Services

We are Neurodiversity specialists, we can offer a range of Psychological Therapies to support children and adults who have autism, ADHD or other Neurodiversity.

What we do

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

We are highly experienced therapists and psychologists that are trained in assessing for autism in both adults and children. We have many years experience in this area and pride ourselves on our attention to detail and being thorough as well as compassionate in our approach. We are also able to provide cognitive assessments for children and adolescents and mental health assessments for support with the EHCP process.

As a team of experienced professionals we are able to work with children, young people, adults and families with a range of mental health difficulties. We use various modes of support including talking therapy, counselling, and workshops, we can also offer online or face to face appointments depending on your preferences and location.

Please Note: We do not offer crisis or emergency support.

– If you are experiencing distress and need to speak to someone urgently, please call NHS 111 and they will link you with your local mental health helpline.
– If you are concerned for your immediate safety or the safety of someone else, please dial 999.

Children & Families

We can help support with various difficulties such as sleep, neurodiversity (ASD/ADHD/Tics), behaviour that challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment. We also offer parent support sessions and specific groups such as understanding autism from a parent’s perspective. We are also able to support schools in understanding a child’s behaviour and needs.

Adults

Life can be tough sometimes and for various reasons. Here at equally different we understand this and listen to your experiences without judgement

With many years of mental health support for both the NHS and private practice, we work with adults to help them understand their differences or difficulties. We are able to work with mental health difficulties such as Anxiety, Depressions, OCD and phobias.

We have a speciality in working with neurodiversity, and run groups for Autism and ADHD in understanding for the newly diagnosed adult.

What to expect

If you or a family member are struggling and needing some support, the first step is to reach out, give us a call or email. We are very caring and understand your difficulties without any judgement, we all have mental health, just like physical health, and sometimes we need a little extra guidance.

Call

An initial call to ensure we can meet your needs and expectations (this is free of charge and up to 20 mins)

Forms

Intake forms and questionnaires are completed as a basis

Assessment

An initial assessment is carried out to gain a full insight into your difficulties and your goals for therapy or assessment

Report

A detailed report with recommendations is provided

Arrange

We can then arrange therapy sessions or assessments as required

What we do

We are skilled and experienced in autism assessments for both adults and children.

The conditions that we work with

Autism
Assessments

Cognitive Assessments

Education, Health, Care Plan Assessments

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)

Understanding Autism

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Anxiety Disorder
(GAD, SAD, Separation)

Parenting Interventions

Challenging Behaviour

Depression & Low Mood

Sleep Difficulties

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)

Contact Us

Coming to meet a new therapist can be daunting but we are friendly and relaxed, and aim to make this experience as easy as possible for you.

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F.A.Q.

Discover answers to common questions below. Should you have any other inquiries, please feel free to connect with us.

Can you provide formal and recognised diagnosis?

Yes, we are trained to assess using clinical questioning and observations and psychometric tools to be able to effectively assess and diagnose specific mental health conditions and recommend appropriate treatment. We do not prescribe medication but would recommend a course of appropriate therapy or interventions to support your needs. This is much evidence to support therapy/interventions as a first line of support.

How do I make a referral, do I need to be referred by my GP?

No, you do not need a referral from a GP. Anyone can make a referral. Common referrals we receive include self-referrals, referrals from friends, families and case managers / solicitors. If you would like to make a referral please use the contact us button.

Will the assessment be accepted by local authorities, CAMHS and school?

This is a common query we receive regarding child and adolescent assessments, as parents understandably want assurance that a privately conducted assessment will be acknowledged and used to access necessary support.
An assessment cannot be refused solely because it was done privately, as long as it aligns with NICE guidelines and is conducted by appropriately trained professionals. Our psychologists at Equally Different are members of the British Psychological Society to maintain high standards of practice and our Speech and Language therapists and Occupational therapists are registered with the HCPC . Our team has extensive experience in both child and adult NHS services.

How do you conduct online sessions?

Our online sessions are held in Microsoft Teams. You will receive a dedicated meeting invitation and link to join the call. You do not need to have a Microsoft account to join our sessions and can attend as a guest user. Online sessions and assessments are becoming much the norm since Covid and lots of people prefer this way of interacting, however, if it is not for you, we are happy to discuss alternative methods such as in a clinic setting or at times, in your own home.

How long do appointments last?

The length of an appointment will vary for each individual and will depend on the type of appointment they need. Generally,initial assessments last between one to one and a half hours long. Treatment sessions generally last between half an hour and one hour long. Sessions can be longer or shorter and will be tailored to meet the needs and preferences of the patient.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies between people considerably. People are often seen for between 12- 36 sessions but some have also benefited from just a few sessions.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept payment via Bank Transfer, PayPal or in cash.

Can you prescribe medication?

We do not prescribe medication, we offer therapy as a first step for support. Therapy has much evidence in it’s effectiveness in treatment for various mental health difficulties.

Can you support outside of Dorset?

Many sessions are held online which means we can reach across the UK and further. We are also able to travel with additional costs for the time and mileage. See our Therapy Fees.

Services​

What we do

Autism Assessment

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Cognitive Assessment

Sensory Assessment

Therapy & Counselling

Please Note: We do not offer crisis or emergency support.

Children & Families

Adults

What to expect

Call

Forms

Assessment

Report

Arrange

What we do

The conditions that we work with

AutismAssessments