About us.
We are a team of qualified registered professionals, specialising in female Autism & ADHD.
Meet Our Founder.
Spectrum Sisters was founded by Chay Thompson who regularly saw in both her practice as a social worker, and her lived experience, the vast amounts of neurodivergent women and girls being misdiagnosed, and under-diagnosed and the impact that would have on their lifespan. She also felt even when they were diagnosed, that process itself was commonly very traumatic in itself and service users were often left with no post-diagnostic support and a very limited report that really told them nothing about themselves – only provided a diagnosis.
Passionate about redressing this imbalance, Spectrum Sisters was formed and we now have a growing number of professionals from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, mental health nursing and beyond who support our goals. We are all committed to offering much needed specialised, in-depth, detailed Autism and ADHD assessments and support for women and girls in order to help them to gain clarity, understand themselves better, access the right funding and support, and gain the tools in life to be able to thrive. We operate under stringent regulations, and NICE guidelines ensuring the highest standards of assessment.
Chay Thompson - Founder
Meet the team.
Chay Thompson
Neurodevelopmental Diagnostician & Founder
MSc Soc Work, MA Autism (2026), PGDip Coun, BA(Hons) Soc, ACIA, ADI-R, ADOS-2, DIVA-5 trained, SWE registered.
Social Work England Registration Number: SW155548
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I’m a Neurodevelopmental Diagnostician, Social Worker and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience supporting adults and children with mental health issues and neurodivergence. I received my own diagnosis of autism, ADHD, dyspraxia and C-PTSD later in life, as well as being the mother to several neurodivergent children. I found getting a diagnosis a genuinely life-changing experience, but fully understand how the diagnostic process can be very confronting and challenging. This experience, along with seeing women and girls in my practice routinely underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed by professionals, and the negative impact that had throughout their lifespan, led me to want to create Spectrum Sisters. I carried out additional training in neurodiversity assessments, and created the business, building a network of like-minded female professionals in order to be able to provide others with the understanding, insight and access to supports that I gained from my own diagnoses. I feel it is a much needed unique service, that empowers women to support other women and girls with neurodiversity so they can thrive in life. Both personally and professionally, I know how important it is to feel safe, understood, and to have a tailored approach that fully recognises and respects the female phenotype. So many women come to us after years of frustration, confusion, and a sense of feeling extremely misunderstood. My approach is always trauma-informed and neuro-affirming — I don’t see neurodiversity as a disability but as a difference — and I always aim to create a safe space for clients to focus on their strengths, skills and creativity. My aim is always to make sure you are comfortable, and you find the process of assessment rewarding and affirming and come away with a more in-depth understanding of yourself and your needs.
Dr Helen Sessions
Chartered Clinical Psychologist
Over 25 years’ experience in trauma, mood difficulties, relationships and neurodivergence.
HCPC Registration Number: PYL20869
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I’m a psychologist and therapist with over 25 years’ experience supporting adults with complex trauma, mood difficulties, relationship challenges and neurodivergence. Having received my own diagnosis of inattentive ADHD in adulthood, I found it a genuinely life-changing experience. It helped me to understand my brain with compassion, to release a lot of shame, and to find practical and creative ways to work with my mind rather than against it. This experience has profoundly shaped my practice, and I carried out additional training in neurodiversity assessments in order to be able to provide others with the understanding and insight that I gain from my own diagnosis. Both personally and professionally, I understand the sense of vulnerability, relief, confusion and hope that can come with exploring a possible diagnosis, and how important it is to feel understood and safe throughout the process. My approach is trauma-informed and neuro-affirming, which means I aim to create a calm, non-judgemental space during the assessment process. During our time together, we’ll discuss your preferences for our appointments — for example, if you’d prefer to have your camera off at times, take breaks, be provided with advance information about what we’ll be discussing in the session, have a support person present, or communicate in a different way, that’s absolutely fine. I know that assessments can feel daunting, and my role is to help make the process as comfortable and transparent as possible. I am passionate about providing a thorough, individualised assessment and report, paying particular attention to the unique ways that neurodivergence can show up for women and girls, and the strengths, skills and creativity that sit alongside some of the challenges. I have a special interest in hormones and chronic illness in neurodivergent women and girls.
Dr. Priscila Kheraj
Registered Psychologist & Behaviour Analyst
Autism, emotional regulation, executive functioning, social communication and functional skills assessment.
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I’m a Registered Psychologist and a Behaviour Analyst with several years of experience supporting autistic individuals across different ages and profiles. Much of my work has focused on autistic girls and women, helping them better understand their strengths and challenges while developing practical strategies that promote emotional balance, independence, and self-awareness. My approach is neurodiversity-affirming; I aim to create a space where clients feel truly seen, validated, and supported. I use evidence-based methods to assess and strengthen core areas such as emotional regulation, executive functioning, social communication, and daily structure. I’m particularly interested in functional and skills assessments that help identify meaningful goals and foster better quality of life for each person, always respecting their individuality and autonomy.
Katie Wardle
SEND Educational Specialist
BSc (Hons), PGCE, NASENCO. Neurodiversity Coach and former SENDCO.
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About Katie: I have 25 years’ experience across mainstream and specialist education, including leadership as a SENDCo. I’m a qualified Neurodiversity Coach, IPSEA-trained in SEND law, and an Autism Education Trust Advocate, with a strong focus on creating inclusive, practical support for schools and families. I specialise in supporting EHCP processes, sensory needs, and neurodiversity coaching, helping individuals develop strengths-based strategies to thrive. I have particular expertise in working with women and girls, including a deep understanding of how masking presents and can impact access to support.
Phephile Fuyane
Autism/ADHD Specialist Practitioner and Nurse Prescriber
Registered Mental Health Nurse with 17 years’ post-qualification experience. ADI-R, ADOS-2 & DIVA-5 trained.
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I am a Registered Mental Health Nurse with 17 years of post-qualification experience working across a range of healthcare settings. Throughout my career, I have supported both autistic adults and children and have developed a strong interest in neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly the presentation of autism in girls and women. Alongside autism assessments, I have also carried out ADHD assessments and supported individuals through ADHD medication titration. I am passionate about providing compassionate, neuro-affirming, person-centred care and creating a safe and respectful environment during the assessment process. I value the importance of listening to and learning from the lived experiences of autistic people, and I continue to develop my understanding through both clinical practice and ongoing learning. My wider professional interests focus on health inequalities within marginalised groups, with a particular interest in improving outcomes and recognition for the girl child.
Asana Tairou
Autism Specialist Nurse
Adult autism assessment, developmental history, clinical observation and neurodiversity-affirming practice. ADI-R, ADOS-2 & DIVA-5 trained.
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Hello, my name is Asana, and I am an autism specialist nurse with experience in adult autism assessment. I work with adult women who are exploring whether autism may be part of their story. I understand that many women reach assessment after years of feeling different, misunderstood, or unsure why certain parts of life have felt more effortful than expected. My approach is calm, respectful and person-centred. I know that attending an autism assessment can feel emotional or unfamiliar, so I aim to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel listened to and understood. As part of the assessment process, I may gather information about your developmental history, current experiences, communication style, sensory needs, relationships, daily life, strengths and challenges. I also contribute to the wider diagnostic process using structured assessment tools and clinical observations. I am particularly mindful that autism can present differently in women, including masking, camouflaging, internalised distress and feeling exhausted from trying to meet social expectations. My aim is to understand each person as an individual, not just through a checklist of traits. I am passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice and believe that every client deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect throughout their assessment journey. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you through the process.
D.P. Murphy
Neurodevelopmental Wellbeing Practitioner
PGDip.PT. ADHD coaching, burnout support, movement, routine and nervous system regulation.
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D.P. Murphy is an ADHD coach with lived experience of neurodivergence and burnout, alongside being a parent to neurodivergent children. Their work focuses on movement, routine and nervous system regulation.
Daniella Lee-Priore
Social Worker & EMDR Practitioner
EMDR therapy, social work, mental health nursing and lived experience of neurodivergence.
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Daniella is an EMDR therapist and registered social worker with a background in mental health nursing and lived experience of neurodivergence.
