ADHD and Autism Assessments

If you’re wondering whether you or your child might be neurodivergent, you’re not alone — and you're in the right place!

The assessment process includes clinical interviews, standardised questionnaires, and behavioural observations. Each assessment is tailored to the individual and conducted in a neurodiversity-affirming and respectful way, with the goal of supporting self-understanding, access to appropriate supports, and more confident day-to-day functioning.

All assessments include a detailed written report and a feedback session to explain the results, answer questions, and provide personalised recommendations.

Please note: I am not currently offering formal cognitive or IQ testing as part of assessments.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person manages attention, energy, and self-regulation. It’s not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. ADHD looks different in everyone, and symptoms can shift depending on environment, age, gender, and life experiences.

    ADHD is fundamentally a condition that affects executive functioning — the brain’s ability to manage things like planning, memory, time, decision-making, and emotional regulation. This can make everyday tasks feel more effortful, even when motivation or intention is high.

  • Common ADHD traits include:

    • Difficulty focusing or staying on task

    • Feeling mentally restless or easily distracted

    • Forgetting things or losing belongings

    • Procrastination or trouble finishing tasks

    • Interrupting or blurting things out

    • Feeling the need to move constantly or fidget

    • Heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input (e.g. finding certain noises, textures, or tags on clothing overwhelming or distracting)

    ADHD isn’t just about difficulties with attention or impulsivity — it can also come with creativity, high energy, innovative thinking, and a strong drive when something sparks genuine interest. With the right understanding and support, these strengths can truly shine.

  • While ADHD traits can vary widely across all genders, many females and gender-diverse people experience or express symptoms in ways that are less easily recognised. For example:

    • For many, hyperactivity is less outward and more internal. This can show up as restlessness, overthinking, or emotional overwhelm

    • Traits may be masked by perfectionism, people-pleasing, or over-preparing:

      • Perfectionism can stem from a fear of making mistakes or being seen as lazy or disorganised. This can lead to excessive effort just to meet basic expectations

      • People-pleasing may develop as a coping strategy to avoid criticism or conflict, especially in environments where emotional sensitivity or impulsivity has been judged harshly

      • Over-preparing often compensates for forgetfulness, time blindness, or poor working memory — spending hours getting ready for tasks others might complete quickly

    • Symptoms are sometimes mistaken for anxiety or mood disorders

    • ADHD may be overlooked if academic or work performance appears strong

    These patterns can lead to ADHD going undiagnosed or misunderstood, especially when outward success hides the daily mental load.

  • ADHD is generally classified into three main presentations, depending on the predominant symptoms:

    • Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
      Individuals may struggle mostly with sustaining attention, organising tasks, following instructions, and being easily distracted. Hyperactivity and impulsivity are minimal or absent.

    • Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
      Individuals display excessive fidgeting, restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and impulsive behaviours such as interrupting or acting without thinking. Attention difficulties may be less obvious.

    • Combined Presentation
      Where symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity are present.

  • A comprehensive ADHD assessment can bring clarity, self-understanding, and direction. Whether you're seeking a formal diagnosis, workplace or academic accommodations, or just a better understanding of how your brain works, the goal is always to support your strengths and make daily life more manageable.

    Therapy can also be an important part of support — a space to learn practical strategies for managing attention, building structure, improving emotional regulation, and making meaningful changes that work with your brain (not against it).

Autism Spectrum

  • Autism is a neurodevelopmental neurotype that shapes how a person perceives the world, interacts with others, and processes sensory input. While many autistic people embrace it as a natural way of being, autism can also involve challenges that significantly impact daily life and wellbeing.

  • Common autistic traits include, but are not limited to:

    • Difficulty with small talk or understanding unspoken social rules and cues

    • Difficulty identifying, understanding, or expressing emotions (both your own and others’)

    • Tendency to take things literally and difficulty with abstract language, sarcasm, or metaphors

    • Strong preference for routine, predictability, and familiarity; changes can feel distressing

    • Deep, focused interests or passions, sometimes called “special interests”

    • Strong sense of justice and fairness, which can lead to feeling upset by perceived unfairness or inconsistency

    • Sensory sensitivities or differences, such as being over- or under-sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, smells, or tastes

    • Feeling easily overwhelmed or socially drained in busy or noisy environments

    • Challenges with executive functioning skills, like planning, organising, managing time, and shifting attention between tasks

    Not everyone will experience all of these traits, and autistic experiences can look very different from person to person.

    While autism can come with challenges, it can also bring unique strengths, such as deep focus, creativity, strong pattern recognition, and honesty. Many autistic people have a distinctive way of seeing the world that can truly flourish when recognised and supported.

  • While autism traits can appear in many ways, some patterns are more common among females and gender-diverse individuals:

    • Traits may be “masked” by copying others or working hard to fit in

    • Misunderstood as being shy, anxious, overly sensitive, or dramatic

    • Special interests may appear more socially typical (e.g., animals, books, people)

    • May experience intense emotions, strong justice sensitivity, or social burnout

    Masking is when someone hides or compensates for their autistic traits to fit in socially — often unconsciously. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, burnout, or feeling like you’re always performing. Many people who mask go undiagnosed until later in life.

  • Many autistic people experience co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, or trauma-related challenges. These can be exacerbated when their needs have been misunderstood, unsupported, or dismissed over time. Because autism is often masked or misinterpreted, it’s not uncommon for people to reach adulthood before recognising they might be autistic.

  • An autism assessment isn’t about labelling, it’s about understanding. Gaining insight into your neurotype can bring relief, self-compassion, and direction. It can help you make sense of lifelong patterns, advocate for your needs, and explore supports that honour your unique way of being. 

    Therapy can also be an important part of the journey. It offers a space to explore identity, unmask safely, build self-understanding, and learn strategies for managing sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, relationships, and executive functioning.

Assessment Process

  • I use a blend of questionnaires, interviews, and in-session observations to create a well-rounded picture of the individual. The process is always adapted to the person’s age, communication style, and preferences.

    ADHD Assessments may include:

    • Questionnaires completed by the individual, parent/guardian, and/or teacher

    • BRIEF-2 or BRIEF2A Questionnaire– measures executive functioning (e.g., planning, working memory, emotional regulation)

    • Conners 4 or CAARS Questionnaire – screens for ADHD-related traits

    • DIVA 5.0 or Young DIVA Interview– structured clinical interview exploring traits across the lifespan

    Autism Assessments may include:

    • Questionnaires completed by the individual, parent/guardian, and/or teacher

    • SRS-2 Questionnaire – explores social communication and sensory behaviours

    • CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) – helps identify masking or camouflaging behaviours

    • BRIEF-2 or BRIEF2A Questionnaire – looks at executive functioning

    • MIGDAS Interview – a sensory-informed, conversational assessment used in-session to explore autistic traits across the lifespan

    • Vineland-III - A questionnaire that measures a person’s everyday adaptive skills, like communication, self-care, and social functioning.

    I understand that neurodivergent people don’t always present in “typical” ways and so my approach takes into account things like gender, masking, co-occurring experiences (e.g. anxiety), and neurodivergent strengths.

    Please note: I do not currently provide cognitive (IQ) testing as part of these assessments.

  • A detailed report that includes your history, assessment results, diagnostic conclusions, and tailored recommendations. 

    • Often required for NDIS applications (especially for Autism)

    • May be needed by psychiatrists for medication

    • Helpful for school support, workplaces, and daily strategies

    Tip: Planning to see a psychiatrist? Call ahead to check what kind of documentation they require, or if they prefer to conduct their own assessment.

  • After your initial assessment session, we provide a quote tailored to your needs. This quote depends on what you require and the complexity of your case.

    Typical pricing (subject to variation):

    Assessment fees do not include the initial intake session. The initial intake session ($215) is required prior to any assessment to determine suitability and ensure the best fit for testing. You may receive a rebate for the initiate intake session with a valid Mental Health Care Plan ($98.95 rebate, leaving an out-of-pocket cost of $116.05).

    A rebate is not available for Assessment Fees.

    • Comprehensive ADHD Assessment and Report: $1500 (Out of pocket $1616.05 including the intake session with a mental health care plan rebate / $1715 out of pocket without a mental health care plan).

    • Comprehensive Autism Assessment and Report: $2000 (Out of pocket $2116.05 including the intake session with a mental health care plan rebate / $2215 out of pocket without a mental health care plan).

    • Comprehensive ADHD + Autism (combined) Assessment and Report: $2500 (Out of pocket $2616.05 including the intake session with a mental health care plan rebate / $2715 out of pocket without a mental health care plan).

    I strive to be transparent and will discuss all costs with you before proceeding with any reports.

    Not Sure What You Need?

    It’s completely okay to feel unsure. If you’d like to talk through your options or ask questions about the process, feel free to get in touch.