Today’s blog was written by Mia Daley and Dr Ellie Atkins.
When considering if an autism assessment and diagnosis is the right thing for your child, it is very common to feel unsure, ambivalent or reticent. Some people put off asking for an assessment due to worries about the idea of labelling their child. At Headspace Guildford, rather than asking ‘what’s wrong?’, we ask ‘what is going on, and what would help?’. This is what Clinical Psychologists call formulation, a working hypothesis used to explain a shared understanding of the person’s struggles. A formulation brings together strengths, experiences, relationships, and surroundings to explore a person’s difficulties and guide successful treatment, rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis. Remember, seeking assessment can be a positive step towards understanding and support, and it can bring clarity and reassurance to families.
You might hold back from exploring the idea of an assessment on the assumption that your child does not fit the picture you have in your head of autism. This is where stereotypes come in. Two people with the same diagnosis, especially for autism, can have different strengths and struggle differently too; the assumption that all people with autism have the same experience, just not how it is in society. In actual fact, we are all different, all have things we can do well and things we have difficulties doing.
It might be worth exploring an assessment if you or your child has been struggling and has noticed that certain aspects of everyday life seem harder for them than for their peers. Children have to navigate many different things, including school, hobbies, friends, and family relationships. Children may feel isolated or different from their peers, struggle with big feelings or have a high need for structure. They may find instructions difficult to follow or find it hard to articulate what they need. For some families, assessment and diagnosis can help make sense of any difficulties, and support them to think about what would help.
An assessment for autism is not about labelling your child. It is a process that helps us learn more about them, what they are good at, where they are struggling and where the world’s structure and their needs don’t always work in harmony. A diagnosis can help the young person understand their own profile and can assist them to be being able to make choices that can help them to thrive. Knowing that a diagnosis can support life choices can provide hope and reassurance about the future. Additionally, parents and other adults around the child can find that it helps them understand the child better. This is particularly true when the focus is not on the label, but on the child. Diagnosis is not the right path for everyone. We also see plenty of people who want support but not a formal autism assessment. Every child and every family we see gets individual, tailored support, whether this be an assessment, joining our autism pathway, parenting help or therapeutic sessions for the child or young person.
You don’t need to have it all figured out to get in touch. A first conversation can help you decide on the next step. At Headspace Guildford, we offer a free initial phone call with a Consultant Clinical Psychologist to talk through what you have noticed. Then, if we agree, the next step is a no-strings-attached initial assessment with a Clinical Psychologist. This gives you a chance to talk in more detail about what you have noticed and any concerns you have. If this sounds helpful, we are happy to support you on your journey.