Questions about our Psychology Services
Specialist Psychological Assessments and Support Questions
Welcome to our FAQs, where Dr. Kate Empson, a Clinical Psychologist at Park Psychology Services in York, addresses common questions about our neurodevelopmental assessments and therapeutic support for children and adults. We aim to provide clarity on our services, from initial appointments and team expertise to referrals, confidentiality, and the assessment process itself.
Where are you based?
We are based in York. You are more than welcome to have an assessment if you live further away; please note that one appointment always takes place face to face at our office space.
What age range do you work with?
We work with both adults and children; we can explore autism with children aged four and above, and ADHD with children aged six and above.
Which professions will be involved in my assessment?
We have a growing multi-disciplinary team that currently includes Clinical Psychology, Consultant Psychiatry, Speech and Language Therapy and a Specialist Teacher. We involve professionals that will compliment each assessment and this will be discussed with you during the screening appointment.
Do you automatically share reports with my GP?
No, you decide who your report is shared with.
Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to seek an assessment or therapeutic support with us. We do accept referrals from GPs, other healthcare professionals or schools, alongside self-referrals.
I find certain adjustments help me to feel comfortable in appointments; can you incorporate these into the assessment process?
Absolutely.
I am a parent seeking an assessment for my child, but I am separated from my child's other parent; how does the assessment work?
Legally, the consent of one parent is needed to proceed with an assessment; however, we strongly recommend that both parents are aware and involved in the assessment. We can facilitate separate parental discussions if this is helpful for you and your family without extra charge.
Do I need to tell my child about the assessment?
Helping a young person to understand why they are coming to the appointment often helps them to feel comfortable to engage with the process and it also often enables them to feel able to share their perspectives on their strengths and difficulties.
When do I pay for my assessment?
We are unfortunately unable to hold an appointment without payment, and therefore we require payment at the time of booking. Please see our terms and conditions for further information about this.
If I pay for a neurodevelopmental assessment, does this guarantee I will receive a diagnosis?
We complete thorough, collaborative assessments that explore whether a person’s experiences can be understood through neurodivergence. This sometimes leads to a diagnosis as an outcome, but on other occasions, the team may conclude that the evidence does not suggest that your experiences can be understood through neurodivergence. The outcome of the assessment will be shared with you and the reasons behind this will be explained. Regardless of the outcome of the assessment, a comprehensive report will be written and shared with you, which will include recommendations to support you going forward.
If I receive a diagnosis of ADHD, I would like to explore medication. Is this something you can provide?
We have relationships with a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and a Consultant Psychiatrist. This enables us to signpost both children and adults to services who can prescribe medication in the event of a diagnosis of ADHD. Please note that these are separate services who have their own charges.
If I receive a diagnosis from an assessment, will this be accepted by NHS Services?
We complete assessments that are NICE Guideline Compliant, thorough and robust. We would fully expect that your assessment is accepted by NHS Services, however, should you experience difficulties with this, please contact us and we will do our best to support.
I am an adult seeking an assessment but I do not have anybody such as a parent who could provide information to inform the assessment; is this a problem?
It is always best if an assessment can include the views of both you and someone who has known you from childhood; this can be a sibling or friend, or a parent. However, if it is not possible to include an informant in the assessment, then this would not mean an assessment could not happen. Please contact us for more information if this is something you are concerned about.