Initial Support
Support for specific concerns, without needing to begin an assessment
Some individuals and families come to us with specific questions or areas of difficulty, without necessarily wanting a diagnosis or full assessment. This might include understanding communication differences, sleep, attention, or day-to-day challenges.
Our Initial Support sessions draw on our clinical experience in neurodiversity to help you think things through, build understanding, and explore practical strategies in a focused and meaningful way.
£150
Per Session
£500
4-Session Programme
Virtual Sessions
Flexible, from the comfort of home
Making sense of what’s going on
It’s common to feel unsure about what is happening or what the next step should be. You might be noticing changes, differences, or difficulties, without a clear explanation.
Initial Support offers a space to think this through with a clinician who understands neurodiversity. The focus is on building understanding and finding practical ways forward, regardless of whether an assessment is ever needed.
Two ways to access support
Two options depending on what feels most helpful. Sessions are delivered online.
Single Session
Explore When You Need To
Book a session if something has come up at home or school, or if you’d like to talk things through. There’s no set structure, and you can book as and when it feels helpful.
- One-to-one session with a clinician
- Practical, tailored strategies
- Flexible scheduling
- Session notes and follow-up resources
- Option to book further sessions if needed
4-Session Programme
Guided Support Over Time
A set of four sessions at pre-agreed times, offering space to explore concerns in more depth, build understanding, and develop practical strategies over several weeks.
- Consistency with the same clinician throughout
- Sessions arranged at times that work for you
- Strategies developed and revisited across sessions
- Neurodiversity-informed guidance and resources
- Session notes provided after each meeting
- Reduced cost compared to booking individual sessions
Programme Structure
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone
At this stage, it’s common to be thinking things like:
We’ve tried different things, but nothing seems to quite fit
It feels like there’s something underlying it all
I can see they’re struggling, but I don’t know why
School keeps raising concerns but I’m not sure
Initial Support gives you space to think this through without pressure — along with practical support as you work out what might be helpful.
A helpful starting point
Initial Support can be a helpful starting point if you have questions or concerns but aren’t yet looking for a full assessment. Some people use it as a way to think things through, while others find it provides everything they need.
Initial Support
Not sure what the next step might be? Initial Support sessions offer practical, neurodiversity-informed guidance to help you think things through and explore what may be helpful.
Specialist Assessment
A thorough but flexible assessment in a calm, autism-friendly environment, using NICE-aligned approaches and providing a clear, accessible report.
Post-Diagnostic Support
We offer a range of support options to help you understand your experiences and consider next steps, including individual sessions, small groups, and flexible support as needed.
How Initial Support Helps
What these sessions can offer.
Space to understand, without pressure
We use neurodiversity-informed language and approaches that focus on understanding differences in a balanced and supportive way.
An understanding approach
We use neurodiversity-informed language and approaches that focus on understanding differences, rather than viewing your child as a problem to be fixed.
Practical strategies
Sessions focus on developing strategies that can be used at home and in school, based on your child’s needs and your family’s situation.
A conversational approach
Sessions are led in a collaborative, discussion-based way, allowing space to reflect and think things through with a clinician.
How Virtual Sessions Work
Sessions are held over secure video call at times that suit your routine.
Pre-Agreed Scheduling
For the 4-session programme, all session times are agreed upfront so you can plan around your family's routine.
Comfortable and Private
Join from your living room, office, or wherever you feel comfortable. No travel, no waiting rooms.
In-Person Options Available
If you or your clinician feel an in-person session or observation would be beneficial, this can be arranged.
Observations Outside Clinical Settings
If a home or school observation is considered, your clinician will discuss ethics, risk assessment, and consent with you first.
Example: How Initial Support can be used in practice
This example is based on a composite of work with families (details adapted to protect confidentiality).
A recent family we supported
Online
Support and understanding don’t necessarily depend on receiving a diagnosis. In many cases, families can begin making helpful changes based on a clearer understanding of what’s going on.
The situation
The family came to Initial Support with questions about their 5-year-old son, who was preparing to start primary school. At home, there were well-established routines, but also high energy levels and increasing difficulty settling in the evenings. There were some areas of tension around expectations and boundaries, alongside behaviours that suggested differences in flexibility and comfort with change.
They were aware that there were patterns they didn’t fully understand, but weren’t sure how to make sense of them or what the next step might be.
Our work together
Sessions focused on developing a clearer understanding of the factors shaping the child’s behaviour. This included patterns within the home environment, expectations that had developed over time, and areas where the child showed differences in flexibility.
The work involved exploring family routines and values, considering how these were working in practice, and identifying where adjustments might be helpful. Practical strategies were introduced around bedtime, transitions, and managing energy levels, alongside developing shared language for emotions and everyday experiences.
The outcome
Following the sessions, the family had a clearer understanding of what was contributing to different behaviours and how to respond in a way that felt more consistent with their values.
They developed a range of practical strategies to support day-to-day routines, including approaches to bedtime, managing energy levels, and responding to moments of uncertainty or distress. They also developed shared language to support communication around emotions and expectations.
The family chose to explore an assessment at a later stage, doing so with a clearer understanding and a more informed starting point.
Support and understanding don’t necessarily depend on receiving a diagnosis. In many cases, families can begin making helpful changes based on a clearer understanding of what’s going on.
What Other Families Say
Reflections and experiences from parents our clinicians have supported with Initial Support.
"We hadn’t realised how many demands were involved in everyday routines. Breaking things down helped us understand why things felt so difficult."
Mark (Parent)
"It felt like a space where we could be honest without feeling judged. That made it easier to start trying different approaches."
Rich (Parent)
"We still don’t know if we want an assessment, but we are using the strategies from our appointments with Charlie and we know we can decide in the future!"
Jaspreet (Parent)
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our Initial Support sessions.
Initial Support is for individuals and families who have questions or concerns about development, behaviour, or day-to-day functioning, and would find it helpful to think things through with a clinician. It can be particularly useful where there are specific areas of difficulty, and you are looking for practical guidance and strategies, without needing to begin a full assessment.
Before you book:
- Cancellations require 48 hours' notice to be eligible for a reschedule.
- Session bundles are subject to our Refunds Policy — once a bundle has started, refund rights may be limited.
- Group programmes may require a non-refundable deposit.
- Support sessions are not emergency or crisis support. If you need urgent help, contact NHS 111, your GP, or call 999.
- Sessions are individual unless family or group support is expressly booked.
Thinking about getting some support?
You don’t need to have everything figured out. You can book a session to talk things through and explore what might be helpful.