There is no need to study, rehearse, or prepare for the assessment itself. The most helpful thing is simply to come as you are. A little practical planning beforehand can, however, make the day feel more comfortable and predictable.

Before the appointment. You are welcome to send any previous assessment reports, relevant letters from your GP or therapist, and any notes that you or an informant would like to share in advance of the appointment. These can provide useful background information, but there is absolutely no expectation that you will gather anything specifically for the assessment.

If there is anything that would help me prepare for our meeting, you are also welcome to let me know beforehand, such as:

• Any sensory sensitivities.
• Communication preferences.
• Difficulties you have experienced during previous appointments.

Sharing this information will not affect the assessment outcome, but it can help me make the appointment as comfortable as possible.

If possible, it can also be helpful to have a parent or someone who knew you well as a child available around the time of the appointment, in case we need to contact them for additional background information.

Planning your visit. You may wish to:

• Check the clinic location and plan how you will get to and from the appointment.
• Familiarise yourself with the building beforehand. If this would help, I can send photographs of the entrance, waiting area, and consulting room.
• Think about anything you would like to bring with you, such as notes to refer to during the assessment, a drink, a snack, headphones, or any other items that help you feel comfortable.

On the day, the assessment typically lasts around 3.5 hours and is divided into shorter sections throughout the session. If completing the assessment in a single sitting feels overwhelming, we can discuss arranging it across two appointments instead.

Many people find the assessment thoughtful and emotionally absorbing. If possible, it can be helpful to leave some time afterwards to rest, reflect, and decompress before returning to your usual routine.

If you arrive early, you're welcome to wait either in the clinic waiting area or outside the building, whichever feels most comfortable. Reception will let me know when you've arrived, and I'll come to meet you and introduce myself.

Please feel free to bring anything that helps you feel comfortable during the appointment, such as:

• Notes
• A drink or snack
• A stim toy or fidget item
• Headphones or earplugs
• Any other helpful items

If someone has accompanied you, we'll begin by discussing how they may be involved and what information they can contribute to the assessment process.

We reserve enough time for a full assessment on the day, should one be needed.

The appointment begins with a screening conversation lasting around an hour. The purpose of this stage is to determine whether a full autism assessment is likely to be clinically appropriate and helpful. If it is not, we'll discuss alternative explanations for your experiences and consider what support may be most beneficial. If a full assessment is indicated, we will move directly on to this during the same appointment.

Many people feel nervous about the appointment, particularly if they have spent years wondering why certain things have felt difficult or different. That's completely understandable.

You do not need to make eye contact, suppress behaviours that help you regulate, or present yourself in any particular way. There are no right or wrong answers, and you are not being judged or tested. My role is simply to understand your experiences as accurately as possible.

If a question is unclear, feels too broad, or doesn't seem relevant to your experience, please say so. We can always rephrase it, come back to it later, or explore the answer in a different way. The process is collaborative, and you are welcome to take your time.

The more natural and honest your responses are, the more helpful the process will be.

Before we begin, we'll agree regular breaks, but you are free to pause at any time if you need a moment to rest, think, or regroup. I'll explain each part of the assessment as we go, so you'll know what to expect throughout.

The assessment brings together information from several sources to build a detailed understanding of your experiences. We'll explore areas such as your early development, education, relationships, interests, daily life, current challenges, and physical and mental health. Any information provided by an informant will be considered alongside our discussions.

The session also includes the ADOS-2, a standardised observational tool that can help supplement the overall assessment. Some parts involve simple activities, such as describing a picture or telling a story. There is nothing you need to prepare beforehand, and there are no right or wrong answers.

Many people worry about saying the "wrong" thing or not being able to explain themselves clearly enough. The assessment is not a measure of intelligence, memory, social skill, or how well you communicate. It is simply an opportunity to develop a fuller understanding of your experiences, strengths, challenges, and the ways in which you navigate the world.

Every assessment concludes with clear, in-person feedback, so you will leave knowing the outcome rather than facing a period of uncertainty.

We'll talk through the findings together, answer any questions you may have, and discuss how the conclusions were reached.

Whether the assessment results in a diagnosis or not, my aim is for you to leave with a greater understanding of yourself, a clear explanation of the outcome, and practical guidance about what comes next.

A comprehensive written report, including personalised recommendations, is usually provided within one week.

For some people, receiving an assessment outcome is the end of the process. For others, it is the beginning of a new period of understanding and adjustment.

If you would find it helpful, we can arrange additional feedback sessions to explore the findings in greater depth and discuss what they mean for your life, relationships, work, or education. These appointments are entirely optional and charged separately from the assessment.

I am also happy to meet with partners or family members when this would be beneficial. If appropriate, we can discuss a separate ADHD assessment, or I can help you access ongoing support through a trusted network of psychologists, therapists, and occupational therapists.