An autism assessment is a structured process that looks at social communication style, sensory preferences and sensitivities, patterns of interest, routines, emotional regulation and day to day functioning. The goal is to understand whether your presentation is consistent with autism, and what that means for your life. It is not about trying to make you act more "normal". It is about accurately understanding your neurotype.

People often seek an autism assessment when they notice lifelong differences in social energy, sensory overwhelm, communication style or the need for predictability. Common reasons for booking include feeling burnt out by masking, always feeling different, struggling in unstructured social settings, or being misunderstood as rude, shy or intense. Parents also seek assessment when their child has strong interests, finds change upsetting, uses different communication styles, or seems exhausted by social situations.

There are several parts.

1. Clinical and developmental interview
   
   We meet to discuss strengths, challenges, sensory profile, social history, emotional regulation, early development and current functioning. For younger clients I also speak with a parent or caregiver to gather developmental background.

2. Standardised questionnaires
   
   You and, where appropriate, a parent, caregiver or partner complete validated questionnaires about communication style, flexibility, sensory regulation, social comfort and routines.

3. Structured observational assessment
   
   Where appropriate I use structured, play based or conversation based tasks that are designed to look at social communication, reciprocity, and flexibility in a supportive way. This is not a trick. It is about understanding your natural style in a low pressure setting.

4. Diagnostic formulation
   
   All information is considered against current clinical criteria. We also look at burnout, trauma, ADHD traits, anxiety and other factors that commonly overlap with autism.

5. Report writing
   

   Over the next few weeks, all the information is then summarised into a detailed and comprehensive report.

6. Feedback
   
   We then have a final session wherein we go through the report together in detail, discuss whether diagnostic criteria was met, discuss recommendations to help you thrive (regardless of diagnoses), and identify next steps.

Often yes.

For children and adolescents, autism assessment reports are commonly used to request learning supports at school, sensory accommodations and predictable routines. For adults, the report can help with workplace adjustments, communication preferences, sensory considerations and access to supports such as NDIS style funding where function is impacted.

Also, it’s often very powerful for those who have felt different their whole life to get insight about themselves.

No. A high quality autism assessment must consider ADHD, anxiety, trauma history, selective mutism, social anxiety, giftedness, learning differences, general emotional regulation, and many other things. Many autistic people have masked for years and present in a way that is often misunderstood. We aim to see the full picture, not only a list of traits.

It should not feel like an interrogation. You are not expected to perform eye contact or force a certain type of social behaviour. You can ask for breaks, reduce lighting, use movement or fidgets, or request that questions be phrased differently. The goal is not to judge you. The goal is to understand you in your natural, safest state. As such, we try our best to make it a warm and safe space.

You receive a written report that clearly outlines whether you meet criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder and describes your presentation in everyday language. You also receive practical recommendations. These can include sensory supports, communication supports, social energy planning, school strategies, workplace adjustments and self advocacy language. We then have a feedback session where we walk through the findings together and you can ask questions.

Many people describe a sense of relief. Instead of "Why am I like this" the narrative becomes "This is how my nervous system works and this is what it needs". Assessment often reduces shame around masking, meltdowns, shutdowns and sensory overload. It also gives you language to explain needs to your workplace, school and family.

We talk through your next steps. For some people this includes self advocacy coaching, environmental changes, school or workplace adjustments, and sensory regulation strategies. We can also discuss pathways for supports and funding in Australia.

You can get in touch to request an Autism assessment using the email form on this page (or our homepage). That’s a great chance to ask any burning questions as well. From there, we can then book the initial interview at a time and date that works for you.