Gold Standard Psychological Assessments
Olivia, MSc
Senior Psychotherapist & Autism Assessor Managing Partner
Olivia is a Senior Psychotherapist with a specialist interest in child and adolescent mental health, autism, ADHD, and neurodiversity. She is the Founder and Partner of Gold Standard Psychological Assessments, providing specialist neurodevelopmental assessments and therapeutic support across the UK and Spain.
Olivia is ADOS-2 trained and has extensive experience working with autistic individuals, people with ADHD, and those with a wide range of additional neurodevelopmental needs. Her practice combines evidence-based assessment with a compassionate, person-centred approach, empowering individuals and families with the understanding, clarity, and recommendations needed to access effective support and intervention.
Her clinical career spans the NHS, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), private practice, and specialist educational settings. She previously served as the sole Psychotherapist within a UK specialist school for children and young people with autism, ADHD, and additional needs, supporting individuals aged 5–20 years, including both verbal and non-verbal children and young adults. This role provided extensive experience in supporting emotional regulation, social communication, anxiety, school-related challenges, and complex presentations of neurodiversity.
Alongside formal psychological assessment, Olivia has a particular passion for creative therapeutic approaches. She integrates creative, play, and movement-based interventions where appropriate, enabling children and young people to communicate, process emotions, and develop resilience in ways that feel natural and engaging.
Throughout her career, Olivia has worked collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, schools, healthcare professionals, and families to deliver holistic, evidence-based care. She was invited to serve as a Lead Mental Health Mentor for Everton Football Club's "In the Community" programme, supporting young people aged 6–16 who were at risk of developing mental health difficulties. She has also led therapeutic creative workshops at Tate Liverpool, using art-based interventions to promote emotional wellbeing for children and families.
Olivia is recognised internationally for her expertise in neurodiversity and has presented her work at leading conferences, including the Association for Person-Centred Arts (APCCA) Conference, where she presented her MSc research exploring Inner Child therapy through creative approaches. She has also presented at the 13th International UAE Pediatric Conference on psychotherapy with neurodiverse children, was an invited speaker at the 2025 UAE Pediatric Conference discussing Autism in Females: The Hidden Diagnosis, and has spoken at the SLC6A1 & GABA-A Conference in Lisbon, exploring the intersection between rare genetic conditions and AuDHD.
Her expertise has also been featured across national media. Olivia has been interviewed by The National News UAE on the impact of social media diet trends on young people's mental health and appeared on DXB Live TV discussing digital wellbeing and the psychological effects of excessive screen time. She also contributed as a panel member for the launch of Roman Kemp's BBC documentary, Our Silent Emergency, focusing on youth mental health and the role of creative therapeutic interventions.
Olivia's work has additionally been recognised by Edge Hill University, where she has been featured for her contributions to improving mental health support for young people.
With extensive clinical experience, specialist neurodevelopmental expertise, and a commitment to compassionate, evidence-based practice, Olivia is dedicated to helping children, young people, adults, and families gain a deeper understanding of themselves while providing high-quality assessment and therapeutic support tailored to each individual's unique strengths and needs.
Olivia is a member of the multidisciplinary (MDT) autism and ADHD assessment team and is available for follow-up sessions with clients, providing support and guidance within her areas of expertise.
MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling with Creative Approaches, Edge Hill University BACP Membership
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