Adult Autism Assessment and Support - Tanya Jarrett

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Please note that Tanya does not complete Autism assessments for NDIS purposes. The below information applies to assessments for self-discovery or other purposes such as workplace or education support or Centrelink related applications.

Below are the steps for an autism assessment for an adult for self discovery purposes. The assessment process can take between 3-5 single appointments. At the conclusion of the assessment, have a choice of a comprehensive report  or a brief letter confirming the outcome of the assessment.

1. Initial intake session to get an understanding of who you are, discuss why you feel you may be Autistic (or others may believe this) and to discuss the next steps. Either during or before your first appointment, you will be sent a number of screening questionnaires. Importantly, a screening of your mental health, social and developmental history will be taken to rule in or rule out other possibilities. 
2. Homework will be given. In addition to the screening questionnaires, you may be asked to type up some narrative about your childhood and teenage years. 
3. Clinical interview. This may take 2-3 single appointments depending on how much information has already been collected. Ideally, if a parent or partner could attend an appointment, or contribute information in some way, this would add valuable information for the assessment process. If this is not possible, that is ok.
4. Confirmation of diagnosis. If you meet the DSM 5 TR criteria for Autism, you can request either a letter stating the diagnosis or a comprehensive report. Many adults do not want a comprehensive report as the assessment process is for their own information only. A full report is useful if another organisation requires it or you would like this for your own records. Additional costs are associated with a comprehensive report.

• Tanya is able to screen for ADHD but recommends referral to a psychiatrist through your GP for follow up - if you would like to explore medication for ADHD. If you will not be pursuing medication or would like a full assessment for ADHD, Tanya is happy to do this as well. The ADHD screening or assessment can be an add on or separate to an Autism assessment. Contact Tanya for details about what might be best for your situation.

One of Tanya's special interests is the diagnosis (discovery) and support of Autistic adults or adults who suspect they are Autistic. This includes adults have have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's. 

Diagnosing an adult with Autism can be difficult, especially women and gender diverse people; as by the time an adult is identified as possibly being Autistic, they have developed many coping strategies which may "mask" the features of Autism. Coping strategies can include camouflaging autistic traits, masking and compensation strategies which are "work arounds" to help the person cope or "fit in" in a neurotypical world.

Tanya is experienced in both the diagnosis and ongoing counselling support for Autistic adults. The assessment process for an adult differs slightly  to that of a child. A child's autistic features are sometimes easier to see and assess, whereas some of the gold standard assessment tools used do not account for the various strategies adults (and many children) use to mask or cope with being Autistic in a largely neurotypical society. Tanya will help you to understand  these strategies or masking features to help determine if Autism could be a possibility.

Autistic and non-Autistic people often see the world through different lenses. As society creates expectations that the majority of people will "fit in" and behave in non-Autistic ways, this  can create  vulnerabilities for Autistic people; such as increased mental health concerns, social exhaustion, burnout and overwhelming sensory experiences. Ongoing support could include counselling for these things but will be tailored to the unique strengths and differences of each individual. 

The fee for an Autism and/or ADHD assessment is $250 per 50 minute session. The fee is payable per appointment and not a lump sum. 

There is no charge for a letter confirming your identity (diagnosis).

The fee for a comprehensive Autism assessment report is $550 (inclusive of GST). This includes information that was gathered during the assessment process about how you meet DSM 5 TR criteria. 

A 50% deposit is required for the report with the remainder payable at report completion. The report will be finalised within 4-6 weeks upon receipt of the deposit.

No rebates are available for the above assessments. For adults over the age of 25, Medicare rebates only apply to counselling in relation to mental health concerns. Autism is not considered a mental health condition and therefore, rebates cannot be claimed for the diagnosis of adults. If you have private health insurance, you can check if psychology assessments are rebatable.

For counselling support (under Medicare or a privately funded client), the fee is $220 per 50 minute session. See the Counselling and Psychology section for more information about rebates available. The NDIS counselling fee is $222.99 per 50 minute session.