Assessment Services
Deciding to seek an assessment can feel like a big step, especially if you have been wondering for a long time whether you might be neurodivergent.
I take an authentic, flexible, and collaborative approach. That means we work together to understand your experiences, challenges, and strengths. I value your lived experience and see you as the expert on yourself. Assessment is simply a tool to help make sense of your experiences and move forward with greater clarity, self-understanding, and self-acceptance.
All assessments are conducted online via a secure telehealth platform.
Who might benefit from an assessment?
At present, I am able to provide assessments for adults (18 years and over) who suspect they may be autistic and/or have ADHD.
No referral is required.
My assessments are suitable for individuals who do not have a known or suspected intellectual disability or a speech and language disorder.
The report can be used as supporting documentation for NDIS applications. However, I cannot guarantee that NDIS funding will be approved, as this decision is made by the NDIS. I am currently unable to complete NDIS Access Request Forms.
If you have a complex mental health history, you may require an extra session to rule in/out other diagnoses in order for an accurate conclusion to be made. This session will be billed at my standard hourly rate of $280/hr. I will aim to inform you as early on in the assessment process if additional session(s) are needed and what the cost will be.
About the Outcome
It’s important to know that while I approach every assessment with care and thoroughness, I can’t guarantee that the outcome will confirm an autism or ADHD diagnosis. My role is to explore your profile in depth and provide clear and helpful feedback. If the findings are not consistent with autism or ADHD, I’ll share what else might help explain your experiences and suggest avenues for further exploration or follow-up.
Please note: My practice focuses on therapeutic and diagnostic services. I do not undertake medico-legal, forensic, family court, compensation, or other legal assessments, and I do not prepare reports for use in legal proceedings.
If you require an assessment or report for legal purposes, I recommend seeking a practitioner who specialises in this area.
Your ADHD assessment involves an in-depth conversation where we explore your experiences, patterns, and behaviours in relation to ADHD. We’ll work together to understand how these show up in your daily life, not just the challenges, but also your strengths and ways of coping.
As part of the process, you’ll complete self-report questionnaires, and where possible, I’ll also gather observer-report questionnaires (for example, from someone who knows you well now and someone who knew you in childhood).
The assessment interview usually takes around two hours, with regular breaks built in. After our session, I bring together all the information, from the interview, questionnaires, and any other relevant sources, to create a comprehensive written report, typically completed within 4–6 weeks.
A Note About Medication
As a psychologist, I’m not able to prescribe medication for ADHD. If your main goal in seeking an assessment is to explore medication options, I recommend asking your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist who can assess and manage this aspect with you.
My ADHD assessments are best suited for those who wish to explore ADHD for self-understanding, personal insight, or identity validation.
The assessment can provide useful information to support conversations with a psychiatrist about ADHD and treatment options, including medication. However medical practitioners may undertake their own assessment when considering diagnosis and medication.
See section below for more about the booking and assessment process.
Your autism assessment involves an in-depth, collaborative conversation where we explore your experiences, patterns, and ways of being in relation to autism. Together, we’ll look at how these show up across different areas of your life, both past and present.
As part of the process, you’ll complete self-report questionnaires, and I’ll also gather observer-report questionnaire information from someone who knew you in childhood and someone who knows you well now (if available). These help build a more complete picture of your experiences over time.
The assessment usually takes around four hours in total, with regular breaks to help you stay comfortable. You’re also welcome to split the assessment into two shorter sessions of two hours each.
After our session, I bring together all the information, from the interview, questionnaires, and any other relevant sources, to create a comprehensive written report, typically completed within 4–6 weeks.
See section below for more about the booking and assessment process
This assessment is designed for individuals who suspect they may be both autistic and ADHD. The process involves two separate appointments so that each area can be explored in depth and at a comfortable pace.
You’ll take part in two interviews:
- A four-hour session focusing on your experiences in relation to autism, and
- A two-hour session focusing on your experiences in relation to ADHD.
There is also an option to complete the assessment over three two-hour appointments.
We will take regular breaks to help you stay comfortable and regulated throughout.
As part of the process, you’ll also complete self-report questionnaires, and will also be sent questionnaires to be completed by someone who knows you well (and ideally someone familiar with your childhood) if available.
See section below for more about the booking and assessment process
Booking and Assessment Process
Step 1: Enquiry and booking
Send me an enquiry using the form on the Contact Me page.
I will reply with a link to a brief questionnaire to help determine whether my assessment service is suitable for your needs. I will also provide some available appointment times.
Please complete the questionnaire and reply by email with your preferred date and time.
Once we have agreed on an appointment time:
I will send you a secure Zoom link and an invoice for your assessment.
A $280 deposit is required to secure your assessment appointment. This deposit forms part of your total assessment fee and will be deducted from the final cost of your assessment, it is not an additional fee.
If you cancel within 48 hours of your appointment, the $280 deposit is non-refundable.
Payment can be made by direct deposit or debit/credit card (card processing fees apply).
80% of the remaining assessment balance is due by the day of your assessment appointment. The remaining balance is due before your results/report are provided.
You will then receive some initial intake forms:
An online questionnaire requesting general information about you, including your developmental, family and mental health history. Please provide as much detail as you can.
A consent and explanation of services form.
A consent form relating to the use of AI transcription services during your assessment sessions.
These forms need to be completed and returned before your assessment appointment.
Step 2: Questionnaires and preparation
I will send you some online questionnaires pertaining to your assessment to complete before your assessment appointment. Completion of these questionnaires can take up to one hour. There will be questionnaires for yourself to complete and also questionnaires to be completed by someone who knows you well as an adult such as a friend, family member, colleague or therapist. There will also be a questionnaire for a family member or friend who knew you in childhood.
Please email any past mental health assessment reports or letters. While not essential, emailing several primary school reports would also be helpful to your assessment if they are available. Childhood diaries are another useful source of information.
Step 3: Assessment Day
Please allocate approximately four hours for an autism assessment and two hours for an ADHD assessment. If you are completing a combined autism and ADHD assessment, the appointments will be split over two days.
Your assessment will be conducted via secure telehealth. Please ensure you have access to a computer with a webcam and a stable internet connection.
You will need to be in a private space where you can speak freely and won't be disturbed.
I cannot provide assessments by phone. Please ensure you are not driving or attending your appointment while out in the community.
Step 4: Report writing and Feedback Session
I write a comprehensive report based on all of the information gathered. The reports are around 20-30 pages long and details information about how you do or do not meet diagnostic criteria, your strengths and differences relating to specifics of your neurotype and recommendations for further support or work and study if relevant.
The report takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete.
The report can be used as supporting documentation for NDIS applications. However, I cannot guarantee that NDIS funding will be approved, as this decision is made by the NDIS. I am currently unable to complete NDIS Access Request Forms.
I offer an optional 30 minute online or telephone feedback session to discuss your assessment results and then I will email the report. If you do not want this session, I will just email you the report.