx 1.5 - 2 hours). During this appointment, we will complete the MIGDAS, which is an neuroaffirming assessment of autism. The MIGDAS is conversational and relaxed.

5. I will complete your report and this will be emailed to you within 4 - 6 weeks of your second appointment.

6. You will be invited for a feedback/debrief session (30 mins - 1 hour) to discuss results, recommendations and answer any questions you have.

Fees

There are two fee options for an autism assessment:

1. Assessment and a brief diagnosis letter with recommendations $1400 This option is suitable if you are looking for a cost effective way of understanding your neurotype. It will include a summary of assessment results and recommendations. I recommend this option if this assessment is a journey of self discovery and validation for you, rather than requiring a detailed report.

2. Assessment and a comprehensive report: $1800 This option includes a comprehensive report that outlines results from the assessment and recommendations. Please note this report is not suitable for a NDIS application. Fees will be charged in two installments. A 50% deposit will be taken upon booking. The 50% balance is then due at the conclusion of your second appointment. Please let me know if you require a different fee schedule (i.e. smaller payments) and we can work it out. Accessibility is a core value of mine.

FAQs

● Will this report help me obtain NDIS funding?

No. NDIS requires an assessment of functional capacity alongside a diagnostic report. If you

are seeking a report to support NDIS funding, I recommend seeking an assessment with a

psychologist offering this service.

● Do you offer ADHD assessments?

Yes, I can assess ADHD alongside an autism assessment. This would require a third

appointment. However, if you are considering ADHD medication, I recommend completing an assessment through a psychiatrist. You can obtain a referral through your GP. This is the cheapest option, as psychiatrists will complete their own assessments even if you have a pre-existing diagnosis of ADHD from a psychologist. As part of an autism assessment, I will always screen for ADHD traits and recommend whether an ADHD assessment with a psychiatrist may be useful.

● Do you assess children or adolescents?

Not at this stage. I currently complete autism/ADHD assessments for adults (18+) only.

● Do you offer assessments on other days?

I may be able to complete assessments on an alternative day on request. Please email the

clinic and we can look into this for you!

● What should I expect when attending an appointment?

The appointments are held at Yarra Valley Women’s Health. It is an allied health clinic that also provides osteopathy services. When you arrive at the clinic, you will be greeted by the clinic receptionist. There are couches to sit on and a kitchen where you can make a cup of tea. The clinic room is full of natural light. The assessment will be relaxed and conversational. I welcome you to take as many breaks as you need, and move about the room in any way that you need to. I also offer telehealth appointments if preferred.

● Do you need information from a family member for the assessment?

Information from a friend, family member or partner is very useful. If you are able to have a family member or friend involved, I will provide you with an intake form to email them. However, I understand that this involvement is not always possible. The absence of information from family members is not a barrier to a diagnosis. We will discuss this in our first appointment.