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Private assessment · Brighton & Sussex

Thoughtful autism assessment in Brighton and Sussex.

Private autism assessments for adults and young people aged 14+, carried out jointly by two experienced Clinical Psychologists.

£1,750 complete standard assessment package

Arrange a free 15-minute call See how assessment works
Several translucent shapes overlapping to form a coherent whole
No single test explains a person.
We bring several perspectives together until the picture makes sense in context.
Our approach

Assessment should be about understanding, not simply testing.

People come to assessment from many different starting points. You may have wondered about autism for years, or only recently begun to question whether it could help explain parts of your experience.

You may also have existing diagnoses or a complicated mental-health history. Sometimes the picture is clear. Sometimes it needs more careful untangling.

We don't begin by assuming you are, or are not, autistic. We gather information from across your life and consider which explanation — or combination of explanations — best fits your experiences.

The process

What the assessment involves

Seven clear stages, from an initial conversation to feedback and a written report. Both psychologists contribute to every assessment and agree the overall clinical conclusion together.

  1. 01Initial conversation

    We offer a free 15-minute call before you book. Tell us what has brought you here, ask questions, and get a feel for whether our service is right for you.

  2. 02Background information

    Before the appointments, we send questionnaires and gather relevant background information. Where possible, a parent or someone who knew you in childhood also completes a developmental questionnaire. Previous reports can be useful too.

  3. 03Developmental assessment

    We meet with a parent or other developmental informant to explore your early development and childhood in detail.

    If nobody is available who knew you then, that does not automatically prevent an assessment. We consider other sources of developmental information and are transparent about any limitations.

  4. 04Face-to-face assessment

    Your face-to-face appointment takes place in Brighton. This includes the ADOS-2 where appropriate, alongside a broader clinical conversation about your current experiences and everyday life.

  5. 05We bring the information together

    We bring the evidence together, consider autism alongside other possible or co-occurring explanations, and reach a joint formulation and diagnostic opinion.

  6. 06Feedback

    We explain what we have understood, whether we think you meet diagnostic criteria for autism, and how we reached that conclusion. There is time to discuss what the findings mean to you.

  7. 07Your report

    A comprehensive written report covering:

    • your developmental and clinical history
    • findings from the assessment
    • our understanding of your presentation
    • whether you meet diagnostic criteria
    • other explanations we considered
    • an integrated clinical formulation
    • recommendations for you specifically
    • useful resources and signposting

Based in Brighton. Rooted in Sussex.

Face-to-face assessments take place in Brighton, with some parts of the process available remotely where appropriate.

Brighton Palace Pier at sunset
Brighton
View across the South Downs in East Sussex
Sussex
Clinical thinking

When the picture is complicated

Autistic characteristics can overlap with other neurodevelopmental and mental-health experiences. Understanding those overlaps is an important part of a careful assessment.

We have particular experience with complex presentations, including psychosis and unusual perceptual experiences. Differential diagnosis is part of our approach, not an afterthought.

Where useful, we can also consult trusted colleagues in psychiatry, occupational therapy and other relevant disciplines.

Abstract illustration showing overlapping translucent forms labelled ADHD, anxiety, trauma, obsessive-compulsive experiences, attachment and relational difficulties, unusual perceptual experiences, psychosis, and other mental-health conditions.
Different experiences can overlap. We consider how these strands relate to one another, rather than assuming a single explanation from the start.

Who we work with

You do not need to have worked everything out before contacting us.

Adults

Our main focus, including people exploring autism later in life and people whose previous diagnoses or assessments have left questions unanswered.

Young people aged 14+

We can also assess older teenagers where our service fits their needs. We will be clear at the first call if another service would be more appropriate.

Existing diagnoses or a complicated clinical history are not barriers to contacting us.

What it costs

£1,750

There are no additional charges for the standard assessment pathway. If we think a substantial assessment from another professional would help, we will discuss it with you before anything is arranged.

  • Initial screening and background information
  • Developmental assessment with an informant
  • Face-to-face clinical assessment in Brighton
  • ADOS-2 where appropriate
  • Joint assessment by two Clinical Psychologists
  • Diagnostic formulation
  • Feedback appointment
  • Comprehensive written report
  • Recommendations and signposting
In Brighton

Face-to-face, with clear practical information.

In-person parts of the assessment are held in Brighton, within easy reach of Hove and the wider Sussex area. Some parts of the process can be completed remotely where appropriate.

Before your appointment, we will send clear directions, photographs of the building, where to wait, and what to expect when you arrive.

Ask about our Brighton assessment rooms →
Your clinicians

Two psychologists, one assessment.

We bring overlapping experience in autism, complex mental health presentations and formulation, with somewhat different clinical strengths.

Portrait photograph of Dr Dan Stevens

Dr Dan Stevens

Clinical Psychologist

My clinical work has spanned neurodevelopmental and mental health services, including autism assessment with adults and young people.

A particular focus of my work has been understanding autism where the picture is complex, or where there are several possible explanations for someone’s experiences. I have specialist experience in psychosis and unusual experiences, and I’m especially interested in differential diagnosis: thinking carefully about how autism may overlap with, or be distinguished from, other mental health and neurodevelopmental presentations.

I approach assessment by bringing together different sources of information rather than relying too heavily on any single test or observation. My aim is for the assessment to provide a clear and thoughtful account of how we have understood someone’s presentation, whatever the diagnostic outcome, and to leave them with something useful to take forward.

Portrait photograph of Dr Jess Stock

Dr Jess Stock

Clinical Psychologist

My approach to assessment is shaped by experience across neurodevelopmental and mental health services, including working with people whose presentations may be complex or difficult to understand at first sight.

Much of my clinical work has been with people experiencing psychosis and other significant mental health difficulties. I’m particularly interested in formulation: bringing together someone’s developmental history, relationships, family context and wider life experiences to understand the whole picture rather than relying on any single test or diagnosis.

I have additional training in systemic approaches, which influences how I think about autism assessment and the family, relational and social contexts in which a person has developed. I’m also mindful of presentations that may have been overlooked or masked over time, including the ways autism can present in women. I aim for assessment to feel collaborative, careful and curious.

Every assessment is considered jointly. We each gather different parts of the picture, then bring our clinical perspectives together before reaching a conclusion.

Questions before you book

Frequently asked questions

You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch. These are some of the questions people often have at the start.

Who do you assess?

Our main focus is adults. We can also assess young people aged 14 and over where our service is appropriate for their needs.

Do I need to be certain that I am autistic before contacting you?

No. Many people contact us because they are wondering about autism rather than because they already feel certain. The free initial conversation is a chance to tell us what has led you to consider assessment and ask any questions before deciding whether to proceed.

Do I need a parent or somebody who knew me in childhood?

Developmental information is an important part of autism assessment, so where possible we speak with a parent or another person who knew you when you were young. If nobody is available, this does not automatically prevent an assessment. We will discuss what other sources of developmental information may be available and how any gaps affect the conclusions we can draw.

What is the ADOS-2?

The ADOS-2 is a structured observational assessment that gives us one source of information about communication, social interaction and other features relevant to autism. We use it where appropriate, but we do not treat it as a stand-alone test for autism. Our conclusion comes from bringing together the full assessment.

What if I already have ADHD, anxiety or another mental-health diagnosis?

That is not a barrier to contacting us. We regularly work with people whose presentation includes other neurodevelopmental or mental-health experiences. Part of our role is to consider how different explanations may overlap or sit alongside one another.

What if my clinical history is particularly complicated?

Complex presentations are an area of particular interest for us. We both have substantial experience working with psychosis and unusual experiences as well as autism assessment. Where a question falls outside our own expertise, we can consider consultation with trusted colleagues from other disciplines.

What happens if you conclude that I am not autistic?

The purpose of the assessment is to understand your presentation, not simply to provide a particular diagnosis. We will explain the evidence we considered, the conclusion we reached and any alternative or additional explanations that seem important. Your feedback and report will still include recommendations and useful next steps.

Which parts of the assessment are face to face?

The direct clinical assessment, including the ADOS-2 where appropriate, takes place in person in Brighton. Other parts of the assessment can be arranged remotely where appropriate.

What is included in the £1,750 fee?

The standard package includes pre-assessment information gathering, developmental assessment, face-to-face clinical assessment, ADOS-2 where appropriate, joint formulation by both Clinical Psychologists, feedback, a comprehensive written report, recommendations and signposting.

A £500 deposit secures the assessment and is deducted from the £1,750 total. The remaining balance is due before the first substantive assessment appointment.

How quickly will you reply to an enquiry?

We aim to respond within two working days. The initial 15-minute conversation is usually by phone, but we can arrange video or begin by email if that is easier for you.

How does payment work?

A £500 deposit secures your assessment and is credited towards the total fee of £1,750. The remaining balance is due before the first substantive assessment appointment.

What if I need to cancel or rearrange an appointment?

You can cancel or rearrange without charge when you give at least 48 working hours’ notice. For a substantive assessment appointment cancelled or rearranged with less than 48 working hours’ notice, our working policy is a £200 late-cancellation fee. We will use reasonable discretion for genuine emergencies or circumstances outside your control.

Can I change my mind after booking?

Yes. For bookings made online or by phone, statutory cooling-off rights may apply. If no chargeable assessment work has started, you can usually cancel within the cooling-off period for a full refund. If you ask us to begin work sooner, any fee would reflect only work already carried out. Our full terms explain this in more detail.

When will I receive my report?

We aim to provide your written report within three weeks of the final assessment appointment. If there is an unusual reason that this may take longer, we will let you know.

Do both psychologists contribute to my assessment?

Yes. We each gather different parts of the assessment and then consider the evidence together before reaching a joint clinical formulation and diagnostic conclusion.

Taking the next step

Considering an assessment?

You are welcome to get in touch even if you are unsure whether assessment is the right next step. We offer a free 15-minute initial conversation, with no obligation to book.

We aim to respond within two working days. Initial conversations are usually by phone, with video or email available if you prefer.

At this stage, we only need enough information to know how to contact you and what you are looking for.

Please do not include detailed or highly sensitive clinical information in this first message. We can talk about that safely once we have made contact.

Request a free 15-minute call

Send us a few basic details and one of us can get back to you to arrange a brief initial conversation.

Prefer email? You can also write to hello@illuminaautism.co.uk.

How would you prefer us to contact you?

A sentence or two is enough. There is no need to send your full history here.

We use the information you provide here only to respond to your enquiry and arrange next steps. Please do not send detailed clinical information through this form. Read our privacy notice and terms, payment and cancellation information.