child and adult autism & ADHD assessment
about us
Here at Pebble, we provide autism and ADHD assessments that are compliant with NICE Guidelines and accepted by schools, universities and local authorities. We started Pebble Autism in 2020 because we wanted to provide excellent quality and neuro-affirming assessments that were conducted in a way that made our clients feel safe and respected. We are a small multidisciplinary team of two highly experienced and qualified clinicians.
We are proud of the huge number of clients who have returned for second or even third (or more) assessments for family members and recommended us to their friends. We have been delighted to work with individuals and families from across the UK and overseas and honoured to provide assessments for the families of some prominent members of the autistic community.
It has always been our hope that in driving change in the more client-led way we approach assessment, without compromising on professional standards, has helped in some small way to move other services away from outdated ways of working.
Welcome to Pebble, we’d love to meet you!
services & pricing
child and adolescent autism assessment aged 6-18 £1750
child and adolescent autism/ADHD assessment aged 10-18 £2275
adult autism assessment 18+ £1450
adult autism/ADHD assessment 18+ £1975
what to expect
Assessments are carried out using a combination of in-person meetings at Meet by the Park in Leamington Spa and video meetings using Teams.
Following every assessment, we will provide a detailed report. For children and young people this will include a profile of need and suggested advice and accommodations for school/college.
Adult recommendations and resources will be tailored to your individual needs.
All of the resources we recommend are created by and for autistic people and come from a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming perspective. We reject the ‘medical-model’ and do not describe autism as a ‘disorder’ or ‘condition’.
Everyone has the option of a follow-up session with one of the team following their assessment. There is no additional charge for this.
child and adolescent autism assessment
We will initially make contact with you via email to arrange a phone call, unless you would prefer not to communicate this way in which we will suggest an alternative. In this chat we will explore whether an assessment is right for your child/young person. There is no charge for this. If you would like to go ahead with an assessment we will then arrange the following:
2 meetings usually a week apart
Meeting 1 (2 hours): For children under 16 this is with their parents to talk about the young person’s early development and childhood usually via Teams. For 16+ we invite the young people to join the meeting if they would like to.
Meeting 2 (2 hours) : Assessment for the child/young person at our clinic room at Meet by the Park in Leamington Spa For this part of the assessment we will use the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2 (ADOS-2).
At every stage in the process we will accommodate any adjustments that you and your child need. This could include:
- Providing more, or less, information in writing in advance if you find that easier than talking.
- A parent staying in the room with a child or young person during the assessment if they are anxious.
- Using captions during online meetings.
- Turning off the camera during online meetings.
- Taking breaks as required, either scheduled or as needed, whichever is preferred.
- Bringing objects to the in-person assessment. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome if arranged in advance!
- Moving around, fiddling, doodling etc.
- Anything else-just ask!
child and adolescent autism/ADHD assessment
We will initially make contact with you via email to arrange a phone call, unless you would prefer not to communicate this way in which we will suggest an alternative. In this chat we will explore whether an assessment is right for your child/young person. There is no charge for this. If you would like to go ahead with an assessment we will then arrange the following:
3 meetings
Meeting 1 (2-3 hours): For children under 16 this is with their parents to talk about the young person’s early development and childhood usually via Teams. For 16+ we invite the young person to join the meeting if they would like to.
Meeting 2 (2 hours): We will carry out the ADOS assessment and QbCheck with the young person at our clinic room at Meet by the Park in Leamington Spa.
Meeting 3 (90 minutes): We will meet with the young person and their parents, this time online, to go through the ACE (diagnostic interview).
At every stage in the process we will accommodate any adjustments that you and your child need. This could include:
- Providing more, or less, information in writing in advance if you find that easier than talking.
- A parent staying with a child or young person in the room during the assessment if they are anxious.
- Using captions during online meetings.
- Turning off the camera during online meetings.
- Taking breaks as required, either scheduled or as needed, whichever is preferred.
- Bringing objects to the in-person assessment. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome if arranged in advance!
- Moving around, fiddling, doodling etc.
- Anything else-just ask!
adult autism assessment
We will initially make contact with you via email to arrange a phone call, unless you would prefer not to communicate this way in which we will suggest an alternative. In this chat we will explore whether an assessment is right for you. There is no charge for this. If you would like to go ahead with an assessment we will then arrange the following:
2 meetings usually a week apart
Meeting 1 (2 hours): to talk about your childhood and teens usually via Teams.
If you are happy for your parents to be involved we will talk with them too either at the same time or separately to suit your preferences and individual circumstances.
Meeting 2 (2 hours): assessment at our clinic room at Meet by the Park in Leamington Spa
We will use the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2).
At every stage in the process we will accommodate any adjustments that you need. This could include:
- Providing more, or less, information in writing in advance if you find that easier than talking.
- Using captions during online meetings.
- Turning off the camera during online meetings.
- Taking breaks as required, either scheduled or as needed, whichever is preferred.
- Bringing objects to the in-person assessment. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome if arranged in advance!
- Moving around, fiddling, doodling etc.
- Anything else-just ask!
adult autism/ADHD assessment
We will initially make contact with you via email to arrange a phone call, unless you would prefer not to communicate this way in which we will suggest an alternative. In this chat we will explore whether an assessment is right for you. There is no charge for this. If you would like to go ahead with an assessment we will then arrange the following:
3 meetings
Meeting 1 (2-3 hours): To talk about your childhood and teens with Sue usually via Teams.
If you are happy for your parents to be involved we will talk with them too either at the same time or separately, to suit your circumstances and preferences.
Meeting 2 (2 hours): We will carry out the ADOS assessment and QbCheck with you in person at our clinic room at Meet by the Park in Leamington Spa.
Meeting 3 (90 minutes): We will meet you again, this time online to go through the DIVA (diagnostic interview).
At every stage in the process we will accommodate any adjustments that you need. This could include:
- Providing more, or less, information in writing in advance if you find that easier than talking.
- Using captions during online meetings.
- Turning off the camera during online meetings.
- Taking breaks as required, either scheduled or as needed, whichever is preferred.
- Bringing objects to the in-person assessment. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome if arranged in advance!
- Moving around, fiddling, doodling etc.
- Anything else-just ask!
meet the team
Dr Chris Morrell
DClinPsy, MSc, BSc(Hons), AFBPS, RegHCPC
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Self-identified ADHD
Chris is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist. He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, a Masters degree in Health Psychology, and an Honors degree in Psychology. Chris is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and registered with the Heath and Care professions Council (HCPC). He spent over 9 years working for the NHS at Worcestershire child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) where he helped develop autism assessment pathways and held a lead position in the neurodevelopmental team providing autism and ADHD assessments and ongoing support to children and adolescents. Since becoming an independent practitioner he has specialised in…
Sue Moon
BSc(Hons), MRCSLT, RegHCPC
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Neurodivergent
Sue is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SALT), a practicing Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (MRCSLT) and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She qualified in 2013 having been inspired to change careers while working at a specialist school for autistic boys when her own children were young. Before starting Pebble Autism with Chris in 2020, Sue worked in mainstream schools and an OFSTED outstanding specialist school for autistic boys. Alongside this work, in 2015 she started working as an independent SALT. Sue also regularly provided training to schools and other…
while you wait
We hope you won’t have to wait too long for your assessment and we don’t want you to feel unsupported during that time. We have collected some of our favourite resources and we hope you will find something of use among them.
for children and young people (autism)
Websites
Autism Understood is an amazing resource for young people with information about what autism really is and a focus on topics such as burnout, masking and meltdowns:
Books
- In The Secret Life of Rose, Rose Smitten and and her mum Jodie Clarke explore the autistic experience. This book is great for opening up a conversation about autism at any age. It is also a really helpful resource for helping members of the extended family understand what it can mean to be autistic.
TV
- A Kind of Spark on BBC iPlayer
Videos
- Great for younger children: Amazing Things Happen
for children and young people (Autism and ADHD: AuDHD)
Research suggests that up to 80% of autistic people also have ADHD. The AuDHD experience can be very different from just being autistic or just having ADHD. These websites help to explain about what it can be like for children and young people to have traits of both autism and ADHD:
Autism Understood is epic . There is lots and lots of information on their website about conditions that lots of autistic people have, including ADHD:
for parents
Websites
- For general info: Autism Understood
- In school: Possible help in the classroom
- For a huge amount of info on a range of topics, not just for girls: The Autistic Girls Network
- Meltdowns, Shutdowns and Burnout
- Courses on a range of subjects: Naomi Fisher
- A really helpful explanation of autism: Monotropism
Books
- Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children by Luke Beardon
- The Explosive Child by Dr Ross Greene
Videos
- Talking to Grandparents
- The best theory of autism you’ve never heard of (monotropism): Youtube
for when someone is struggling to attend school/legal advice for EHCPs
Books
- In Can’t Not Won’t Eliza Fricker beautifully and movingly shares, through her wonderful line drawings, her experience of navigating, with her child, the experience of school avoidance and school trauma. With an afterword by Pebble’s Sue Moon, advising schools on how to support autistic pupils, with or without a diagnosis.
Websites
- Fantastic practical advice for parents, schools and young people: Not Fine in School
- Free independent advice: IPSEA
- An organisation providing advice and training: SOS!SEN
- Courses by Dr Naomi Fisher
for adults (autism)
Books
- In Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults and What Works for Autistic Adults Dr Luke Beardon sets out how the world can be safer and more joyful for autistic people.
- In Growing into Autism Sandra Thom-Jones explores the experience of realising you are autistic
Websites
- The Late Discovered Club is an online community and podcast that gives voice to late identified women and other marginalised groups: Late-discovered Club
- Ideas for support at work: Autistic Girls Network
- Designed for young people, we think this is one of the best all-round websites there is: Autism Understood
- Getting out of autistic burnout: Dr Alice Nicholls
Videos
- The best theory of autism you’ve never heard of (monotropism): YouTube
For women and people of other marginalised genders discovering their neurodivergence later in life
- Drama Queen by Sara Gibb
- Thumbsucker by Eliza Fricker
- The Late-discovered Club
- We love The Autistic Girl’s Network. They have lots of information and resources for women too Autistic Girls Network
For men discovering their neurodivergence later in life
- Autism Feels by Orion Kelly
- Untypical by Pete Wharmby
- Pete Wharmby on YouTube
for adults (ADHD)
Books
- In How to ADHD Jessica McCabe sets out ways of working with, rather than against your neurology.
- In The (Slightly Distracted) Woman’s Guide to Living With an Adult ADHD Diagnosis Laura Kerbey shares her own experience and that of other late-identified women with humour and compassion and the wonderful line drawings of Eliza Fricker.
Podcasts
- Hacking Your ADHD
- ADHD aha!
Websites
- Monotropism: a very useful theory to help understand ADHD
- ADHD Adult
- How to ADHD
Videos
- Jessica McCabe’s YouTube channel
for adults (autism and ADHD: AuDHD)
Research suggests that up to 80% of autistic people also have ADHD. The AuDHD experience can be very different from just being autistic or just having ADHD. These websites help to explain about what it can be like to have traits of both autism and ADHD:
We have found that many of our AuDHD clients have suffered from burnout. This blog addresses what what can be done to prevent this Embrace Autism
gender and LGBTQIA+
Websites
- The Autistic Girls network has a great range of resources that aren’t just for ‘girls’: Autistic Girls Network
- and Autistic Girls Network
- A blog on navigating the intersection of neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ identity Neurolaunch
race and ethnicity
Websites
- Chinese Autism
- A parent blog about the intersection between blackness and being autistic
- An online support space: Black Autistic Meet-up
- If you cannot find what you need here try this extensive range of resources: Autistic Realms
testimonials
Simply the best report (and overall experience) we have had from any professionals we have come in to contact with (and there have been many). The report is packed full of brilliant, positive and supportive advice and hand-picked neuro-affirming resources to help our family. It’s been a wonderful experience
Parent of a 6 year old
I have had some time now to read and absorb the report you sent me. I was impressed by how you observed and understood me and I feel that it gave a very accurate representation of who I am… and was. I had been concerned that the report may have shown my ‘performing’ self and was worried in case I had exaggerated things. This was not the case. It really did sound like me.
Adult (59)
Chris and Sue are really easy people to talk to and despite feeling nervous initially, I felt quickly at ease with them. This helped immensely throughout the assessment process. Their approach allowed me to discover my autistic identity in a positive and affirming way
Adult (40)
I honestly didn’t believe we would get anywhere as I thought she would shut down, and I had no idea how you were going to even attempt an ADOS on a 5-year-old. You were so brilliant, and it was a joy to watch someone so good at their job – I worked in the NHS for 20+ years, and I’ve never seen anyone do such a professional, kind, engaging and thorough assessment.
Parent of a 5 year old
Our son has been using your words, and telling everyone he is ‘marvelously autistic’!
Parent of a 13 year old
When you suggested we learn from the autistic community, you set our family off on a path that has completely transformed our lives and we are eternally grateful for that. The autistic advocate community I work with talk a lot about ‘ripples’ – you are both sending out some very strong, very impactful waves I’d say.
Parent
Irrespective of the fact that I hope one day people will no longer be ‘diagnosed’ autistic whilst we are still bound to that system I am so grateful you do it in the ‘right’ way. A way that validates and celebrates the child in front of you and shields families from much of the harmful and incorrect narrative.
Parents of a 6 year old
Pebble Autism
4.6
18 Reviews
Parents of a teenager.
From our initial meeting with Sue setting the tone for a relaxed and a professional understanding.This quickly became a positive experience.Sue was engaging to talk to making the process very comfortable . This initial meeting soon became a natural conversation. This warm approach continued throughout the assessment with Chris showing expert and inspiring enthusiasm to engage with our child. The whole assessment gave a reassurancing experience.We have been kept informed and the outcomes discussed on what was a thoroughly detailed informative report.
The assessment was conducted with great sensitivity.
I was recommended to reach out to this practice by a friend, and I can understand why. I cannot fault the service we have received from Pebble Autism. Dr Chris and Dr Sue make you feel at ease and in safe hands. The assessment was conducted with great sensitivity, and the resulting report was comprehensive. Highly Recommended!
A compassionate, life-changing ND-led service that actually gets it!
I had a late-in-life dual diagnosis through Pebble, recommended to me by a close friend who’d had such a positive experience with them. I went in feeling nervous, unsure, and full of the usual “but am I really?” doubts of the pre-diagnosis stage. From my very first call with Chris, I felt completely at ease. He clearly explained the process, what to expect, and gave me confidence that I was in the right place. The first part of my assessment with Sue was just as reassuring - her warmth and ability to gather information in such a relaxed, conversational way instantly put me at ease. What I didn’t realise when I booked, but am so grateful for now, is that both Chris and Sue have an insider’s understanding of neurodivergence. After years of trying to fit myself into neurotypical services, this was a huge deal. It brought a level of understanding, nuance, and care that I simply wouldn’t have experienced elsewhere. (And believe me, I researched a lot!) My face-to-face appointment with Chris was equally excellent. The offices were welcoming and comfortable, and like Sue, Chris is kind, warm, funny, and incredibly easy to talk to - I relaxed straight away. I cannot recommend Pebble highly enough. They made the whole process straightforward and genuinely supportive, with aftercare and resources that have been truly life-changing. I’m deeply thankful to them for making what could have been an intimidating process such a positive, empowering and even enjoyable experience.
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