The Clinical Team
Our Expert Assessment Team
Our multidisciplinary team delivers professional, high-quality autism assessments to clients throughout the UK and internationally.
Professional Credentials
Our clinical team comprises fully qualified specialists from diverse professional backgrounds including: Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Psychotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. Therefore, each team member brings extensive experience in neurodevelopmental assessment, ensuring you receive expert care throughout your assessment journey.
Professional Standards
All our clinicians maintain: Active registration with relevant professional bodies (HCPC, The British Psychological Society, Social Work England, and The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists), Current ICO registration for data protection compliance and Comprehensive professional indemnity insurance.
Joanna Reynard
Founder and Lead Clinician
I am a Psychological Therapist and Registered Social Worker with over 25 years’ experience working with children, young people, and adults in assessment and therapeutic services. I hold a BA in Psychology (University of Newcastle), a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (Liverpool John Moores), and a Master’s in Counselling Children and Young People (Glyndwr University).
I has extensive experience across Local Authority, NHS CAMHS, and the private sector, specialising in autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments. I am trained in gold-standard tools, including ADOS-2, ADI-R, 3Di, and DIVA, and hold a Certificate in Psychological Testing (CEET).
I also provide therapeutic support using a range of approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centred Counselling, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
My approach is trauma-informed, neuro-affirmative, and strengths-based, recognising behaviour as a form of communication and always seeking to understand the whole person. During my career, I have also delivered post-diagnostic support programmes for families and have led multi-disciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive, integrated assessments.
I am committed to ongoing professional development and take pride in working collaboratively with professionals and families alike to ensure that every assessment and intervention is accurate, compassionate, and tailored to individual needs.
Outside of work, I enjoy yoga, running, paddleboarding, live music, and spending time outdoors with my children.
Jane Higgins
Consultant Psychologist
I am a Consultant Psychologist registered with the HCPC in as a Clinical Practitioner Psychologist and Forensic Practitioner Psychologist (PYL 33127). I am an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. I have more than 12 years of post-qualification experience as a practitioner psychologist and nearly 20 years of experience within the field of psychology. I have specialist training and experience in administering the DIVA-5, ADOS, and ADI-R, which are used in the assessment of ADHD and ASD.
The family courts in England and Wales have instructed me as an expert witness in neurodevelopmental conditions. For the last six years, I have consulted on neurodevelopmental conditions (ASD/ADHD) for various charities and NHS trusts. I have assessed and diagnosed ADHD and ASD in children, young people, and adults.
I have been fortunate to work in numerous NHS, private, and charity settings in England and Wales. I have experience in working with diagnostic differentials such as anxiety, depression, substance misuse, personality disorder, trauma, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Dr Sophie Littler
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Chester Psychological Service, based at a clinic in Hoole, Chester
I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and have had training and experience in many different types of psychological therapy. This enables me to offer individualised care based on the person I'm working with rather than treating people based on a generic diagnosis or label.
Team members
Our Multidisciplinary Assessment Approach
All our team members are fully trained, accredited diagnostic clinicians from a range of professional backgrounds. To ensure compliance with NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines all assessments are completed by two diagnosticians from different professional background and reviewed by a third experienced clinician to ensure clinical robustness.
Dedicated Support and Comprehensive Profile Development
Your autism case co-ordinator will act as a single point of access and offer guidance throughout your autism assessment and tailor the assessment components to create a comprehensive profile, for example, providing general information relating to;
- Academic skills and learning style.
- Speech, language and communication preferences.
- Fine and gross motor skills.
- Emotional wellbeing and self concept
- Behaviour that is likely to affect day to day functioning and social participation.
- Sensory processing differences.
This multifaceted approach ensures we capture the unique presentation of each individual we assess at Reach Autism Services.