If you think you might be autistic, but you aren’t certain, we can offer an initial consultation on its own. This takes approximately 60-90 minutes, and we may ask you to complete some forms before you attend your appointment. We will ask about your symptoms, your early life, work, education, family and mental health. For children and young people, there will be an opportunity for parents/carers to meet with the clinician on their own and/or together with their child. Children and young people will also be offered the opportunity to speak with the clinician on their own if necessary.
After the initial consultation, we may recommend proceeding to an autism assessment or we may wish to discuss your assessment with our multi-disciplinary team to get a range of expert opinions on what your next step should be. If we think you don’t need an autism assessment, we will tell you and explain the reasons why. We may suggest another type of neurodevelopmental assessment, or we may suggest psychological therapies. You are under no obligation to proceed with any recommendations we make.
If you are unsure, an initial consultation can be a cost-effective way of getting an expert opinion and recommendations on what to do next without committing to a full assessment.
