About me
Your Trusted Expert in Autism and ADHD in Adults
My name is Dr. Jo Coombs and I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 17 years’ experience of providing high-quality, personalised clinical psychology services to individuals, couples, families, teams and services. I have a clinical psychology practice in Berkshire called Join Psychology. You can find out more about the practice and the help we provide at: www.joinpsychology.co.uk. You are very welcome to contact me if you would like to talk about how I may be able to help.
Are you wondering whether neurodivergence could explain your experiences?
You may be wondering if autism and/or ADHD could be part of your story. Perhaps you’ve always felt different, struggled with social situations, sensory overload, or keeping organised and focused. Maybe you’ve worked hard to mask your true preferences, leaving you exhausted, anxious, or burnt out. You might find your mind races, or you lose hours in hyperfocus. My role is to offer a thoughtful, compassionate assessment that helps you make sense of these experiences and move towards greater self-understanding and acceptance.
Expertise and integrity at every step
I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in high-quality, evidence-based assessments for autism and ADHD in people aged 16 and over. I work in full compliance with national policy guidelines on the assessment of autism and ADHD, providing clear, thorough, and meaningful assessments. We have immediate availability for assessments.
I offer a service that you can trust
My approach is grounded in trust, integrity, and professionalism, ensuring every assessment is a safe and supportive process of self-discovery and understanding. My specialist expertise includes recognising neurodivergence in women and in people who also experience complex mental health difficulties and trauma.
Training, qualifications & experience
A bit about me...
I graduated from university with a First Class Honours degree in Psychology and went on to complete a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, initially specialising in systemic approaches with children, adolescents and families. Since then, I've worked extensively in the fields of neurodivergence, mental health and trauma.
After completing my doctorate, further systemic training and many years working in the NHS, I decided in 2017 to move into private practice. Doing this has enabled me to offer far more flexibility in the care offered to my clients. I've also been able to focus on areas of special interest including attachment and trauma-informed psychological therapies, particularly with neurodivergent people.
Throughout my career, I've had a strong interest in understanding how our earliest experiences and relationships shape our lives, wellbeing and relationships over time. I have specialised in attachment, trauma and systemically-focused approaches to understanding and working with people’s difficulties.
My passions and expertise...
I've dedicated my career to working with neurodivergent people who've experienced mental health difficulties and trauma. I'm passionate about advancing our understanding of trauma and sharing this knowledge with others which is why I'm also a Committee Member of the Crisis, Disaster and Trauma (CDT) Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society (BPS). We are a group of professionals who work together to collate and share the latest information and developments in the fields of trauma, disaster and crisis. I've drawn on my combined interests in trauma and neurodivergence to coordinate and host two conferences relating to trauma and neurodivergence in children, young people and adults.
Core and Specialist Therapeutic Trainings
- BSc (Hons) Psychology.
- PsychD Clinical Psychology.
- Graduate and Post-Graduate Certificates in Systemic Practice (Families and Couples).
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Level One.
- Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Professional Registrations
- Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), Full Chartered Member, Membership number: 198463.
- Full Member of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP), British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Membership number: PYL05126.
- Approved Supervisor on the BPS Register of Approved Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS).
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Autism
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Demand Avoidance, including Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
- Relationship Problems
- Family Problems
- Trauma
- PSTD
- Complex PTSD
Therapies offered
Fees
£150.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Fees for autism assessments:
- Fees for autism initial consultation sessions are £300.
- Fees for full autism assessments are £1,950. The fee for the initial consultation session is deducted from the overall assessment fee. Please see my website for further information about what is included.
Fees for adult ADHD assessments:
- Fees for ADHD initial consultation sessions are £300.
- Fees for full autism assessments are £1,750. The fee for the initial consultation session is deducted from the overall assessment fee. Please see my website for further information about what is included.
Fees for dual/combined autism and ADHD assessments:
- Fees for a dual autism and ADHD initial consultation are £400.
- Fees for a dual/combined autism and ADHD assessment are £2950. The fee for the initial consultation session is deducted from the overall assessment fee. Please see my website for further information about what is included.
Fees for clinical supervision of other allied health professionals:
- Fees for clinical supervision are £150 per hour.
When I work
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Further information
I also provide bespoke training to teams and services related to psychological wellbeing, mental health, relationships and neurodiversity. If you have any questions at all, or think I may be able to help, please get in touch. My contact details can be found at: www.joinpsychology.co.uk
