Adopted Children & Families

At Gate Psychology, we recognise the unique and sometimes complex needs of adopted children and their families. As an approved therapeutic provider, we regularly work alongside our Regional Adoption Agencies and Local Authorities to provide specialist assessment and therapeutic intervention.

The Adoption Support Fund provides essential funding for these services and can be accessed via your Local Authority/ Regional Adoption Agency. Each child is entitled to a Fair Access Limit of up to £3000.

Specialist Psychological Assessment

Our Psychological Assessments have been carefully designed to maximise efficiency, retain the highest standards of clinical quality, and provide a meaningful, helpful experience for families. We understand the importance of clarity and direction when it comes to supporting children who have experienced trauma, loss, or disrupted attachment experiences. That’s why our assessment process is structured to provide families with a deeper understanding of their child’s needs and to guide informed decision making about the most appropriate therapeutic interventions.

At the heart of our approach is psychological formulation – a collaborative, evidence-informed process that seeks to make sense of a child’s emotional, behavioural, and relational experiences in the context of their developmental history. Our assessment process is informed by the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and our recommendations are based on what type of support is likely to be most effective and developmentally appropriate for each child.

Our Assessment Offers

We offer three levels of psychological assessment to suit different needs and funding levels:

Brief Assessment & Formulation

This option is ideal for families or services seeking a focused overview of a child’s current needs and therapeutic priorities.
Includes:

  • Review of background information and any relevant reports/documents

  • Structured clinical interview with parents/carers and psychometrics

  • Psychological Formulation and identification of key therapeutic needs

  • Assessment summary report

Best for: Clarifying therapeutic direction, supporting early intervention, and informing next steps in support planning.

Comprehensive Psychological Assessment

This in-depth option provides a detailed understanding of the child’s psychological functioning, including trauma history, attachment patterns, emotional and behavioural regulation.
Includes:

  • Full review of developmental history and background information

  • Structured interviews with parents/carers and relevant psychometrics

  • Structured interviews and psychometrics with education

  • Observations and assessment of relational dynamics

  • Clinic based assessment with the child (2-3 sessions)

  • Detailed psychological formulation

  • Feedback session and comprehensive written report

Best for: Gaining a deeper understanding of complex trauma, attachment difficulties, and emotional/behavioural concerns to support robust therapeutic planning.

Comprehensive Psychological Assessment with Cognitive Assessment

This option includes all elements of the comprehensive psychological assessment, plus a formal assessment of cognitive functioning. This can be especially valuable in identifying learning difficulties or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Includes:

  • All components of the comprehensive psychological assessment

  • Standardised cognitive assessment (e.g., WISC-V)

  • Screening for possible neurodevelopmental differences such as FASD, ADHD, and Autism

  • Assessment of Adaptive functioning and Sensory Profile if clinically indicated.

  • Integrated formulation of psychological and cognitive findings

  • Tailored recommendations for both therapeutic and educational support

Best for: Families where there are concerns about underlying cognitive difficulties, learning needs, or potential neurodevelopmental conditions alongside trauma and attachment-related concerns.

Therapeutic Intervention

Our clinicians offer a range of interventions from our clinic base within Cameron House, Gateshead.

This includes;

  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP Informed)

  • DDP Informed Therapeutic Parenting / Attachment Focused Parenting support

  • Non Violent Resistance (NVR) Parenting

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (including Trauma Focused CBT)

  • Flash Technique

  • Integrated Psychological Therapy to support young people with emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal relationships. Typically informed by Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy.

  • Integrated Psychological Therapy relating to identity and life story