What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Every Mind Psychology, The Flat at Balimore, Basingstoke Road, Reading (2026)

Q: What is the address?

The Flat At Balimore, Basingstoke Road

08/06/2026

Why “Understanding Your Diagnosis” Sessions Can Make a Big Difference

After an autism or ADHD diagnosis, many young people feel relief but also confusion, curiosity, or big questions about what it all means for them.

That’s why we offer ‘Understanding Your Diagnosis’ sessions with our Assistant Psychologists. These sessions give young people a safe, gentle space to explore their neurodivergence in a way that feels validating and empowering.

Why it matters
Research shows that when autistic or ADHD young people feel connected to and aligned with their neurodivergent identity, their mental health is significantly better.
Studies highlight that:

A positive neurodivergent identity is linked with lower anxiety and depression

Feeling understood reduces internalised stigma

Understanding strengths and needs supports confidence and self‑advocacy

(Cooper et al., 2021; Botha & Frost, 2020)

What we explore
In these sessions, we help young people:

-Understand what their diagnosis means for them

-Explore strengths, sensory and communication preferences

-Make sense of past experiences with compassion

-Build language for talking about their neurodivergence confidently

-Learn strategies that honour who they are

A diagnosis isn’t an ending — it’s the start of understanding yourself more fully.

We’re here to support that journey with clarity, kindness, and neuroaffirming care.

01/06/2026

Why we choose the DISCO over shorter developmental history tools when completing autism assessments

At Every Mind, we prioritise assessments that are thorough, neuroaffirming and clinically robust. That’s why we use the DISCO (Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders) as our developmental history tool when we interview our parents.

Shorter interviews can be useful for screening, but they often rely on brief checklists and may miss the more subtle patterns that matter most — especially for:

✨ girls and other young people, whose autistic traits often present differently
✨ children who mask or camouflage, showing very different behaviour at home vs. school
✨ children with complex profiles, including PDA, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or sensory differences

The DISCO allows us to explore these nuances in a way that quicker tools simply can’t.

The DISCO provides:
🔹 a detailed developmental timeline across early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence
🔹 rich information about sensory, emotional, communication and social experiences
🔹 space to understand masking, burnout, fluctuating capacity and context‑dependent behaviour
🔹 a strengths‑based picture of your child’s identity and lived experience
🔹 excellent support for differential diagnosis, helping us distinguish autism from trauma, anxiety, attachment needs, ADHD, learning differences and other neurodevelopmental profiles
🔹 a formulation that guides meaningful, personalised recommendations — not just a diagnostic label

This depth is essential for accurate, respectful assessment and for writing recommendations that genuinely help children access education, relationships and wellbeing.

Yes this takes time to do and the DISCO can take a good few hours to complete! But parents tell us that they enjoy telling their child's story, that they don't feel rushed and feel heard and validated by the end.

We choose the DISCO because your child’s story deserves time, care and nuance — and because subtle autistic profiles deserve to be recognised, not overlooked.

20/05/2026

🌿 Why After‑School Meltdowns Happen — and How to Support Your Child

If your child comes home from school and triggers the moment they walk through the door, you’re not alone. Many neurodivergent children hold it together all day, only to release all the built‑up stress the second they’re somewhere safe.

This isn’t “bad behaviour”. It’s a sign of how hard they’ve been working to cope.

✨ Why after‑school meltdowns happen:

They’ve been masking all day
Many children spend hours trying to fit in, follow expectations, and hide their overwhelm. Home is where they finally feel safe enough to let go.

Sensory overload has built up
Busy classrooms, noise, smells, bright lights, constant transitions — it’s a lot for a sensitive nervous system.

Social and emotional fatigue
Navigating friendships, group work, and unstructured times like lunch or break can be exhausting.

Holding in emotions
Children often “save” their big feelings for the people they trust most.

Executive function burnout
Following instructions, switching tasks, and staying organised takes huge mental effort for ADHD and autistic children.

✨ How you can support your child:

Create a calm, predictable homecoming routine
Soft lighting, quiet space, no immediate demands.

Offer connection without pressure
A gentle “I’m glad you’re home” goes a long way.

Provide sensory regulation options
Snacks, movement, deep pressure, quiet time, or a favourite activity.

Avoid questions straight away
Give their brain time to decompress before talking about the day.

Let them express feelings safely
Meltdowns are not choices — they’re a nervous system response.

Focus on co‑regulation, not correction
Your calm presence helps their body settle.

💛 After‑school meltdowns don’t mean your child is struggling at home — they mean your child feels safe with you. And with understanding, compassion, and the right supports, afternoons can become much easier for everyone.

20/05/2026

Family Wellbeing Course - SPACES STILL AVAILABLE - Course starts 17th June 2026 - age 5-11 age group

Are you the parent or carer of a child who is autistic, or awaiting an autism diagnostic assessment? Using evidence-based approaches to thriving and a library of videos created by autistic children and young people, our 6 week course aims to deepen your understanding of your autistic child while also focusing on your own wellbeing as a parent/carer.

For further information, including details of how to book, please see our website https://research.reading.ac.uk/autism/support-and-training/wellbeing-hub-2/what-we-do/support-and-training/working-with-families/family-wellbeing-course/

18/05/2026

🌟 Why Occupational Therapy (OT) Assessments Are So Valuable in Autism & ADHD Diagnostics 🌟

When we complete autism and ADHD assessments for children at Every Mind, we look at the whole child — their strengths, sensory world, daily routines, and the environments they move through. That’s why an Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment can be such an important part of the process.

OTs bring a unique lens that helps us understand how a child experiences and navigates their day, far beyond what we see in a clinic room.

✨ Here’s how an OT assessment adds depth and clarity:

Sensory insight that really matters
Many autistic and ADHD children experience the world through a rich sensory lens. OTs help us understand what supports regulation, what leads to overwhelm, and how sensory needs shape comfort, focus, and wellbeing.

Understanding everyday functioning — without judgement
OTs look at real‑life tasks like dressing, eating, handwriting, play, and transitions. This helps us see where a child thrives and where small adjustments could make life easier.

Spotlighting strengths
OT assessments highlight motor skills, problem‑solving, creativity, and the child’s natural ways of engaging with the world — strengths that are essential to a balanced, neuroaffirming assessment.

Reducing the pressure to “perform”
Children don’t need to mask or meet expectations. OTs observe authentic movement, sensory preferences, and natural coping strategies, giving us a more accurate picture of their needs.

Supporting emotional regulation
Understanding how a child’s body and sensory system respond to different environments helps us identify what helps them feel safe, calm, and grounded.

Informing meaningful, personalised recommendations
OT insights help shape practical, compassionate suggestions for home and school — focused on comfort, autonomy, and wellbeing.

💛 At Every Mind, an OT assessment isn’t about identifying “problems”. It’s about understanding the child’s world so we can support them in ways that truly fit who they are.

If you’d like to learn more about our multidisciplinary autism and ADHD assessment pathway, we’re always happy to chat.

14/05/2026

💛 We’d Love to Hear From You

If your child or young person has had an autism or ADHD diagnostic assessment with Every Mind, we would be really grateful for your feedback.

Your experiences help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can continue to grow. Most importantly, your insights help us make the assessment journey as supportive, clear and neuroaffirming as possible for other families.

You can share anything that felt helpful, anything that could have been better, or anything you think future families might want us to know. All feedback is welcome, and it can be as brief or detailed as you like.

Please follow the link below to feedback your views and experiences. If you’d prefer to share your thoughts privately, you can email us directly at [email protected].

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__S2GKURUMFlXM0Q5N1hEUFpXUDNPMjQzTlhTRkVVVS4u

Thank you for helping us shape a service that truly honours and supports every child, young person and family who walks through our doors. 💛

13/05/2026

💛 Post‑Diagnostic Support at Every Mind
Receiving an autism or ADHD diagnosis can bring a mix of emotions — relief, clarity, questions, and sometimes uncertainty about what comes next. At Every Mind, we want families to know that the diagnosis is not the end of the journey. It’s the beginning of understanding, support, and thriving.

Our Post‑Diagnostic Support is designed to be clear, compassionate, and genuinely helpful for children, young people, and their families. We focus on making sure you feel informed, supported, and empowered.

Here’s what we offer after a diagnosis:

✨ A dedicated feedback session
We talk through the assessment findings in accessible, strengths‑based language, ensuring you understand your child’s profile, needs, and strengths.

✨ Guidance on next steps
We outline support options within Every Mind and in the wider community, including therapy, parent support, school recommendations, and autistic‑led resources.

✨ Every Mind Support
At Every Mind, we can offer 'Understanding Diagnosis' sessions with an assistant psychologist, psychological therapy with a clinical psychologist, parent support with a clinical psychologist, professional expert witness reports for EHCPs, and much more!

✨ A neuroaffirming approach
We focus on identity, strengths, and understanding — not “fixing” or changing who a child is. Our goal is to help families feel confident, informed, and supported.

A diagnosis should be empowering and supportive, not create uncertainty. At Every Mind, we walk alongside families to ensure they feel held, understood, and equipped for the journey ahead.

💛 Every child deserves support that honours who they are.
💛 Every family deserves clarity and compassion.

11/05/2026

⚡ ADHD Strengths: More Than You’ve Been Told ⚡
At Every Mind, we meet so many children, young people, and adults with ADHD whose incredible strengths are often overlooked because the world focuses too much on “challenges” and not enough on potential.

ADHD isn’t a lack of attention — it’s a different way of paying attention, and that difference comes with powerful abilities.

✨ Here are just some of the strengths we see every day:

Creativity & imagination — ADHD minds make connections others don’t see.

Hyperfocus — when something is meaningful, engagement becomes deep, sustained, and passionate.

Curiosity — a natural drive to explore, question, and understand the world.

Problem‑solving — thinking outside the box, finding unexpected solutions.

Energy & enthusiasm — bringing spark, humour, and momentum to groups and projects.

Resilience — navigating a world not built for your brain builds strength, courage, and empathy.

Big‑picture thinking — seeing possibilities, patterns, and ideas beyond the obvious.

ADHD is not a deficit. It’s a neurotype with its own strengths, needs, and ways of thriving.

When environments are supportive, flexible, and validating, ADHD young people don’t just cope — they flourish.

💛 At Every Mind, we celebrate neurodiversity and champion the strengths that make each child uniquely brilliant.

08/05/2026

On Wednesday evening, many parents, educators, and professionals — including our Every Mind team and Windsorian Occupational Therapy Practice— came together at the Reading University Centre for Autism for an inspiring event on “Autistic Thriving at School and Beyond.”

One of the standout speakers was the incredible Andy Smith, founder of Spectrum Gaming, who shared powerful insights into the barriers to education faced by many neurodivergent children and young people.

Andy spoke openly about how the education system continues to misunderstand and mis‑support autistic pupils. He challenged the common belief that “once they’re in school, they’re fine”, explaining why graded exposure approaches often cause more harm than help. He offered a striking analogy: we would never agree to being repeatedly punched in the face until we “got used to it” — yet many children are expected to repeatedly endure environments that overwhelm, distress, and traumatise them.

No child should be forced into a setting that:

isn’t designed for their brain

is misaligned with their sensory or emotional needs

invalidates their internal experiences

or causes them harm

The message of the evening was clear: we must design education systems that truly serve all children — environments that validate, include, celebrate, and embrace every neurotype, rather than marginalising difference.

At Every Mind, we are committed to this vision. Autistic young people don’t need to be changed to fit the system — the system needs to evolve to honour them.

💛 Here’s to building schools and an education system where every child can thrive, not just cope.

06/05/2026

🌱 Why We Don’t Use Functioning Labels at Every Mind

Imagine describing a flower as “high‑functioning” because it blooms early, or “low‑functioning” because it needs more shade and water.
It wouldn’t make sense — because every flower grows differently.

It’s the same with autistic and ADHD children.

Functioning labels ignore the child’s inner world.
They miss the sensory overload behind the smile.
They miss the creativity behind the silence.
They miss the courage behind the shutdown.

At Every Mind, we don’t label children.
We listen to them.
We understand their needs.
We celebrate their strengths.
We support their challenges with compassion, not judgement.

Every child deserves to be seen for who they truly are — not how well they appear to “function.”

Every Mind Psychology

08/06/2026

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Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm