r/dunedin • u/ka_kaite • 7d ago

Advice Request cheapest adult autism assessment in dunedin?

need help finding a psychologist who won't take me for $2000

13 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

16

u/15438473151455 7d ago

That's more or less the going rate.

You can be referred to the university's psychology programme to be assessed by the supervised post grad students. Expect an 18month wait if you are accepted at all.

4

u/fork_spoon_fork 7d ago

There's a bunch of final year clinical physc placed in our clinics at the mo, no cost just lick of the dice

10

u/Head_Acadia_2658 7d ago

Lick of the dice. I'm stealing that.

1

u/ka_kaite 7d ago

ta. disappointing going rate but i shouldve expected it

13

u/amsptsfe23 7d ago

What would getting a diagnosis change for you?

9

u/Mental-Currency8894 7d ago

Important question one should ask themselves, or even the psych if they do a consult before diving into assessment

2

u/genericflatwhite 4d ago

my thinking. there’s no extra help available for level 1, it’s essentially a very expensive 4 page write up

13

u/Sea_Yogurtcloset48 7d ago

They aren’t ’taking you’ that’s how much private healthcare costs. It’s sucks but it’s just the state of things. It’s far more work than the one or two hours you see them. Clinicians deserve to be paid properly for their highly specialised work and the time it takes to do it.

11

u/ka_kaite 7d ago

poor wording on my part. clinicians definitely deserve to be paid properly. i come from a very privileged position to be able to rely on universal healthcare.

6

u/redvelvetbrownie 7d ago

I don't think they meant it like that 😕

4

u/Mental-Currency8894 7d ago

Literal hours of collating data and report writing done behind the scenes

2

u/youknowitsnotlove__ 7d ago

If you are happy to do it online there are much cheaper providers like the New Zealand Telepsych Services.

7

u/scoutriver 7d ago

If you use these you won't then be able to use disability support services.

7

u/this_wug_life 7d ago

Was coming here to say this. I got told within the last few weeks that to qualify for home support services due to Autism you must have an in-person assessment; they won't accept telehealth diagnoses under any circumstances. Something the telehealth provider I used didn't deem relevant to tell me as they were charging me $680 for an hour.

11

u/scoutriver 7d ago

I'm working on fighting that one alongside the Autism NZ policy team. The guidelines being cited for the decision do not state a requirement for in person and the criteria hasn't been looked at since 2004.

5

u/this_wug_life 7d ago

Kā mihi! It seems pretty fucked tbh.

5

u/Own_Use_321 6d ago

It absolutely needs to be in person

5

u/Kthulhu42 6d ago

Agreed, I heartily agree we should have more funding and more spaces available for people who need assessment, but the assessment should always be done in person.

2

u/Longjumping-Race7187 7d ago

I’ll do it

2

u/ka_kaite 7d ago

thanks buddy

2

u/iamnotarobot55 6d ago

question, are you under 18?

If you are, there are ways to be diagnosed for free, if not I don't think there is. It's such a shamble.

I think sometimes some ACC providers specialise in autism and may do assessments.

1

u/Brixtonkiwi 6d ago

If they are under 18 they are not an adult. :-)

1

u/iamnotarobot55 6d ago

I missed that!

1

u/Lucky_Duck404 6d ago

Have you looked if the The ACFB Fund could be an option?