We’re with you every step of the way
How an autism assessment works
To provide the most appropriate support, we first need to understand your own or your family member's unique neurodevelopmental profile. Our experienced team will perform a thorough autism (ASD) assessment in order to determine if autism is part of you or your child's story.
Screening
Our free screening process provides initial clarity and insight if you're exploring whether you or your family member might be autistic. Our psychology team, led by a consultant clinical psychologist, will review the information provided and if the screening indicates autism may be present, we'll recommend a formal diagnostic assessment.
Information Gathering
We gather information from multiple perspectives to understand patterns of behaviour and interaction across different environments. For children, this includes input from their school, or in some cases another professional who know your child well. For adults, we ask someone who has known you since childhood to provide information about your early years. This comprehensive approach helps our clinical team better understand your own or your child's unique strengths and needs.
Assessment
Our assessment approach is tailored according to age and individual circumstances. For children, a multidisciplinary team including clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, and a paediatrician, or child and adolescent psychiatrist, work together, using play-based activities and natural interaction - using ADOS-2 - to understand your child's communication style and social engagement. Parents share their perspective on their child's developmental journey, which is supplemented by a school report from their teacher.
Our specialists discuss all findings using established assessment methods. For adults, an expert clinical psychologist or psychiatrist conducts a thorough interview exploring your life experiences. Since autism can present similarly to other conditions, our job is to differentiate between them focusing on understanding your social interaction patterns, communication style, and sensory experiences across different environments - from relationships to work. Our specialists take time to explore your personal history, ensuring you feel heard throughout the process. Both approaches conclude with a detailed discussion of findings and an opportunity for questions, ensuring that you or your child feel heard and understood.
Diagnostic Report
Our team will provide a clear, detailed report outlining the assessment findings and recommendations. The report provides a thorough foundation for accessing appropriate support and any changes needed in different environments. Since our child assessments are compliant with NICE guidelines, all of our diagnostic reports and recommended outcomes should be fully accepted by both schools/colleges and the NHS.
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Support
Whether autism is identified or not, our expert team will guide you or your child through all the available support options. These include therapeutic support packages provided by clinical and counselling psychologists within our wellbeing service, tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
Understanding Autism
Cherishing unique minds
Neurodiversity is an inherent part of human variation - a natural expression of our species' diversity. Being autistic means your neurological functions are organised differently to neurotypical people, offering both unique perspectives and potential challenges. A private autism assessment is the first step to understanding your own or your child's distinctive way of experiencing the world. When these differences aren't recognised or understood, it can lead to significant challenges in daily life. Through assessment and diagnosis, we can provide appropriate support and strategies that help autistic people, and their families move forward with confidence and authenticity.
Autism Signs
You may be experiencing…
Although autistic people share some common experiences, every person's neurodevelopmental profile is unique: sensory sensitivities, being misunderstood at work, or school difficulties. in relationships social isolation in children
Sensory sensitivities
Sensory sensitivities
Autistic people tend to have either a higher or lower (hyper or hypo) threshold for their senses. Noises that neurotypical people wouldn’t even notice can be intensely annoying and aggravating. Being around lots of noise, like in a restaurant or on a busy street, can cause a level of stress that might feel unbearable. And once back home, that person may need time to calm down.
In the same way, some autistic people find physical touch very unpleasant, even if it’s affectionate. Also, many struggle to find food with a taste or texture they like.
These sensitivities can be very distressing for the individual and very difficult to understand for others but are often a fundamental part of being neurodiverse. Once understood, they can be adjusted for.
Problems with your mood
Problems with your mood
Compared to the general or neurotypical population, a significantly higher proportion of autistic people suffer with their mental health. Autism itself doesn’t cause mental health problems, but living in a world that isn’t designed for you can make life really difficult and exhausting. Over time, many suffer and might need support. Once a person can identify as autistic, it enables those offering support to better understand who they are working with and adapt their approach accordingly.
Being misunderstood at work
Being misunderstood at work
Not all workplaces understand neurodivergence well enough to make sure their environment supports autistic people. This may simply be because they don’t have the right information, but it can leave autistic people feeling de-skilled, disempowered and undervalued. Being able to formally identify as autistic can be very helpful at work. It means employers can start to think about what reasonable adjustments might be needed to help that person, so they can reach their potential and contribute fully.
Difficulties in relationships
Difficulties in relationships
Autistic people often find relationships difficult, as it’s not always possible to ‘tune-in’ to other people’s needs or have their own needs fully understood. Partners or friends can become frustrated and have expectations that are hard to meet when a person is neurodivergent. Autistic individuals can experience stress and low mood, and as you might expect, relationship difficulties can be a significant contributing factor.
Testimonials
Some words from our patients
To give you an idea of how we work and how we might help you.
We felt listened to and respected at every step of the assessment process.
Everyone whom we had contact with from Psicon where amazing and friendly. We felt listened to and respected at every step of the assessment process. We were well informed of each step and always asked if we had any questions.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended, Psicon has made what is an important but stressful journey to diagnosis a little bit more easier
Amazing service with a short wait time.
Amazing service with a short wait time. Everyone I had contact with were friendly, understanding and helpful.
All staff are trained immaculately!
All staff are trained immaculately! Very kind, very helpful. Just wonderful. I could not have asked for a better service!
Frequently Asked Questions
We're here to answer your questions
Taking the first steps to understanding why your child feels different, unhappy, or is struggling takes courage. We’re here to help you make sure you find the right support for your child and your family.
How long is the waiting list?
We aim to provide an autism assessment appointment within four to six weeks of receiving all pre-assessment information. The timeline often depends on how quickly we receive completed questionnaires from all relevant parties (such as family members, schools, or other professionals who know you or your child well).
What if the assessing clinicians don't see the characteristics I notice (masking)? (For children)
Having made thousands of autism spectrum assessments, we understand it presents differently in each individual. Our assessments are designed to recognise masking and camouflaging – particularly common in females. Our team has extensive experience in identifying the female presentation of autism across different ages, understanding that some characteristics may be less visible in certain contexts or situations.
I don’t have anyone to help with the pre-assessment questionnaires, will this affect my assessment? (For adults)
We typically ask someone who has known you for a long time to provide additional information as part of the assessment process, which helps us understand your earlier life experiences. According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5), one of the key criteria for an autism diagnosis is evidence that characteristics have been present since early development. However, we understand that some people may not be able to find someone who can provide this historical information. While having this information is helpful, not having it won't prevent the assessment from going ahead. In such cases, we encourage you to bring any available documentation that could provide insights into earlier experiences or development - such as school reports and other relevant records.
Will a private autism diagnosis be accepted by the NHS and (if relevant) my child’s school?
We operate with the highest quality clinical standards and fully comply with NICE guidelines throughout our service. We regularly partner with NHS Trusts and ICBs to support their waiting lists as a trusted provider. For child assessments, we ensure a doctor - paediatrician or psychiatrist - is part of the process; a standard that isn't universal across private services. With these rigorous standards in place, our assessment outcomes are readily accepted by the NHS, schools and colleges
Get in Touch
We're with you at every step
Everyone's mind processes information differently. Some people are neurodivergent, processing attention and activity in ways that differ from what's typically expected. While these differences can bring challenges, we believe that with understanding, empathy, and expert support, everyone can thrive. Whether you're seeking a private ADHD assessment for yourself or your child, our Kent-based team is here to help guide your journey.
Adults
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