Assessments can support your journey to radical acceptance.

The primary goal of the assessment process is to provide comprehensive insights into your cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning, with a specific focus on identifying strengths, challenges, and potential areas of support related to your unique needs. 

The medical model often focuses on deficits and disorders, expecting neurodivergent individuals to conform, mask their differences, and maintain the status quo.

This approach can harm mental health by sending the message that neurodivergent ways of being are not acceptable, ultimately leading to burnout.

That is NOT what I am about!

Instead, I focus on the social model of disability, recognising neurodiversity as a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity. This includes variations in neurological functioning, such as those associated with autistic and ADHD brain styles.

My assessment process aims to honour, understand, and support these differences, viewing neurodivergent traits as valid expressions of human diversity rather than deficits or disorders.

My goal is to help you understand your neurotype, embrace your unique qualities, and create environments that honour you as you are. You don’t need to change; you have immense strengths and value, and you are perfectly valid, just as you are.

Everyone deserves a neurodivergent-affirming assessment, and I'm here to guide you in leading your authentic neurodivergent life!

At Inclusive Connections Psychology, I am dedicated to providing compassionate, inclusive, and affirming psychological assessment services for individuals seeking support.

Every person deserves to be met with compassion, curiosity, and kindness. Our strengths should be acknowledged, and our challenges understood—not as deficits, but as inherent parts of who we are, to be supported rather than masked.

In a world dominated by neurotypical expectations, our nervous systems are constantly bombarded by demands, overwhelm, and the pressure to mask. The therapy or assessment room should never be a place for this.

There is immense value in working with a neurodivergent-affirming clinician, particularly one who is neurodivergent themselves. We have been there; we see you for who you are, understand your challenges and strengths, see your joy and passion, and speak the same language. You deserve to be heard and understood as a whole and valid person.

Your neurodivergent traits should be seen and explained as an inherent part of your being, not a cluster of deficits. Your path forward should be one of compassion, understanding, and creating a neuro-environmental fit, rather than an expectation to change who you are.

My hope is that one day this will be our norm, and that all neurodivergent people can feel the joy of being seen, understood, and embraced just as they are.

I look forward to partnering with you on your journey of self-discovery and growth!

  • My neurodiversity-affirming Autism assessments are a relaxed 3-hour conversation where we explore your potential Autistic traits using the MIGDAS-2 interview tool, which is renowned for its respectful and affirming assessment experience.

    We'll discuss any traits you might have noticed from childhood through adulthood, if applicable. You'll also be asked to complete some online questionnaires about possible Autistic traits, either for yourself or your child.

    For a more complete picture, I encourage additional questionnaires to be filled out by a parent, caregiver, or someone who knows you well for adult assessments, and teachers or school support staff for child assessments.

    If for a child assessment, I will also complete an additional play-based assessment for approximately 45 minutes.


    Fees

    With Full Report: $2000 

    With Confirmation Letter: $1300 

  • My neurodiversity-affirming ADHD assessments involve a friendly 2 hour conversation where we dive into your potential ADHD traits using the DIVA-5 or Young DIVA structured diagnostic interview.

    We’ll cover any ADHD traits from both childhood and adulthood, if relevant. You’ll also complete some online questionnaires about ADHD traits for yourself or your child. For a more complete picture, I encourage additional questionnaires to be filled out by a parent, caregiver, or someone who knows you well for adult assessments, and teachers or school support staff for child assessments.

    If for a child assessment, I will also complete an additional play-based assessment for approximately 45 minutes.

    *Note about ADHD assessments for adults: If you are an adult interested in exploring ADHD medication, you have the option to consult your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist specialising in ADHD, potentially avoiding the need for two separate assessments. I understand that some people prefer a psychologist's assessment before seeking a psychiatrist's referral, while others may not wish to see a psychiatrist at all. I would be more than happy to provide ADHD assessments to anyone preferring a psychologist for their assessment. 


    Fees

    With Full Report: $2000 

    With Confirmation Letter: $1300 

  • My neurodiversity-affirming Autism-ADHD assessments typically involve approximately 4 to 5 hours of conversation exploring your potential Autistic and ADHD traits using the MIGDAS-2 and DIVA-5/Young-DIVA interview tools. Depending on your preference, this assessment can be structured as two two-hour sessions or one four-hour appointment. We'll discuss any traits you might have noticed from childhood through adulthood, if applicable.

    You'll also be asked to complete some online questionnaires about possible Autistic and ADHD traits, either for yourself or your child.

    For a more complete picture, I encourage additional questionnaires to be filled out by a parent, caregiver, or someone who knew you during childhood for adult assessments, and teachers or school support staff for child assessments.

    If for a child assessment, I will also complete an additional play-based assessment for approximately 45 minutes.


    Fees

    With Report: $2600 

    With Confirmation Letter: $1900

  • My neurodiversity-affirming PDA assessment involves a 2-hour conversation where we delve into the unique traits and challenges associated with PDA. We'll discuss any traits you might have noticed from childhood through adulthood, if applicable. You'll also be asked to complete some online questionnaires about possible PDA traits, either for yourself or your child. For a more complete picture, I encourage additional questionnaires to be filled out by a parent, caregiver, or someone who knows you well for adult assessments, and teachers or school support staff for child assessments.

    If for a child assessment, I will also complete an additional play-based assessment for approximately 45 minutes.

    While this assessment won’t provide a formal diagnosis, it offers identification nonetheless and valuable understanding. This knowledge is crucial for tailoring the right supports and strategies, distinguishing the needs of someone with a PDA profile from those who are autistic but without a PDA profile. This clarity can significantly enhance the support and resources available to you or your child.


    Fees

    $1500

  • My comprehensive cognitive assessments involve a 1-1.5 hour parent, caregiver or adult interview, where we discuss cognitive development and strengths and challenges across different stages of life.

    Following this, there will be a 1-hour cognitive assessment session using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) for children, or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) for adults. The assessment process can be structured as one continuous session or split into two sessions based on your preference. 


    Fees

    $1450

Assessments I offer

  • Educational Assessments are suitable for people who seek assessments for Specific Learning Disorders such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia which are Specific Learning Disorders in Reading, Writing or Mathematics.

    For educational assessments, the process begins with a 1-1.5 hour parent, caregiver or adult interview to talk about your or your child’s educational history and any relevant challenges.

    Following this, there will be approximately 3 hours of structured testing, which includes the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) for children or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) for adults for cognitive assessment, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Third Edition (WIAT-III) for academic assessment, and the Behaviour Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) as an online questionnaire.

    It's recommended to split the cognitive assessment and academic assessment on different days for optimal focus and accuracy. 


    Fees

    $2000

  • For academic assessments, we first need to rule out intellectual disability before moving forward. This assessment is for those who have already had a cognitive assessment previously, and want to learn more about their learning strengths and challenges.

    The process starts with a 1-hour conversation with a parent, caregiver or adult to go over educational history and any concerns. After that, we'll begin 1.5 hours of testing, which includes the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III). We will also use the Behaviour Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) as an online questionnaire for a more comprehensive understanding.

    We aim to do everything in one session for ease and efficiency, however, if we need to break this into two sessions for people who have challenges regulating their focus and attention then we can do that too!


    Fees

    $1600

  • For intellectual disability assessments, the process involves a 1-1.5 hour parent, caregiver or adult interview to gather comprehensive developmental history. Following this, there will be approximately 1 hour of testing, encompassing the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) for children or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) for adults for cognitive assessment.

    Additionally, the Behaviour Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) and the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3) are administered as online questionnaires.

    The interview and testing can be conducted on the same day or separated based on preference.



    Fees

    $1650

  • The NDIS Access Report & Assessment is designed to get a deep understanding of you—your unique strengths, challenges, and needs.

    This assessment is about how you manage everyday life, the support you need, and how the NDIS can help you reach your goals. Unfortunately, having a diagnosis of Autism or a psychosocial disability doesn’t automatically mean you’ll receive NDIS support. They need to understand how your disability impacts your daily life. This report helps provide the evidence needed to improve your chances of accessing the help you need.

    While I am a neurodiversity-affirming practitioner, I recognise the importance of aligning the NDIS Access Request Assessment with the medical model of disability. This approach is essential to ensure that you can access the supports you need through the NDIS. This report is crucial in helping you secure the valuable and necessary supports that will enhance your quality of life, despite the fact that this model is problematic and is unsupportive in many other ways. My goal is to provide you with the best possible support and resources, and adhering to this format helps ensure you do not miss out on the assistance you deserve.

    The assessment process typically involves an in-depth discussion lasting about 2 hours and evaluation of your capabilities and challenges in the following areas:

    • Self-Care: Ability to manage personal hygiene, grooming, and other daily self-care activities.

    • Communication: Understanding and expressing information, both verbally and non-verbally.

    • Mobility: Movement and physical coordination, including navigating different environments.

    • Self-Management: Managing day-to-day tasks, time, and finances.

    • Social Interaction: Engaging and interacting with others in various social contexts.

    • Learning: Acquiring new skills and knowledge, problem-solving, and adapting to new situations.

    Note: Right now, the NDIS sees ADHD more as a 'medical condition' rather than a 'disability,' so applying for NDIS support based solely on ADHD, even if you have clear functional challenges, might not meet the criteria.


    Fees

    $1500

  • My Functional Capacity Assessments are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual's abilities and challenges across various domains, such as self-care, communication, mobility, self-management, social interaction, and learning. This assessment process involves the use of standardised tools, including the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3), and the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule, Second Edition (WHODAS 2.0), to evaluate challenges in daily life.

    While I am a neurodiversity-affirming practitioner, I recognise the importance of aligning the Functional Capacity Assessment with the medical model of disability. This approach is essential to ensure that you can access the supports you need through the NDIS. This report is crucial in helping you secure the valuable and necessary supports that will enhance your quality of life, despite the fact that this model is problematic and is unsupportive in many other ways. My goal is to provide you with the best possible support and resources, and adhering to this format helps ensure you do not miss out on the assistance you deserve.

    The assessment process typically involves an in-depth discussion lasting about 2 hours and evaluation of your capabilities and challenges in the following areas:

    • Self-Care: Ability to manage personal hygiene, grooming, and other daily self-care activities.

    • Communication: Understanding and expressing information, both verbally and non-verbally.

    • Mobility: Movement and physical coordination, including navigating different environments.

    • Self-Management: Managing day-to-day tasks, time, and finances.

    • Social Interaction: Engaging and interacting with others in various social contexts.

    • Learning: Acquiring new skills and knowledge, problem-solving, and adapting to new situations.


    Fees

    $2000

*Just a heads up: full payment is required before I can release the report for all assessments.

FAQs

What if I want to combine different assessments?

If you choose to bundle assessments, such as combining an autism and/or ADHD assessment alongside a cognitive or academic evaluation, or including an NDIS access request, I offer reduced costs for these comprehensive packages. Bundling assessments not only streamlines the process but also provides a holistic understanding of your strengths and challenges. Please enquire for more details on bundled assessment options and pricing. 

The need for a detailed report often depends on what you’re aiming to achieve with your assessment. My full reports are thorough and comprehensive. They cover your personal history, the results from questionnaires and assessment tools, a detailed analysis of how you fit the diagnostic criteria, and comprehensive recommendations to guide you moving forward as your ‘where to from here’. A full report is useful if you’re applying for funding through government agencies like the NDIS, need accommodations at school or work, or want a complete picture of the assessment process and outcomes with guidance on the next steps.

If you’re having an assessment for Autism, ADHD, or Autism-ADHD mainly to better understand yourself, and you don’t need a full report, I offer a more budget-friendly option with a confirmation letter. This letter provides a brief summary of the assessment results and diagnoses but skips the detailed recommendations, detailed history and more comprehensive understanding of the diagnostic criteria and assessment results. You don’t need to decide on this right away! Feel free to chat with me first to figure out what works best for you.

Do I need a report?