The Assessment Process
Understanding Unbound Wellness' Approach to Neuro-Affirming Assessment
Unbound Wellness offers a comprehensive assessment process designed to support your psychological journey. We specialize in neuro-affirming therapy and assessments to ensure clarity in diagnosis and personalized recommendations. We are dedicated to making the process straightforward and empowering, so you can take charge of your mental health with confidence. Discover what neuro-affirming therapy/ assessment is and how it can benefit you, and let us guide you every step of the way with care and expertise.
Of course every person is different and so below is simply a blue print as to how we aim to meet the highest evidence based standards so that your diagnostic report will be as clear and useful as possible.
All Assessments will begin with an intake appointment.
If the person being assessed is under 18 they will need a guardian with them.
This time is used to collect relevant information about the individual being assessed looking at their health, education, relationships, strengths, and difficulties.
60 min apt
You will be asked to complete a number of screening questionnaires online prior to this appointment, it is important that you do complete these.
Assessment Intake - Apt 1
Autism
There are two highly regarded evidence based ways to assess for Autism Spectrum Disorder, your clinician will discuss which might be best for your needs.
If you are wanting to apply for NDIS with your diagnosis and report we will recommend using the ADOS.
This appointment will either be the ADOS Administration or the Primary MIGDAS Interview.
This will be a 90 min apt.
ADOS or MIGDAS - Apt 2
ADHD
In order to diagnose ADHD we will be using a structured clinical interview based on DSM diagnostic critiera called the DIVA, or the DIVA-Y for persons under 17 years old.
In order to complete this interview we will need the person being assessed for ADHD and also someone else who has known them in their early childhood (early development), this could be a caregiver/ parent, grandparent and in some cases sibling; they must be 18 years old.
This will be a 90 min apt.
DIVA or DIVA-Y - Apt 2
Care Provider / Relative interview - Apt 3
This appointment uses a semi structured interview from the MIGDAS system that allows us to collect collateral information from someone who knows the individual being assessed and has known them in early childhood.
This person can be a care provider, a parent, grandparents and in some cases a sibling; the must be over 18 years old.
This will be a 60 min apt.
During your above interview session you will be asked to supply emails for:
The parent of the person being assessed (if under 18)
The person being assessed (if over 17)
A specific teacher currently teaching the individual being assessed (if under 18)
Diagnostic questionnaires will be emailed to these addresses and will be needed to complete the assessment.
ABAS - 3rd Edition - Measuring functional capacity
SRS- 2nd Edition Measuring social responsiveness
Once all questionnaires have been completed report writing will begin.
Depending on the complexity of the questionnaire results, report writing is typically between 6 - 8 hours.
We typically aim to have reports completed within 6 weeks of receiving all questionnaires.
During your above interview session you will be asked to supply emails for:
The parent of the person being assessed (if under 18)
The person being assessed (if over 17)
A specific teacher currently teaching the individual being assessed (if under 18)
Diagnostic questionnaires will be emailed to these addresses and will be needed to complete the assessment.
Conners 4th - looking at ADHD symptomology
BRIEF - 2
looking at
executive function
Once all questionnaires have been completed report writing will begin.
Depending on the complexity of the questionnaire results report writing is typically between 5 - 7 hours.
We typically aim to have reports completed within 6 weeks of receiving all questionnaires.
Feedback session - Apt 3
We write our reports to an incredible high standard, intended so that you can give it straight to a paediatrician or psychiatrist. This means, they can be difficult to read and understand if you have no formal training.
During this session we will go through the report together and explain what all our psychology gooble-de-gook means and go over some suggested recommendations.
Please note that your report will not be released to you until the total Assessment invoice has been paid.
60 min appointment
Feedback session - Apt 4
We write our reports to an incredible high standard, intended so that you can give it straight to a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or NDIS if you want to. This means, they can be difficult to read and understand if you have no formal training.
During this session we will go through the report together and explain what all our psychology gooble-de-gook means and go over some suggested recommendations.
Please note that your report will not be released to you until the total Assessment invoice has been paid.
60 min appointment
Please keep in mind
Diagnostic criteria for both ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder require us to rule out that symptoms experienced are not related to:
- Learning difficulties
- Cognitive difficulties
- Trauma
If an individual presents with symptoms that could indicate one of the above, further tests may be necessary, adding more face to face session, more questionnaires to be completed by different parties, and more time in report writing.
We can most definitely still work with you, we just want you to be aware that it may be a longer, more extensive process.