We work with individuals across the lifespan, from young people to adults. Dr. Ben Shanmugam specialises in supporting young people, parents, and families, offering a range of therapeutic options tailored to their unique needs.

When working with young people, we often engage parents or caregivers in the process. Sessions may involve the young person alone, alongside a parent or caregiver, or a combination of both. Additionally, it is common for us to work exclusively with parents or caregivers after a psychological assessment. These follow-up consultations aim to deepen their understanding of their child and enhance their approach to providing support.

All psychological assessments and therapy are currently conducted by Dr. Ben Shanmugam. Ben has extensive experience, having worked for Psicon in Canterbury for the past three years and in the NHS for ten years prior to that.

Our neurodevelopmental assessments are carried out by Dr. Ben Shanmugam alongside associate professionals trained in various disciplines, such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Nursing. This collaborative approach ensures that our assessments are multidisciplinary and fully comply with NICE guidelines.

Our practice is based at Evegate Business Park, well connected just on the outskirts of Ashford. Our full address is 15 Park Barn, Evegate Business Park, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6SX. The clinic room is located within a charming converted barn and the room has been designed to be a friendly, safe and welcoming environment. With a lift servicing the building, our practice is accessible and is suitable for those using wheelchairs or with mobility difficulties.

Yes, there is free parking at Evegate Business Park.

During the psychology assessment, our psychologist will introduce themselves and ask you (and/or your child) about current experiences and past challenges. The assessment will cover a range of topics, including strengths and difficulties.

Your psychologist will emphasise that there are no right or wrong answers and that it’s completely normal to feel unsure at times. The goal of the assessment is to create a holistic understanding of strengths, challenges, and early childhood development within the context of the wider family.

By gathering this comprehensive information, the psychologist will be able to share a "formulation" that helps make sense of these experiences. This formulation will guide us in determining the most appropriate support or treatment for you or your child.

Our neurodevelopmental assessments are structured and involve specific, targeted questions to determine whether you (or your child) meet the diagnostic criteria for autism or ADHD, as outlined in the DSM-5. These assessments require formal collaboration with the school setting and include additional structured activities and questionnaires, allowing for subtle observations and measurements.

While the assessments are more formal and structured, they also focus on formulating a holistic picture. This helps ensure that other neurodevelopmental or psychological conditions are not overlooked and that these conditions are not providing a better explanation for the symptoms being assessed.

For our autism assessments, in accordance with NICE guidelines, at least two clinicians will be involved, and a discussion among the multidisciplinary team will take place to determine the outcome of the assessment.

We typically see people every week or every two weeks, especially at the beginning. Sometimes, after a few sessions and progress has been made, sessions can become less frequent and can even become review appointments every couple of months.

Yes, all sessions are completely confidential. This means that what is discussed during therapy is not shared with anyone without the consent of the person in therapy (aged 13 and older). For children under 13, sessions often involve parents more actively, and parents are entitled to be informed about what is discussed.

Our priority is to foster a trusting relationship, allowing the person in therapy to feel safe and comfortable knowing that their conversations are treated with the utmost confidentiality. We provide supportive guidance if it becomes important to share certain information with parents.

The only exception to this confidentiality is if there is reason to believe that someone is in immediate danger. In such cases, we may need to break confidentiality without prior consent or discussion to ensure safety.

We often collaborate with schools when requested or agreed upon by families. This collaboration can be a valuable part of the process, helping to enhance the understanding of your child within the school environment. It also provides an opportunity to gain insights into the school’s perspective on the challenges or experiences they may observe.

This communication typically takes place through a video appointment, either separately or alongside the young person and family, depending on what is needed and agreed upon. Additionally, if beneficial, we can arrange for a school observation to further support the assessment process.

If your child is currently seeing another therapist, it's important to consider how having different therapies or support at the same time may affect their experience. Typically, this will involve a brief conversation between the clinicians or therapists to ensure that all efforts are aligned to support your child’s progress and well-being.

If your child has been on a waiting list for therapy with the NHS or a school counsellor, we can arrange a ‘handover’ conversation or appointment when that therapy begins to facilitate a smooth transition.

After the initial psychology assessment, some individuals and families may only need a few sessions, while others may benefit from a longer course of therapy. When psychological therapy is recommended following the assessment, we typically suggest a number of sessions based on the specific goals we aim to achieve. This helps us effectively plan treatment and support tailored to your needs.

Although we do not prescribe medication, we can refer you to colleagues that are able to consider and prescribe medication for you as needed. Our expertise is in psychological treatment using specialist therapies, consultation, and whole-family support.

Although we do not provide a psychiatric service at The Hopewell Practice, we have access to skilled consultant psychiatrists who we can help refer you to.

Please see our list of services for the full range of costs. Our psychological therapy sessions are priced at £130.

We are also registered with private medical insurance companies (AVIVA and WPA).

Once you have booked an assessment or psychology appointment, we will send an invoice to your email address. Please check your junk or spam folder if you do not see the invoice, as it may be redirected there due to your email account settings.

We kindly request that all payments for scheduled appointments are made in full before the appointment takes place.

Payment can be made securely and conveniently by clicking the link provided in the appointment invoice. We accept various payment methods, including credit/debit cards and electronic bank transfers, to offer you flexibility.

If you cannot attend your appointment, please email or call to let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees will apply should you cancel within 48 hours of your appointment. This fee will also apply if you fail to attend your appointment without contacting The Hopewell Practice.

We are currently registered with the following private medical insurance companies: AVIVA, and WPA.