Autism & ADHD Assessments in Kent: Expert Private Psychology Clinic

Autism & ADHD Assessments in Kent
Private Psychology and Therapy

Kent Psychologist

Autism Assessments Kent Psychologist Logo of tree

Child & Adolescent Psychology

Types of Difficulties Treated

Within our child and adolescent service, we support children and young people with a range of difficulties. These include:

  • Anxiety, worries and phobias
  • Low mood, sadness and depression
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Tic disorder and Tourette’s Syndrome
  • Behavioural difficulties
  • Friendship issues and bullying
  • Family difficulties
  • Bed wetting and toilet training
  • Feeding difficulties and faddy eating
  • Autism, Asperger’s and developmental difficulties
  • Emotional difficulties in the context of autism/ ASD
  • Issues with self-esteem and confidence
  • Bereavement
  • Trauma including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and issues resulting from difficult experiences, such as illness or accidents

What will happen during my appointment

Typically, the young person and their parent or care giver will be seen for an initial assessment session, aimed at gathering relevant information and developing a shared understanding of the difficulty and treatment goals. This appointment usually takes between an hour and 90 minutes. We will then suggest an appropriate intervention and treatment plan and outline what this will involve. Assessment and treatment plans will be guided by available research and evidence, as outlined by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to ensure the most appropriate interventions are offered.

Following the initial assessment, therapy sessions are usually 50 minutes long and take place weekly or fortnightly. Although the number of sessions needed varies greatly, typically this would range between six and twelve sessions.

We understand that children and young people operate in a wider system and therefore offer support to the young person themselves as well as other members of the family and adults involved in the child’s life (such as schools) where appropriate. The assessment and intervention are always geared towards the young person’s developmental stage and individual needs. We understand that seeking help through a professional can be a daunting experience for young people and families and endeavor to offer a friendly and accessible service, aimed at putting the young person at ease.

What types of intervention do we offer

A range of therapies are available and will be offered in accordance with the presentation and needs of the child or young person. These include:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Family Intervention
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Habit Reversal, Exposure Response Prevention and CBIT
  • Mindfulness

If you would like to know more then please contact us

Enquiries

Meet The Team

Picture of Dr Sirja van Zyl - Lead of the Neurodevelopmental Service and Clinical Psychologist

Dr Sirja van Zyl - Lead of the Neurodevelopmental Service and Clinical Psychologist

Sirja set up the Neurodevelopmental Service at Kent Psychologist in January 2019. Having worked with autistic and neurodivergent young people for over 25 years, she brings a wealth of expertise to the team. Sirja is personally involved in each assessment. She is supported by a team of highly experienced and caring colleagues who all strive to make the assessment process a positive turning point in young people’s lives. Sirja is continuously working on new ways of supporting neurodivergent young people and their families, including the recent introduction of parent workshops and resources. You can read more about Sirja’s experience here.

Picture of Dr Ruth Drake - Clinical Psychologist

Dr Ruth Drake - Clinical Psychologist

Ruth joins our autism assessments and meets with parents to gather the developmental history. Ruth has been working as a qualified clinical psychologist and systemic practitioner with children, young people and their families since 2003. She is passionate about privileging and championing the strengths, resources and abilities of children, young people and their parents or carers in her work. Ruth has worked in both paediatric and mental health NHS services for many years and has run her own private practice in Tonbridge since September 2018. She has extensive experience working with children and young people with physical health conditions as well as mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental conditions. She is passionate about ensuring children and young people are provided with the right support so that they can achieve their potential in all areas of their lives.

Picture of Alice Enfield - Speech and Language Therapist

Alice Enfield - Speech and Language Therapist

Alice joins Sirja to complete autism assessments with children and young people. She has been completing autism assessments since 2016. Alice hopes, along with the rest of the team, to make this process feel positive and comfortable for the people and families involved. Alice loves to learn about all things related to autism and has completed a variety of training within this field. She has found it extremely insightful to hear the perspectives of autistic people themselves. Alice is passionate about wanting the world to be a more accepting and inclusive place for all different types of people and hopes that we are working towards this in a small way through our assessment process.

Alice qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2009. Since that time she has enjoyed working with young people with autism, learning disabilities and their families. She has worked in a range of settings, including in schools and within the NHS. She has been lucky enough to work with lots of incredible young people and their families, who she continues to learn from.

Picture of Aeran Jones - Assistant Psychologist

Aeran Jones - Assistant Psychologist

Aeran supports the smooth running of our assessments and report preparation.
She is a Psychology Graduate and has a special interest in the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. She is originally from South Africa and has both practical and research experience in supporting children and young people with additional needs. Aeran is hoping to become a Clinical Psychologist supporting people with neurodevelopmental differences.

Picture of Kayleigh Lang - Virtual Assistant

Kayleigh Lang - Virtual Assistant

Kayleigh is an experienced Administrator, PA and Medical Secretary. She supports the smooth running of our practice and liaises with schools and parents about all administrative aspects of the assessment process. Kayleigh is extremely passionate about dance and dance education, hoping to complete her Masters Degree in Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

Contact Us

For all enquires please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible, or email us at: