Gesher private autism and adhd assessment team

Autism and ADHD Assessment Team

Our experienced, friendly autism and ADHD assessment team have a special interest in the fields of autism and neurodiversity. They are comfortable working with a range of different ages.

The team work together to assess and compile our comprehensive diagnostic assessment reports. All our team are registered with The Health and Care Professions Council, have been DBS checked and have had safeguarding training.

Leandri Ferreira

Occupational Therapist &
Clinical Lead

Hi, my name is Leandri, and I am originally from South Africa, where I completed my Occupational Therapy degree and Ayres Sensory Integration training.

I am passionate about helping children with special needs and their families understand and overcome challenges to live a fulfilled life. This passion has been the drive behind learning and specialising within the Autism field, where I enjoy working with neurodiverse children.

I have been doing this for over 13 years in South Africa and the UK in various settings, including special needs schools and private health clinics. I am excited to lead the Gesher Assessment Centre with the right team on board and use our skills and experience to support parents and children along their journey.

Leandri is a member of the R oyal College of Occupational Therapists.

You can read more about Leandri in our Q&A.

Dr Naomi Coleman

Clinical Psychologist
CPsychol AFBPsS MEd BSc (Hons)

Naomi, Clinical Psychologist for autism and ADHD assessments

Hi, my name is Dr Naomi Coleman. I’m a Registered and Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience specialising with children, young people and families to enhance psychological well-being. My passion for supporting neurodiverse young people and families has arisen from working across Local Authorities, NHS, schools and the independent sector and seeing the challenges facing families today, particularly around accessing timely and compassionate assessment and support.

I studied Neuroscience at Sussex University, shaping my understanding of the links between the brain, personal experience, emotional well-being and behaviour. I have a Masters in Educational Psychology with a specialist focus on child development, education strategies and individual learning styles. My research explored levels of social communication skills in Autism. My Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology focused on understanding mental health difficulties within individual and social contexts to help manage psychological distress.

Throughout my career, I have gained specialist experience in assessing and diagnosing Autism and ADHD. I am a keen advocate for promoting emotional health within families and communities.

I’m excited to join the Gesher Assessment Centre to deliver high-quality assessments tailored to individual needs while growing the support available to the wider community.

Naomi is a member of the British Psychological Society.

Nikki Rockell

Highly Specialist Speech and Language therapist
BSc Hons (Psychology), MSc
(Speech and Language Therapy)

Hi, my name is Nikki and I am a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, with over 14 years experience. I have specialised in autism and have experience working with related needs including language difficulties, social, emotional and mental health and ADHD. I have worked in a range of public, private and voluntary roles in the UK and abroad, and in addition to my professional roles, I am currently serving as a trustee for a community centre.

I am passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families through the diagnostic process. I believe that diagnosis can be key to identifying areas of strength and need, developing a strong sense of identity, and understanding how a person can be best supported. I am committed to promoting neurodiversity-affirming practices and supporting clients and families with self-advocacy. I uphold that it is vital to involve families and young people in decisions around their care and to listen to the voices of neurodivergent individuals.

I am registered with the HCPC and I am a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Lavinia Sassoli de Bianchi

Assistant Psychologist

Hi, my name is Lavinia and I am an Assistant Psychologist at the Gesher Assessment Centre. I graduated with a First-class Honours Degree in BSc Psychology with Spanish from the University of Sussex in 2023 and hold Graduate Membership with the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS).

I am also pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health: Psychological Therapies at Queen Mary University of London, where I am deepening my understanding of applied psychology, different psychological approaches, and psychological research methods. My professional interests include neurodiversity, special educational needs, and contextual social psychology.

My experience includes working as an educational aid for primary school children with special educational needs, serving as an assistant psychologist at a private clinic specialising in cognitive behavioural therapy, and participating in various shadowing roles within the mental health field. My long-term aspiration is to become a chartered counselling psychologist.