Autism Diagnostic Assessment
There are many different reasons why you may be considering diagnostic assessment for Autism. Supporting a child, family member or friend through the process can often prompt reflection about your own life experiences and whether neurodivergency may be relevant to understanding how you process and interact with the world. Perhaps you have been thinking about it for some time and now feel ready to seek that confirmation and validation. Maybe you are experiencing challenges within your employment, education or relationships and feel that a diagnosis may help you and others to understand and support your needs more effectively.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition which means that it is a lifelong condition and relates to the way in which your brain processes and responds to various types of information from the world around you.
When undertaking Autism diagnostic assessment in adults it is important to consider the impact of life experiences and trauma, any potential broader neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, developmental language conditions) and any other mental health conditions you have on potential Autism traits. These are explored to ensure that the correct understanding about how these different things relate to and interact with each other is reached. It allows diagnostic clinicians to identify when other or additional assessments are indicated and make recommendations about the support needed for other conditions. Above all else, these experiences are all part of your life story. It is essential that you have the opportunity to share that story and that any Autism traits are explored and understood in the context of that important narrative. It is my strong belief that an Autism diagnostic process should be a therapeutic and healing process in it’s own right.
Taking the step of seeking diagnosis can feel hopeful and empowering. However, it can also feel daunting and anxiety provoking. For many adults seeking a diagnostic assessment they have had past experiences of feeling unheard or misunderstood by others. This may have been because of other people not understanding the impact of social masking and camouflaging on the visibility of your traits or challenges, less awareness of and understanding of more internalised presentations or misconceptions about how neurodivergency presents across the lifespan and in different environments. From the point of initial contact with Calm.Balance.Grow you can expect the following neuroaffirmative practices;
Access to visual and written information to familiarise you with the environment and what you can expect at each appointment.
Clear information about what you can expect next and within what timeframe.
Support to use the methods of communication which you feel most comfortable with before and during the appointments.
Provision of a safe and neuroaffirmative environment where your sensory, communication and regulatory needs will be supported during the sessions, allowing you to use your energy and focus on making sure you get what you need from our time together.
Opportunity to arrange an initial and ‘no obligation to proceed’ exploratory session to discuss whether an Autism diagnostic assessment is the right decision for you. These sessions are charged at Psychological Therapy rate, with this being deducted from the overall cost of the assessment if you decide to proceed.
Outline diagnostic criteria and make statement about viewpoint plus co-occurring conditions.
Process of assessment -
Completion of a self-referral form or referral form by a relevant professional. Out with periods of leave you can expect a response to this referral within 48 hours of submission.
You will then be offered a 2 hour initial appointment and asked to complete some questionnaires to return prior to your initial appointment. These questionnaires gather information about your developmental history, your current and recent experience of potential neurodivergency traits and measures of other important variables such as social masking and camouflaging. It is extremely helpful if you have a family member or other close individual (e.g. partner, spouse, close friend) who can provide collateral information about your development and current presentation. As part of the assessment process you will be asked for your consent for Dr Kilbane to have a brief telephone interview with your informant. You will also be asked to collate any relevant documents such as school or further education reports or medical letters that you consent to sharing.
Assessment session 1 (2 hours). During the initial assessment appointment you will be asked about your needs and preferences during the assessment appointments, consent for the various aspects of the assessment, your reasons for seeking diagnosis, any existing neurodevelopmental diagnoses or mental health conditions, your current life situation including work or education, family and/or friends, formal and informal support networks and your history in relation to social relationships. A detailed developmental history will be taken including your experiences of school, early family experiences and any adverse life experiences. You will also be asked questions about any current risks around current or past self-harm, suicidal ideation and intent, and risk from or to others. These questions are not used to exclude you from assessment but to ensure that you have the appropriate supports in place from the relevant sources.
Assessment session 2 (2 hours). Completion of an evidence based diagnostic assessment tool.
Feedback appointment (1 hour). During this appointment the outcome of the assessment will be shared with you. If an Autism diagnosis has not been confirmed you will be supported to understand the reasons for this, in addition to any recommendations for other assessments or supports required. If an Autism diagnosis is confirmed, the reasons for this will be explained and information and support provided in relation to current understanding of why you may have this neurotype, an overview of your profile of strengths and needs, and to understand your wider psychological formulation (e.g. how Autism may interact with any broader neurodevelopmental conditions, co-occurring mental or physical health conditions or life experiences). You will also be provided with support in relation to how you may feel following diagnosis, what supports are available locally and nationally, your entitlements in relation to reasonable adjustments in workplace or education settings, how to manage disclosures to others and neurodevelopmentally informed self-care strategies. This appointment can be arranged to take place as a walking session in a range of local locations in nature. This can be beneficial in terms of processing information and emotional regulation.
Documentation. Following the assessment process you will receive a detailed diagnostic report including a comprehensive overview of the diagnostic information and formulation, psychological formulation and recommendations relating to further assessments or interventions. You will also be provided with a brief letter confirming your diagnosis, which can be used to evidence your diagnosis to third parties if required. For those in or seeking employment or further education, a letter outlining recommendations for reasonable adjustments will also be provided. A list of useful resources will also be provided.
Well-being and support planning session (1 hour. If an Autism diagnosis is confirmed you will also be offered a review appointment around 6-8 weeks following diagnosis. This is an opportunity to review your emotional well-being and psychological adjustment to the diagnosis, to discuss any issues relating to sharing the diagnosis with others or navigating reasonable adjustment requests and to discuss any queries relating to your diagnosis report. You may choose to discuss and even arrange any post diagnostic therapy or support at this stage. This appointment can be arranged to take place as a walking session in a range of local locations in nature. This can be beneficial in terms of processing information and emotional regulation.
The above format takes into account the interactional demands of and social energy you may use up during an appointment. Meeting on more than one occasion allows you to optimise your energy and focus within sessions, reducing the impact of the appointments on other aspects of your life. It also provides time for processing to take place, often helping you to recall other relevant information related to our conversation. If you are travelling from a distance it may be possible to complete the assessment process in one day to reduce the financial and energy impacts of multiple journeys. Please ask for more information at the referral stage.
Cost - £1800 including all diagnostic documentation
Assessments are available from May 2026 and take place in newly refurbished clinic space within Tayside Complete Health, Dock Street, Dundee, DD1 3DR. Online appointments available before this date.
