Autism Services 

Everyone’s brain works slightly differently. Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a natural variation of how people's brains work. An autistic person experiences and interacts with the world in ways that might be different from someone who is neurotypical (doesn’t have autism). Someone with Autism may have differences in how they think, communicate, feel, and sense things around them.

Being autistic isn’t something that needs to be "fixed.” It’s a different way of being human, with strengths and challenges of its own. For example, autistic people might:

·       Have unique strengths like strong focus, creative thinking, or deep passion for their interests.

·       Sense the world differently, such as noticing details others miss or feeling more sensitive to lights, sounds, or touch.

·       Communicate differently, preferring clear, direct language or finding non-verbal ways like gestures or writing to express themselves.

Autism is a spectrum, which means each autistic person is different. Their needs, abilities, and preferences vary, just like with everyone else. The autism spectrum is no longer thought of as a straight line from "not autistic" to "very autistic". Instead, we can think about autism as a a range of “traits” (or ways of being) that vary in intensity for each person.

At Safe Base Psychology we provide specialist neuro-affirming autism assessments and support. We work together with a Speech and Language Therapist, and sometimes other helping professions, to help decide if a person is Autistic.

Our assessments are in line with best practice procedures whilst also being responsive to the individual. They are informed by standardised assessment tools (such as the ADOS-2, ADI-R and ACIA) which allows us to work in a neuro-affirming way. This means we recognise, respect and celebrate neurological differences. We seek to understand an individual as a whole and understand their strengths whilst recognising the challenges they may experience.

Our Autism Assessments are multidisciplinary. This involves professionals from different fields working together to understand an individual's needs. We only work together with trusted colleagues with specialist experience of Autism. We ask that you have visited your GP and investigated any physical or medical concerns prior to seeking an assessment.

Our professional assessment report and recommendations are personalised based on the individual's needs, strengths, and their goals.  We aim to help them reach their full potential.

We provide help and resources to individuals and their families after receiving an autism diagnosis. Our support aims to empower autistic individuals and their families to lead fulfilling lives with knowledge, resources, and understanding.  

We offer:

1. Education and Information: Providing information about autism, and why there might be differences. This can help individuals, and their families better understand themselves and their neurotype.

2. Emotional Support: Offering psychological support for autistic individuals and their families to help them cope with the emotions that come with their neurotype, including managing anxiety.

3. Practical Advice: Giving guidance on managing everyday situations, such as communication, sensory sensitivities, routines, or dealing with changes.

4. Access to Services: Connecting individuals with community resources, educational support, employment services, and recommending therapies like speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

5. Family Support: Providing support for family members to help them understand autism and learn how to support their loved one effectively.