Here’s what our clients have to say …

I cannot recommend the Gloucestershire Autism Centre highly enough! I was put in touch with Carla and her team after a child in my class received an autism diagnosis. Carla gave me a huge amount of advice that enabled me to support the child in my class to flourish and reach their full potential. This included follow-up sessions at the end of the year where we discussed his transition into his new class. The whole GAC team are professional and supportive, and it is clear that they have the needs of the child and their families at heart. As a class teacher, I felt that my point of view was listened to respectfully, and that Carla genuinely wanted to help as much as possible. I would encourage all families who want to support a child with autism to reach out to the GAC. I am beyond grateful for everything they have done!

I can't thank Carla and the team enough for what they have done for us. Life has been really hard and we have had to overcome many hurdles. For the first time, I feel heard by professionals who understand and want to help. We have been supported throughout the whole assessment and then diagnosis process, in a really positive way. Everyone has had such compassion and a clear desire to help however they can. When I have reached out for additional support, everyone has been so helpful. The admin staff are so lovely and have gone out of their way to help me. Gwen also needs a special mention, as without her my son would have really struggled. I finally feel I am not fighting the battle for support alone. The biggest difference has come from my child's understanding about himself, which is what I wanted all along. Thank you Team GAC 

GAC was recommended to us by a consultant child & adolescent psychiatrist because we were keen on our daughter being assessed by a proper multidisciplinary team who would not be afraid to say 'no' to a diagnosis if appropriate. In fact we travelled a hundred miles for the reassurance of a reliable and robust assessment! It was very clear throughout the whole process that their assessments are inclusive and authoritative, blending clinical experience and wisdom with validated assessment tools. And it hasn't been 'here's your label, off you go' in any sense. Carla has continued to support us in understanding the areas of strength and difficulty for our daughter, including a 1:1 feedback session to help her to understand it all.

Our experience of the centre has been exceptional and, I'm given to understand, the report on our child's diagnosis much more thorough and extensive than we could have expected through the NHS. Ongoing support and advice is brilliant, and Carla has stressed that we can continue to access this going forward.

I can't recommend Carla and team more highly. Every step of the way they have been supportive and made the whole process of getting a diagnosis for our teenager a positive experience. We have seen immediate benefits of going through the assessment process. Because it is so thorough, there's plenty of insight into behaviours and experiences with the advice of strategies to help us all - it's life-changing for the whole family.

What a fantastic service. Starting off with an immediate telephone conversation with Carla. She explained how things work, the payments, the timescales, what is involved in the meetings, etc. Before we knew it we had appointment dates. My daughter was apprehensive of course, but Hannah immediately put her at ease as soon as she opened the door, with her warm, gentle approach. I then undertook a 3 hour Zoom interview with Rebecca, which flew by! Then a further meeting with Rebecca to pick up the results. I cannot thank you guys enough for helping us get to a point where we know where we are and where we are going. Carla is going in to my daughter’s school to chat with them and we also have a follow up appointment for my daughter with Hannah so she can explain everything to her. I would 100% recommend The Gloucestershire Autism Centre to anyone wishing to get a professional assessment done quickly in a caring way.  Thank you all so much.

Carla and her Team are amazing! So supportive and caring long after the diagnosis which parents of neurodiverse children need. Carla also met with my daughters class teacher which is so useful when you have a child who is 'ok' at school. I cannot thank them enough for their help with both our daughters but also for us as parents. We now have the confidence to know we are doing the right thing. My only regret is that I didn't write this review sooner.

We have been very pleased with the service provided by GAC. Everyone has been extremely supportive, professional and informative. They also clearly care about the child they are assessing and their needs are paramount in all aspects of the assessments. The feedback we have received has also been extremely helpful. I would definitely recommend this service.

I would highly recommend the Gloucestershire Autism Center. Carla and her team are amazing. Not only have they got a wealth of knowledge and experience, but their understanding and listening to parents views is impeccable. We, as parent’s felt heard and understood. The process was welcoming and friendly and we were put at ease. Following the assessment Carla has gone above and beyond to help and assist with additional circumstances. Thank you for all your help and guidance. 

Thank you for the last two years of support. You have given us courage to take a different approach, you have shown endless patience in repeating the same advice over and over again, and you have made the whole process unthreatening, light hearted and empowering. The impact on our household has been huge. Everyone is happier and the large amounts of pressure previously felt by James and I have gone. We are enjoying our little unit of four, with everyone happy (most of the time!) and everyone looking forward to time spent together. The word "transformative" is perhaps over used, but nonetheless, it feels fitting when we compare Spring 2023 to Spring 2025. You have made such a lasting impression and impact on our family which we will always be thankful for.

Really impressed with the level of service and holistic way of working from The Gloucestershire Autism Centre. As schools, it is vital we are involved in the process and so reassuring to be offered a meeting to discuss the report and follow up with any recommendations. I will definitely recommend to any parents seeking a private assessment in future!

In my contact with GAC as a secondary SENDCo, I have seen how their work supports young people on a pathway to self-knowledge. This support helps YP to understand their challenges and their strengths. GAC also works closely with schools to suggest personalised approaches to the barriers young people might be facing in school.

Great experience with Carla and her team, helping us with a dual ASD and ADHD assessment for our teen. Everyone was very friendly and professional and helped us every step of the way. I would recommend to anyone looking for advice on assessing their children.

I found it very helpful, I was asked questions that felt very relevant and I felt comfortable answering them all because of the very helpful people involved 🙂

I cannot recommend Gloucestershire Autism Centre more highly. From start to finish, the process was thorough, and the team was incredibly supportive and helpful throughout. It was clear from the very beginning that they truly cared, showing exceptional empathy and understanding every step of the way. Their knowledge and expertise were outstanding, ensuring that everything was explained clearly and that we felt heard and valued. What truly sets them apart is their aftercare—going above and beyond to provide full support post-diagnosis. The continued guidance and reassurance have made a world of difference. If you're looking for a centre that is professional, compassionate, and dedicated to making a real impact, this is the place to go. I cannot thank you enough.

We would highly recommend the Gloucestershire Autism Centre and so would our son. He said that the activities used in the assessment were lots of fun and it wasn't what he expected at all, expecting it just to be lots of talking. I think he'd like to go back for another assessment 🙂 We really liked that they focussed on our son's strengths as well on the areas he finds more challenging. Carla was really welcoming to us at the parents' interview, putting us at ease and explaining everything clearly. The whole process was explained to us clearly from start to finish, and the report we received was comprehensive and answered all our questions.

Carla and the team at The Gloucestershire Autism Centre have worked to create an assessment experience which is supportive and caring. There was a strong focus on the strengths of our child and how these could be harnessed for the most positive future. The pre-approval screening allowed a level of reassurance, and having spoken to education and SEND professionals we felt assured our child's diagnosis would be acknowledged on their school and medical records. The centre goes above and beyond the NICE guidelines whilst ensuring the child is at the centre of the process. As a family we were given a significant amount of time to share our views and the personalised letter for our child supported us to share their diagnosis in an affirming, reassuring way. Thank you to Carla and all the team. Your professionalism and kindness was evident through the entire process.

Outstanding provider. From the initial screening through to the assessments, experienced nothing but compassion and understanding. As well as psychological safety, the core service provided was of upmost professionalism inducing a high degree of confidence in the output which was presented in a very human and accessible way.

We had an amazing experience with the Gloucestershire Autism Centre. My son, really warmed to the team despite them being unfamiliar adults. Their understanding, patience, and approach made all the difference to both us and our son. It was clear they truly care and have a deep knowledge of autism, creating a safe and supportive environment. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

I can’t recommend The Gloucestershire Autism Centre enough. The relief of finding somewhere that actually gets your child and sees them for the individual they are. My daughter feels happy and confident to speak to Carla which is amazing. The initial assessment has only been the beginning of their support. They have also gone into my daughter’s college and helped arrange things and have said they will do the same to university. I would happily recommend them and have already done so to a few people.

I have never felt understood until I came to the Gloucestershire Autism Centre. As a 22 year old I came in so nervous that I could barely speak, but after a few sessions with Karla, I opened up for the first time in my life. Coming here has completely changed my life. I feel so much securer in myself now, having an answer to why I find everything so difficult, that everyone else seems to find so easy! If you suspect that you have a neurological difference, getting an answer can help you understand why you don’t fit in with the world. Coming here was the best thing I’ve ever done, thank you so much Karla and the GAC team!

100% recommend, the whole team at The Gloucestershire Autism Centre are amazing. We needed an assessment for our 7 year old daughter, they are very thorough and honestly nothing is too much, they respond quickly and set clear expectations. They have so much expertise within their team, we felt like we were in such good hands every step of the way. My husband and I both agree this is the best money we have spent. This diagnosis, that would have taken years through the NHS, can now ensure she has access to support to help her adapt to the world around from an earlier stage. It was never about a label, it was about getting a support system in place to avoid potential mental health issues, the team were so understanding of this, they provided so many different ideas and links to resources that we weren't aware of and that actually have a positive impact. If you are sat on the fence, the best thing to do is get in contact and have an honest chat.

We have had a very positive experience with Rebecca and Carla at the Gloucester Autism Centre. Rebecca made us instantly at ease and we were able to share our experiences with our child. Carla has an amazing manner, we felt that in and hour and a half she knew our child better than all their teachers put together. Getting a diagnosis for our child has been a life changing uplifting experience for us all.

Carla and the team at GAC were great! So supportive and flexible to help with our assessment process, as well as supporting and signposting after the fact. Highly recommend using GAC rather than waiting for the NHS! Our assessment was acknowledged and recorded on our daughter's NHS records too, which has been a great help. Thanks to Carla and the team at GAC!

We don’t really have the right words for the thanks we owe Carla, Rebecca and Team. There is not a single situation where I can imagine dropping our son off with a complete stranger (all whilst he had no idea what was happening) and walking away feeling such a sense of him being in safe hands. And once we picked him up, we could not believe how excited and content he was. It was like he’d spent an afternoon with his best friend. We would whole heartedly recommend you to any families in the same situation as us. And if you are reading this review and feeling overwhelmed and confused, please pick the phone up. That initial 15 minute informal chat was the moment that I felt we had been scooped up and everything would be ok. And I truly believe because of your support, we will be ok!

We have come so far with the support of Carla and her team! From the first phone call I knew that Carla totally understood both, what my daughter was experiencing and how it was impacting the whole family. The service is totally professional and yet so warm and supportive. My daughter would like to say a few words too:I first met Carla from the Gloucestershire Autism Centre back in February after I was diagnosed with autism and I’ve seen her regularly since then. I have found talking to her so helpful as I have been struggling with school and my emotions. She has helped me feel much better about things and reassured me that it is okay to feel like this.

Carla and her team have consistently exceeded expectations throughout our experience. From the initial pre-diagnosis meeting to ongoing post-assessment support, her approach has been both professional and empathetic. After years of navigating different services, we decided to pursue a private centre. It was a decision we wish we had made sooner. Carla has created a warm and supportive environment where my son feels comfortable and understood. He has made significant progress in self-awareness and confidence.

We know as a family how daunting it is to try and find a service to get a diagnosis for your child, it is a huge decision and these things do not come cheaply and you never really know if they really are going to help, . So after year's of getting nowhere with the educational system and the NHS right to choose, we finally took the plunge to go private and after speaking to many parents on different forum's, we were recommended the Gloucestershire Autism Centre and took the plunge. Honestly it was the best decision we have made. We cannot speak highly enough of the service provided by everyone here.

We can't recommend Gloucestershire Autism Centre highly enough. The support has been multi-faceted - from strategies for us as parents, to supporting our children, to general advice and expertise and connecting us with other experts. We couldn't have navigated the last 18 months without Carla's support.

Couldn’t recommend this centre enough! Carla, Tori and Rebecca have been fantastic from the very start right up until the final report. For something that is so complicated and can cause a lot of stress they have made the whole process so easy and my son is now finally in position where he is going to get access to the support he needs and deserves thanks to Carla and the team getting us through the process so swiftly. Even after the final report Carla has reiterated that they will continue to support us and they are always here should we need them and I truly believe that to be the case!

Carla and the team are extremely professional, knowledgeable, friendly and understanding. My son struggled to engage, but Carla went above and beyond to ensure he wasn’t overwhelmed and the assessment was completed to gold standard. Highly recommend.

I wholeheartedly recommend Carla and her team. The assessment process was thourough and conducted in a calm, professional manor with our daughter's needs always at the forefront. Carla has continued to offer suppport, liaising with the school SENCO and in ongoing sessions with our daughter. After years of struggling and not feeling understood she says that she has finally found someone who does understand her. Listening to her open up, smile and start to build some understanding and acceptance as to why, she is as she is, is truly wonderful. We have a way to go yet but thanks to the GAC we are on our way at last.

Carla took time to talk to my son, giving him space to express the things that he finds challenging in life. He is quiet, but found the conversation interesting. Carla tailored her approach to his preference for science and facts. It helped him to feel more at ease.

"My son was very nervous meeting Carla for the first time. She is so friendly and welcoming, and this immediately put us both at ease. He has been able to open up about his worries and now looks forward to his therapy sessions. He is much happier and making great progress, thank you, we are so grateful."

I now genuinely see my autism as my special power, I'm seeing the positives and can communicate more effectively with people. It's such a relief!

Carla has helped me in multiple ways. She has helped me understand myself and how I respond in situations....she helped me understand what I felt was bad/abnormal or wrong was not the case and that I am good, normal and right!

From the chat on the phone to the final report, we all felt assured that the process was smooth and clear. As a family we are now resourced to move forward, more educated and reassured.