The Edinburgh Practice offers ‘gold-standard’ autism assessments for children, ensuring that families can access expert clinical support for their children and teens in a timely manner.
The Assessment Process
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed by gathering evidence from the young person, their family and by completing a clinical assessment. As a team we gather information from different sources to see if the child/young person meets the diagnostic criteria for autism or whether their presentation can be better explained by something else, for example, anxiety or learning difficulties. Our autism assessments for children are led by our child and adolescent team; a multidisciplinary group of clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and a specialist speech and language therapist. In order to provide a ‘gold-standard’ service, we have chosen to use a range of clinically recognised tools. Below is a guide of how our assessments typically proceed.
Stage 1: Initial consultation
The first stage of our assessment process involves an initial consultation. The purpose of this consultation is to give you the opportunity to meet with a member of our team to discuss your child’s presentation and provide some details about your child’s developmental history. Where applicable, both parents or guardians and the young person should attend this meeting which will last approximately one hour.
Following this initial consultation, if full assessment is indicated, we will provide you with a questionnaire to give to your child’s nursery/school to fill out and return to us. We will also need to contact the school/nursery to verify information. This information is vital to the diagnostic process and is essential for us to have prior to us meeting your child.
Stage 2: The core assessment
As parents/guardians, you will meet with one member of our team to complete the ADI-R. This is a standardized interview which includes in-depth questioning relating to your child’s early years and developmental history and has been proven to be highly useful for diagnosing individuals with Autism. It is a gold standard assessment tool and is recommended in current national guidelines.
Your child will also attend the practice to complete the ADOS-2 assessment for Autism. This is a semi structured, standardised assessment which is designed to identify behaviours that are typically related to a diagnosis of Autism. This is also a gold standard instrument recommended in current national guidelines. This play-based observational assessment involves your child playing with specific toys and undertaking various tasks with a member of the team whilst their interaction is being observed by another team member.
Stage 3: Diagnosis
Following the completion of these assessment processes, the team meet to discuss the young person’s case and the information that has been gathered during the assessment process. The information is mapped onto the DSM-V criteria for Autism and a decision is reached regarding diagnosis. If all information is available, the team would hope to feedback to you within 14 days of the clinic assessment.
In some cases, further assessment may be required if it is determined that further clarification and observation would be useful to the assessment process. Examples include a nursery/school observation, an additional speech and language assessment, or a review by a child psychiatrist. If this is the case then the rationale and timing for the further assessment will be discussed.
Report & recommendations
Following completion of our assessments a written diagnostic report will be completed. We will aim to have this report finalised approximately 4 weeks after completion of our assessment.
Stage 4: Post-assessment support meeting
Whether or not your child receives an Autism diagnosis, we understand that the whole process and outcome may have been challenging for you as a family. Receiving a positive Autism diagnosis for a child can feel overwhelming, and each individual will have differing emotions following the diagnosis. Equally, parents of children who do not receive a diagnosis and where the origin of their child’s difficulties appear to point elsewhere can also feel overwhelmed and helpless as to what to do moving forward. For this reason, we have structured in a ‘follow-up’ meeting, approximately one month after your child’s assessment. This meeting allows you the opportunity to go through the report again if necessary and get clarity on any outstanding queries. Whatever the outcome of the diagnostic assessment, you will be provided with practical resources and recommendations for local services and support groups that may be helpful for you and your family.
Our Fees
£1950
Autism assessment for children and young people
This Monday, ‘M’ is for Mantras!
🧘♀️The term ‘mantra’ means an instrument of mind or thought. It can be a word, sound or phrase that is rhythmically repeated during meditation.
💭Mantras can occupy the mind in a way that stops your normal train of thought and allow you to clear your mind. They have the power to focus the mind, body and breath in unison towards a certain goal, intention or purpose.
Using mantras in your meditation and in your day to day life may help with:
💛 Stress management
💛 A positive outlook
💛 Increased self-awareness
💛 Anxiety
💛 Low mood
💛 Cognitive functioning
💛 Staying focused on your goals
🫶Mantra-meditation can be helpful for times where you feel anxious, stressed or low. It can also be great for practicing mindfulness and bringing the attention back to self.
#mantramondays #mentalhealth #meditation #theedinburghpractice
Happy Friday! We’re back for our #fridaycheckin and today we are checking in with our body.
In today’s fast-paced world, burnout is more common than ever and our wonderful Sport Psychologist, Dr Zoe, is giving us some insight into how to prevent burnout.
😌 Taking the time to incorporate different types of rest is essential for maintaining our overall wellbeing. The different types of rest include:
🛏️ Physical rest: We often think of rest as just lying down or sitting, but it can also include stretching, taking a nap, getting a massage, or taking short breaks.
🧠 Mental rest: We live in a world that is always ‘on’, and it can be challenging to unplug. Mental rest can include turning off your phone, taking a break from social media, or practicing meditation.
💛 Emotional rest: Take a break from the emotional demands we face every day. This can include spending time alone, reducing stress where possible, talking to a trusted friend, practising self care, or spending time in nature.
🙋♀️ Social rest: We are social beings, but socialising can also be draining. Social rest can include spending time alone, considering when you want to socialise & when you don’t want to, or having a solo picnic, hike or lunch.
🔇 Sensory rest: We are constantly receiving sensory input from noise, light, and other stimuli and it can be overwhelming. Sensory rest can include turning off the TV, closing your eyes, spending time in a quiet room, listening to calming music, or practising deep breathing.
Remember - rest is not a luxury, it’s a necessity! Embracing and prioritising the different types of rest can help us live healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives 😊
#theedinburghpractice #fridaycheckin #checkinwithourbody
This week is OCD Awareness Week!
At TEP, we are supporting and sharing awareness for #OCDweek. This worldwide event by @iocdf serves to dispel myths about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), break the stigma around mental illness, and provide education about the disorder and how to support those affected.
OCD affects 1 in 100 adults and 1 in 200 children but can be overlooked and belittled as a personality quirk or choice. In reality, OCD is a very real mental health difficulty that affects people of all ages and walks of life.
OCD is an anxiety disorder involving obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress. Compulsions can be internal (mental) or external behaviours.
Research has shown that most people have unwanted intrusive thoughts from time to time, but in the context of OCD, these intrusive thoughts come frequently and trigger extreme anxiety, fear, and/or disgust that gets in the way of day-to-day functioning.
At TEP, we offer psychology and psychiatry services to support individuals with OCD. Please head to our website (link in bio) to find out more or to submit a self-referral.
#OCDweek #ocdawarenessweek #theedinburghpractice #mentalhealth
Happy Monday everyone! Today’s ’M’ word is mental fatigue. Mental fatigue occurs when we overwork our minds for an extended time. This happens when our brains receive too much stimulation or our minds have to maintain an intense level of activity without rest.
We can think about mental fatigue as running on a low mental battery. We might be more forgetful, stressed, or irritable - clear signs that our brain needs a break! Ignoring these signals can lead to burnout.
Although mental fatigue can feel daunting, there are ways to recharge our minds:
🛑 Take breaks - It’s important to allow ourselves time to rest. Whether it’s a short walk, a nap, or disconnecting from our phones for an hour.
🧘♀️ Practice a meditation - A brief meditation can help you relax your mind, offering a much needed relief from the demands of the day.
🏃♂️ Stay physically active - Even just 20-30 minutes of moderate physical activity can boost our mood and give us a burst of energy.
🛏️ Prioritise sleep - A lack of good-quality sleep can lead to both physical and mental fatigue. Try to maintain a regular sleep routine as irregular sleep patterns can disrupt our internal clock.
🧹 Declutter your space - A cluttered environment often adds to stress without us realising it. Tidying up our workspace or living area can help free up mental energy.
🛁 Practice self care - Small moments of intentional self-care, like a hot bath or reading a good book, can go a long way in reducing mental strain.
✍️ Write down your thoughts - Journalling can be a helpful outlet for our thoughts and worries, giving us a space to process and make sense of them.
🎯 Focus on one thing at a time - Mental fatigue often stems from feeling overwhelmed by too much on our plate. Prioritise tasks and try focusing on just one thing at a time.
🤝 Connect with supportive people - Sometimes, connecting with friends or family can provide the grounding and perspective we need. A supportive conversation can help us feel more centred and less mentally drained.
This is your reminder to take care of your mental energy, and don’t be afraid to hit the reset button when needed!
Happy Friday Everyone, this Friday we are checking in with our goals!
👩⚕️Our lovely Clinical Psychologist, Dr Madeline, discusses how goal setting does not have to be daunting and walks us through how to make SMART goals.
💛SMART goals can help us define what we want to achieve:
S-pecific: The goal is clearly defined.
M-easurable: The goal is quantifiable.
A-chievable: The goal is realistic and achievable.
R-elevant: The goal is aligned with your values.
T-ime bound: The goal has a deadline.
📚Using this approach and dividing larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks can make the whole process less overwhelming.
We encourage you to check in with your goals or create some new goals to reset and recharge!
#fridaycheckin #goalsetting #mentalhealth #theedinburghpractice
Today is World Mental Health Day, and we’re proud to support the @mentalhealthfoundation’s campaign. This year’s theme is ‘Workplace Mental Health’, focusing on the crucial role of mental wellbeing in the workplace for the benefit of individuals, organisations, and communities.
Our work environments significantly impact our mental health. A positive work experience can provide purpose, boost self-esteem, and foster connection. However, for many work can be a source of stress and anxiety, potentially leading to or worsening mental health difficulties.
With so many of us spending a large portion of our lives working - whether in offices, communities, or from home - it’s essential that workplaces prioritise mental health. By doing so, we can enjoy the benefits of work while minimising its potential negative impacts. A mentally healthy workplace should support open and honest conversations about mental health, as well as providing staff training on topics such as mental health and trauma, discrimination, and bullying.
TEP are joining the campaign by hosting a ‘Tea and Tunes’ day today. We’ve transformed our meeting room into a space for movement and connection, inviting Team TEP to come together for tea, dancing, and to support mental wellbeing.
#WMHD2024 #WorldMentalHealthDay2024 #TeaAndTunes #WorldMentalHealthDay
We are delighted to introduce our new Adult Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Derek Dickson!
🩺 Dr Dickson brings a wealth of experience from his extensive work within the NHS, specialising in the assessment and treatment of adults, both in inpatient settings and within the community. His key areas of interest include the diagnosis and management of ADHD, mood disorders, and personality challenges.
✨ As our referral rates continue to grow, we are delighted that we will be able to reduce our wait times for Adult Psychiatry appointments and Adult ADHD Assessments at TEP.
💛 Welcome to Team TEP, Dr Dickson! We`re excited to have you on board!
This Monday, ‘M’ is for Mental Health Stigma.
🧠Mental health difficulties are common, statistics vary but it is commonly reported that now 1 in 3 people will be affected by mental health difficulties in Scotland in any one year. Despite this, there can still be stigma (a negative attitude) surrounding mental health difficulties.
⚠️Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental health difficulties can be subtle or obvious—but no matter the magnitude, stigma can lead to harm. People with mental health challenges can be marginalized and discriminated against in various ways, but understanding what that looks like and how to address and eradicate it can help.
💛At TEP, we actively strive to break mental health stigma by talking openly about mental health on our social media channels, being conscious of the language we use and showing compassion to our clients who may be struggling with the impact of stigma.
💪We challenge you to reflect on any stereotypes that you may hold and to consider the potential impact of these on yourself and others.
#mentalhealthstigmamondays #mentalhealthstigma #theedinburghpractice
This #fridaycheckin we are checking in with our Play Therapist, Ellen Stevens.
🧸 Play Therapy gives children a safe, supportive space to express their thoughts and emotions. Through play, Ellen engages with children using toys, games, and art materials to help navigate challenges and work through difficult emotions.
⭐️ With a background in theatre and a passion for fostering creative expression, Ellen pursued specialised training in therapeutic interventions for children. She has experience working with a wide range of needs, including anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, ADHD, autism, communication difficulties and trauma.
💻 To learn more about Play Therapy, visit our website - link in bio!
We are excited to announce that we are now working with BRAVEHOUND! @bravehound_uk
🐕 BRAVEHOUND is a registered Scottish charity that provide assistance dogs to veterans who have a clinical diagnosis of a mental health condition such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Their mission is to help heal the invisible wounds of military veterans with their specially trained assistance dogs.
🫶They know that a dog can provide companionship, promote taking exercise and give a purpose and structure to each day. Their dogs have been a valuable asset for veterans and their families. They help to facilitate daily life, giving veterans confidence and provide the assistance that the veteran needs.
Dr Julia met with the first BRAVEHOUND veteran last week to carry out a Psychological Assessment. We are excited to be working with BRAVEHOUND, the work they do really is life changing, heart warming and incredibly meaningful! 💛
#bravehound #mentalhealth #theedinburghpractice
Welcome back to our Monday ‘M’ series, we hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! This week ‘M’ stands for Movement!
The saying “Movement is medicine” applies not just to our bodies, but to our minds as well. Regular movement is a powerful tool for boosting mental health by reducing stress, improving self-esteem, managing anxiety, and even improving sleep quality. Whether it’s through setting new goals or meeting new people, movement encourages us to live more actively and mindfully.
While sports and exercise are fantastic ways to stay active, there are many other ways we can begin to move our bodies more such as:
🚲 Walking or cycling to work instead of taking the car
🚌 Getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way
🚶 Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
🎵 Doing household chores such as hoovering or gardening while listening to music
🌱 Going for walks during your lunch break or going outside to a nearby park
🙆♀️ Stretching while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil in the morning
No matter how you choose to move your body, it’s important that we reframe how we look at physical activity. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of intense exercise, especially if it’s not part of your routine. But starting small can lead to meaningful improvements in both mental and physical health. However you choose to move, remember that every step counts!
Happy Friday, everyone! For this week’s #fridaycheckin, we’re excited to have Dr Anu share a set of evidence-based tips to help us check in with our wellbeing and improve our mental and emotional health. Dr Anu outlines how we can take simple yet impactful actions to feel our best:
1️⃣ Connect with Others 🤝: Connect with the people around you! Think of the different connections in your life - family, friends, or colleagues - as the cornerstones of your life. Invest time in them and build meaningful bonds.
2️⃣ Be Active 💪: Move your body in ways that bring you joy! Whether it’s walking, running, cycling, dancing, gardening, or playing a sport, find activities that fit your lifestyle.
3️⃣ Be Mindful 🌸: Savour the moment; whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or chatting with friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences can deepen your appreciation for the things that matter most to you.
4️⃣ Keep Learning 🧠: Stay curious! Try something new or rediscover an old interest. Sign up for a course, explore new opportunities at work, or learn how to cook a new recipe. Setting yourself fun and engaging challenges can boost your confidence.
5️⃣ Give 🎁: Do something nice for a friend or a stranger. Thank someone, volunteer your time or get involved in your community. Giving back fosters connection and can bring a sense of fulfilment.
Taking these small, meaningful steps can help nurture the mind, body, and relationships - your future self will thank you!
Today we are celebrating the ‘International Week of Happiness at Work’ 😄
💼We spend a large part of our lives at work, and this has a significant impact on the rest of our lives. Therefore, paying more attention to happiness at work can make a difference.
🙋♂️Maartje Wolff and Fennande van der Meulen founded Happy Office in 2015 and help organisations with transformation processes towards more work happiness. “It is our mission to put work happiness on the agenda of as many organizations as possible, both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, it is especially about taking action, changing behavior and culture”. In 2017, they thought how wonderful it would be if, in addition to the ‘Day of Happiness’, there was a week dedicated to Happiness at Work.
📝Research by Charles-Leija et al. (2023) found that meaningful work, feeling appreciated as coworkers and enjoyment of daily tasks significantly predict happiness at work.
💛At TEP we strive to create a happy workplace, where our team members have a voice, opportunities for professional development and are engaged in meaningful work which aids in supporting the range of clients we see.
#internationalweekofhappinessatwork #happinessatwork #mentalhealth #mentalhealthpractice #theedinburghpractice
Happy Monday! This Monday our ‘M’ word is mindset 💭
🧠Our mindset shapes how we approach learning and challenges. A fixed mindset leads us to believe our abilities are static, while a growth mindset recognises that effort and persistence drive improvement. By shifting from a fixed to a growth perspective, we open ourselves to learning, resilience and progress.
👩⚕️This powerful perspective was first introduced by psychologist, Carol Dweck, through her extensive research on achievement, success, motivation and mindset.
📈Embracing a growth mindset can be a transformative journey — not just professionally, but personally too. A growth mindset provides you with the strength to withstand setbacks, the resilience to bounce back, the ambition to reach for your goals and empowers you to become the best version of yourself.
💛We encourage you to reflect on your current mindset and challenge any ‘fixed mindset’ thoughts that may be holding you back.
#mindsetmondays #mentalhealth #theedinburghpractice
🧠 Today is World Alzheimer’s Day! A reminder - Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain which causes dementia. These symptoms could include memory loss, difficulties with planning, problem-solving or language and sometimes changes in mood or behaviour. In Scotland alone, around 90,000 people are living with dementia, with an estimated 66% affected by Alzheimer’s.
✍️ At TEP we are proud to offer gold-standard, detailed memory clinic assessments following NICE best practice guidelines. Our assessments are personalised, with consultations from our Consultant Psychiatrist and, if needed, neuropsychological assessments by our Clinical Psychologist. We are the only private memory clinic in Scotland offering multi-disciplinary team assessments and treatment, ensuring that each individual receives tailored care based on their unique needs. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can give a person more time to come to terms with the changes that are likely to happen, it also allows access to medication which may help delay or improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s as well as giving time to discuss future plans. To learn more about TEP`s memory clinic or to submit a referral, visit our website (link in bio).
💛 We are also honoured to support our partner charity @alzscot and just recently attended the Alzheimer Scotland Annual Conference 2024 which was a wonderful opportunity to connect with people living with dementia, their carers, health and social care professionals and researchers. Let’s continue to fight for a future where no one has to face Alzheimer’s alone. Alzheimer Scotland’s 24 hour dementia helpline is a wonderful resource that provides information, signposting and emotional support to people with Alzheimer’s, their families, friends and professionals. You can call their freephone on 0808 808 3000.
#WorldAlzheimersMonth #WorldAlzheimersDay
