Meet the Affirming Autism Clinical Team
A team of compassionate, neuro‑affirmative clinicians dedicated to understanding you.
Every member of our team brings specialist experience in adult autism, high‑masking presentations, trauma‑informed practice, and neurodiversity‑affirming care. We recognise that many adults seeking assessment have spent years feeling misunderstood. Our role is to offer clarity, validation, and a safe space to explore your identity.
Our Approach
We honour autistic communication, thinking styles, and lived experience. No pathologising language. No judgement. No pressure.
Trauma‑informed
We understand how trauma, masking, and chronic invalidation can shape how autism presents in adulthood.
NICE‑compliant
All assessments follow NICE guidelines and are recognised by most NHS services, employers, and universities.
Experienced in high‑masking and late‑identified autism
Many of our clients have been overlooked for years. We specialise in recognising subtle, internalised, or camouflaged autistic traits.
Private Autism Assessments (Age 16+)
Virtual Nationwide Service | Recognised Clinical Diagnosis | Neuro‑affirmative Approach
We provide comprehensive private autism assessments for people aged 16 and over, delivered virtually across the UK. Our process is designed to be calm, respectful, and grounded in current clinical standards.
What Your Assessment Includes
✔ Full ICD‑11 Diagnostic Evaluation
A thorough, NICE‑aligned assessment tailored for adults, including those who mask or present subtly.
✔ Gold‑Standard Clinical Interviews
Structured, evidence‑based tools used by specialist clinicians experienced in adult autism.
✔ A Validated, Recognised Autism Diagnosis
Your diagnosis is accepted by most NHS services, universities, and employers.
✔ A Detailed Clinical Report
Clear, comprehensive documentation outlining your profile, diagnostic reasoning, and recommendations.
✔ Practical, Personalised Recommendations
Guidance to support you across key areas of life.
Specialist Adult Autism Assessment Clinicians (UK)
Private Adult Autism Assessments | ICD‑11 Diagnostic Criteria | Neurodiversity‑Affirming | 40+ Years NHS Expertise
At Affirming Autism, all assessments are carried out by highly experienced clinicians with more than 40 years of combined NHS autism diagnostic experience. Our team continues to work within specialist NHS autism services, ensuring every private assessment reflects the most up‑to‑date clinical standards and best practice.
We provide comprehensive, evidence‑based autism assessments for adults using the ICD‑11 diagnostic criteria. This ensures your diagnosis is clinically recognised, accurate, and grounded in a deep understanding of your lived experience — including high‑masking or subtle presentations.
Our approach is neurodiversity‑affirming, respectful, and inclusive. We recognise the full spectrum of autistic identity and aim to make the assessment process supportive, validating, and empowering from start to finish.
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Natalie Hewitt – Director of Clinical Services
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist | Specialist in Adult Autism Assessment
Natalie is a Consultant‑level clinician with advanced expertise in ICD‑11 autism diagnostics for adults. Her work focuses on recognising autistic profiles that are often missed or misunderstood, including:
Complex or late‑identified autism
Women and non‑binary autistic adults
Autism alongside ADHD or mental health needs
Alongside her clinical work, Natalie lectures at university level on neurodevelopmental conditions, ensuring her practice is grounded in the latest research and evidence. She uses gold‑standard assessment tools and creates a calm, validating, neuro‑affirmative environment where clients feel safe to unmask and be themselves
Ruth Guy – Director of Client Care and Compliance
Autism Specialist Practitioner | Clinical Nurse Specialist | Neurodivergent Expert by Experience
Ruth is a neurodivergent clinician with more than 20 years of experience across mental health crisis services and community mental health. Her lived experience within a neurodivergent family gives her a deep, authentic understanding of the autistic community and the challenges many adults face before reaching assessment.
Ruth specialises in supporting individuals with:
Trauma histories
Complex emotional needs
Previous misdiagnosis (including EUPD)
Late‑identified or overlooked autism
Specialist Training in Adult Autism Assessment
Expert Clinicians | Gold‑Standard Diagnostic Tools | Neurodiversity‑Affirming Practice
All clinicians at Affirming Autism are specially trained in assessing autistic adults using recognised, evidence‑based diagnostic tools. Our team has extensive experience in identifying a wide range of autistic presentations, including high‑masking, subtle, and late‑identified profiles.
Our Clinicians Are Trained In:
ADOS‑2
ADI‑R
ACAI
Royal College of Psychiatrists Clinical Interview for Able Adults
Mental State Examination
Structured communication and behavioural observations
Why Our Team Stands Out
We listen first
Your lived experience matters more than ticking boxes.
We understand masking
We recognise subtle signs that traditional assessments often miss.
We value your identity
Autism is not a deficit - it’s a neurotype.
We support you beyond the diagnosis
You’ll receive a detailed report plus guidance on next steps, workplace adjustments, and self‑advocacy.
