Gold Standard Psychological Assessments
Dr Rachael Phillips, DPsych
Consultant Counselling Psychologist & Managing Partner
Dr Rachael Phillips is a Consultant Counselling Psychologist with over 14 years of clinical experience working across the NHS and private healthcare in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. She specialises in the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents and adults, and has extensive experience assessing complex and often high-masking presentations.
Rachael is the Clinical Lead for Autism Assessments and has completed a significant number of comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments using gold-standard, evidence-based assessment methods. She is fully trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and has extensive experience conducting detailed developmental assessments, clinical interviews, multidisciplinary formulation and diagnostic feedback. Her work includes assessments for individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions, intellectual differences and complex neurodevelopmental presentations, ensuring diagnostic conclusions are thoughtful, robust and clinically meaningful.
A particular area of expertise is the assessment of individuals whose presentations may be less obvious, including girls and women, adults who have developed sophisticated masking strategies, and those with overlapping mental health difficulties. Rachael adopts a neurodiversity-affirming approach, recognising both the strengths and challenges associated with neurodevelopmental differences while ensuring assessments remain clinically rigorous and aligned with current international diagnostic standards.
Prior to relocating to Dubai, Rachael spent over six years working within specialist NHS services in England, supporting adolescents and adults with a wide range of complex psychological and psychiatric presentations. Alongside her neurodevelopmental work, she developed significant expertise in eating disorders, emotional difficulties, anxiety disorders and trauma, working across inpatient, outpatient and community settings.
Rachael completed her Master’s degree in Psychology at Kingston University London before obtaining her Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych) from the University of East London. She has continued to undertake advanced postgraduate training in neurodevelopmental assessment and remains committed to ongoing professional development, ensuring her practice reflects the latest research and best practice guidance.
Rachael is passionate about providing assessments that are comprehensive, compassionate and clinically robust. She believes that an accurate diagnosis should do more than answer the question of whether someone is autistic or has ADHD—it should provide a meaningful understanding of how an individual’s brain works, explain lifelong experiences, identify strengths, and offer practical recommendations that improve quality of life.
Although neurodevelopmental assessment now forms the primary focus of her work, Rachael also draws upon her extensive background as a Counselling Psychologist to understand the wider emotional, psychological and social context of each person’s presentation. This holistic perspective allows her to distinguish between neurodevelopmental differences and mental health conditions, ensuring every assessment considers the individual as a whole rather than simply a collection of symptoms.
If you would like to know more or begin the process, please get in touch with us today to schedule an initial consultation.