Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Diagnostic Assessment and Psychological Interventions
Evidence-based, gold standard, NICE compliant
Navigating life with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as an adult can present unique challenges. You might find difficulties in social interactions, communication, sensory processing, and adapting to change, impacting areas like education, work, relationships, and daily routines.
Key characteristics may include challenges with social communication and interaction, intense or focused interests, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, and difficulties with understanding and expressing emotions.
At Psychologia, we offer comprehensive diagnostic assessments and personalized support to help you understand and navigate any challenges, fostering your strengths and promoting well-being.
Our assessments are NICE compliant, meaning that they follow gold standard and best practice guidelines provided by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
Our highly experienced diagnostic team consists of Clinical Psychologists and Neuropsychologists who have undergone extensive training in autism assessment and diagnosis.
Our clinicians all undertake quarterly training to ensure their ratings on diagnostic tools are kept to standard, this is called "reliability training".
Our assessments involve at least 2 clinicians - increasing the robustness of the process.
We offer optional cognitive and attainment assessments and can work with you and your workplace or educational institution to request adjustments to support you the best ways possible.
We uniquely offer both clinic-based and home-based assessments, depending on your preference.
Our diagnostic clinicians do not work independently - our assessments are all discussed as a team.
Our clinicians offer NICE recommended post assessment diagnostic counselling, 1:1 therapeutic and psychosocial interventions and group based therapies for clients that want to explore different treatment options
Adult ASD Assessment Process
Step 1:
Referral
You can contact us via telephone, email, or using this form to speak to a Clinical Psychologist about your enquiry.
They will discuss the reason for your referral, answer any questions about our service and may ask you to complete a short screening questionnaire to ensure that ASD assessment is the best step for you.
There is no commitment to move forward with an assessment, and we are happy to discuss any queries or concerns that you may have.
Step 2:
Questionnaires
Completion of validated assessments recommended by NICE best practice guidance to measure ASD symptoms now and across the lifespan.
Some questionnaires will be completed by you and others by a close friend or family member.
If there are particular concerns about your performance in the workplace or educational settings, additional questionnaires can be sent to them for feedback (at your request).
Step 3:
Initial Consultation
During the initial clinical interview you will meet with a Clinical Psychologist either in person or remotely. The clinician will have a detailed discussion about your symptoms, history, and any concerns that you have.
A semi-structured assessment tool called the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), considered the gold standard in diagnosis of ASD will then be administered with the client, which involves further conversation and looking at some materials with the clinician.
ADOS-2 Assessment
Step 4:
Interview with informant
A different clinician will meet with a family member, partner or friend who knows you well to collect additional information.
You can discuss the most appropriate person to involve at referral, but it is best if this is somebody that can comment on your development through childhood and adolescence.
The clinician will go through a semi-structured interview to evaluate your symptoms with them using the gold-standard ADI-R and 3di semi-structured interviews.
Step 5:
Team Discussion and Consensus Meeting
Following the assessment appointments, the team members involved in your assessment will collate the evidence gathered and bring this together to reach an agreement about the diagnostic outcome.
The team will discuss next steps and any recommendations that may be useful to you moving forward,
Step 6:
Feedback and Diagnostic Report
The Lead Clinician who met with you to complete Step 2, will meet with you remotely to discuss the results of your assessment and any recommendations that are going to be made.
Following this, a comprehensive diagnostic report will be completed and sent to you, summarising the findings of the different parts of the assessment, any diagnosis and ongoing recommendations.
Psychologia ASD Intervention Options
Adult ASD Service
Interventions and Support
Diagnostic Counselling
Diagnostic counselling provides crucial clarity for adults following a diagnosis of ASD.
It involves detailed discussions about symptoms and impact on life. This process helps understand the diagnosis, support an individual with adjusting to their diagnosis, differentiate it from other conditions, and explore treatment options. At Psychologia Ltd., our diagnostic counselling offers a supportive environment to navigate your concerns and gain valuable insights.
Psychological Intervention
1:1 psychological interventions, like CBT and executive function coaching, empower adults with ASD.
These therapies address core challenges, teaching strategies for managing symptoms including emotional, cognitive, social and behavioural. Through personalized sessions, individuals learn to reframe negative thoughts, develop coping mechanisms, and build practical skills, fostering greater self-awareness and improved daily functioning.
Group Interventions
Group interventions offer valuable support for adults with ASD. Sharing experiences and learning coping strategies in a structured group setting can reduce feelings of isolation.
These sessions often focus on practical skills like managing emotions, building last relationships, improving communication skills and fostering peer support. Group interventions provide a safe space to practice new skills, build confidence and share with other individuals with similar experiences.
Next steps...
Are you curious about ASD assessment? Whether it's a long-held thought or a recent discovery, we're available to address your questions.
We also provide comprehensive treatment options, and we're happy to discuss them whether you have an existing diagnosis, a new one, or are just considering assessment.
To start a personalized conversation, click 'Make a Referral' and provide a few details. An experienced clinician will reach out to explore your options, with no pressure to commit.
Main Clinic: 10 Harley Street, London, W1G9PF
Telephone: +44 (0) 7930243127
Email: Enquiries@Psychologia.co.uk