London Ed Psyc recs for ASD 12 year old

[usernamebore]

Hi all

12 year old son, recent autism diagnosis, struggling with serious anxiety which seems to be getting worse. We recently had to pull him from mainstream education as Year 7 at a big school just ended up being too traumatic. He is now doing essentially online school at home as we are unable to get him into a school building, no matter how small and cozy that school is, without him having a panic attack.

We think a good next step would be to have an educational psychologist assess him. While he does not have any academic issues, he clearly has a lot of sensory challenges, as well as ones relating peer interaction and just dealing with life...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good Ed Psyc in the central London area (we are in Hammersmith and Fulham but would obviously be prepared to travel)? We are going to have to find the money to pay privately as there is no help coming our way anytime soon from anywhere else...

Ideally someone very calm, supportive and gentle. We have tried three different therapists and he has frozen/panicked as soon as they started trying to talk to him and basically run out of the room crying, so we need someone with the patience to let him build up confidence with them!

Thanks

No idea on using an Ed Pysc sorry. Just wanted to add my sympathy. My DD doesn't have any expressive language so can't interact with a therapist at all. Well, unless you've got one that specialises in ASD teens without expressive language.

If he's having difficulty engaging verbally, have you thought of trying some Art Therapy?

And have you joined your local ASD support group?

Are you EHEing or is the LA making the arrangements for online school? If the former, you should inform the LA you are no longer EHEing and they must make alternative arrangements.

I presume DS doesn’t have an EHCP? You should request an EHCNA. On their website, ISPEA has a model letter you can use.

If the LA agrees to assess, it will include an EP assessment. Personally, unless money is no object, I wouldn’t seek an independent EP assessment now before applying for an EHCNA. Anyone good will have a waiting list and you don’t want to delay applying for an EHCNA. Also, if you request an EHCNA and the LA agree to assess but not issue and you have to appeal, as many do, by the time you get to a hearing any report now may well be considered out of date. Previously, reports were considered up to date for around 2 years, but over the last few years, SENDIST has considered reports much younger out of date. And, if the LA e.g. agree to assess but not issue you may decide instead you desperately need to target your money at e.g. independent OT and SALT reports and the LA EP report will do (not brilliant but satisfactory compared to the need to get independent SALT and OT).

However, if you do want an independent EP now, have a look at Ruth Birnbaum, Valerie Hero, Catharine Pierce or Jemma Levy. Some EPs travel.

Dr Batul Daulby at CF Psychology was great with my son .