Dr Alex Edwards specialises in supporting the well-being of children and young people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. With extensive knowledge and experience of neurodivergence, she values a personalised approach, creating a warm and caring space for individuals and families to explore concerns and develop strategies that work for them.
For families seeking assessment for possible autism, Dr Alex Edwards works with a specialist multi-disciplinary team of experienced clinicians. All assessments are completed in line with NICE guidelines. The service takes a neuroaffirming, supportive, and collaborative approach, with flexibility to meet the needs of children who may find formal assessments challenging. The team has particular expertise in recognising autism in girls, whose needs may present differently.
Dr Alex Edwards also offers detailed cognitive assessments to understand areas of cognitive strength and difficulty, and to provide tailored recommendations for support.
Initial Consultation £150
Most assessments, parent consultation sessions, and therapy sessions start with an initial consultation appointment. This is a 1 hour appointment to explore questions and concerns in more detail and plan next steps together.
Autism Assessment £1800
The Full Autism Assessment includes:
Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) with parents/carers. The ADI-R can be completed remotely via video link. Please allow about 2 hours for the meeting (with breaks if needed). Your child/ young person does not need to be present for this part of the assessment.
Autism Diagnostic Observationa Schedule (ADOS-2) Assessment. This is an in person meeting with the child/ young person. The appointment is about 75 minutes. It is designed to be relaxed and informal with some different games and activities.
Liaison with other professionals. This helps us to build up a picture of your child/ young person in different settings (e.g., in school, therapy).
Autism Assessments are completed together with another qualified clinician (e.g. Speech and Language Therapist). This is in line with NICE guidelines. I work together with a network of trusted colleagues including Consultant Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and Educational Psychologist.
When all the assessment information is gathered, the information is reviewed and matched against the international diagnostic criteria for Autism.
You will be offered a feedback session so that your questions are answered. A detailed report outlining the assessment information and our recommendations will be provided.
Autism Assessment with PDA assessment or additional home/school visit £2100
All of our Autism Assessments are carried out with care and support for you and your child, but some children need a more therapeutic approach to assessment with additional time and support to build trust and engage in the assessment process. This can include an additional home visit to help put your child at ease and/or a school observation. For some children, it is also helpful to understand whether PDA (Demand Avoidance) is part of their Autistic profile. This assessment will explore these questions with you and ensure appropriate recommendations are made to support your child moving forwards.
Cognitive Assessment / Learning Assessment for EHCP £800
A cognitive assessment might be recommended as part of a broader multi-disciplinary assessment being led by a Consultant Paediatrician (for instance as part of an assessment for possible ADHD or Autism), or it might be requested as part of an application for an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), often in discussion with the SENCO.
A cognitive assessment assesses the different abilities someone has with solving a range of problems (e.g. verbal or non-verbal) and in different areas of processing (e.g. working memory and processing speed). Several of the tasks are quite fun and interactive on the iPad and others require a verbal response. The assessment takes around 1.5 hours to 2 hours and we can take a break as needed.
Alongside the cognitive assessment, parents/ carers will be asked to complete an online questionnaire to provide information about the sorts of tasks your child is able to complete at home and any areas where he requires additional support. With your permission, I will also liaise with your child’s school to find how how they are getting on within the school environment and understand whether there are any concerns regarding his learning within school.
You will be offered a feedback session to answer any questions and provided a detailed report outlining the assessment information and personalied recommendations to support your child’s learning.
Please note that while the cognitive assessment looks at different areas of processing, it will not diagnose specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia. For these concerns, you would require assessment with an Educational Psychologist or Specialist Dyslexia Assessor. Please also be aware that final decisions about whether a student is awarded Access Arrangements (e.g., extra time in exams) are arranged by the SENCO and the assessing exam board. The cognitive assessment may provide supporting evidence but does not guaranetee this as an outcome.
Parent Consultations £120
Follow up Parent Consultation sessions are 50 minutes. You are able to arrange sessions at a frequency that suits your needs and schedule.
Child/Young Person Therapy Sessions £120
Talking therapy sessions are 50 minutes.
The therapeutic approach, number of sessions, and frequency of sessions will be agreed with you and your child so that sessions suit the needs of you and your child and your schedules.
Each child is supported based on their unique needs. Some young people attend therapy sessions by themselves while others prefer a parent to support them in the sessions. Sometimes it is a combination of these approaches.
Therapeutic approaches include developing emotion awareness and emotional regulation skills, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), all adapted for neurodivergent young people.
The types of concerns often related to anxiety-based concerns including generalised feelings of anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Pet Assisted Therapy £120
Tia and Harvey are my cats who are able to support therapy sessions when this would benefit a child who otherwise struggles to engage in therapy sessions.
Spending time with a therapy cat like Tia or Harvey can create a safe and comforting space. Animals can help reduce stress, ease social interactions, and encourage communication, making therapy more engaging and accessible for some neurodivergent children.
These sessions are 40 minutes to better suit the needs of the child and attending cat and are only available at clinics held at the Oak House Studio in Hatfield.
Walking and Talking Therapy £120
Walking and Talking therapy sessions are 50 minutes and take place within the parkland of Hatfield House.
Walking alongside a therapist can feel less intense than sitting face-to-face, making it easier for some young people to open up. The natural movement and outdoor setting can also support focus and emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and provide a calming environment for neurodivergent young people.
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