Discovery Pathway
Explore your strengths. Understand your needs. Find support that works for you. A personalised, neuro-affirming and needs-led pathway for children aged 7+, young people and adults, before or without a confirmed diagnosis.
Welcome to the Discovery Pathway
You do not need a diagnosis to begin understanding your individual needs or finding strategies that help.
The Lycali Discovery Pathway supports people who are considering a neurodevelopmental assessment, waiting for an assessment, or would like to explore their needs without pursuing a diagnosis.
Discovery helps identify strengths, barriers, preferences and practical support needs across everyday life.
It provides space for exploration without assuming that a particular diagnosis will follow.
Discovery may explore attention, communication, learning, sensory experiences, emotional wellbeing, organisation and everyday functioning.
Our approach is strengths-based, collaborative and focused on what matters most to each person.
Discovery does not diagnose or rule out autism, ADHD, dyslexia or another condition.
It may help you decide whether further specialist assessment would be useful, but it cannot predict a diagnostic outcome.
If you already have a confirmed neurodevelopmental diagnosis and want to explore what it means for you, our separate Navigate Pathway may be more suitable.
Three Ways to Begin Discovery
Discovery offers a staged approach. You can begin with a free check-in and decide whether you would like further professional support.
1. Free Discovery Check-In
An age-appropriate 15-question check-in exploring everyday strengths and areas where additional support may help.
2. Needs Profile & Consultation
An optional £199 professional profile analysis and consultation, exploring strengths, barriers, priorities and possible next steps.
3. Six Discovery Sessions
Where appropriate, continue into six clinician-led sessions using the L.Y.C.A.L.I. Framework and personalised strategies.
The free check-in, full profile consultation and six-session programme are separate stages. You do not have to complete every stage or commit to a diagnostic assessment.
Important: Before Booked Appointments
All mandatory registration, consent and pre-session forms must be completed before any booked clinician-led Discovery appointment can take place.
Please carefully review your welcome letter, terms and conditions and invoice for any paid service.
The free online Discovery Check-In is a separate introductory tool and does not require booking a clinician-led session.
At a Glance
Follow the steps below to understand how Discovery works.
Starting Your Discovery Journey
Discovery is available to children aged 7+, young people and adults.
You may be exploring possible autism, ADHD, dyslexia or other neurodevelopmental differences, experiencing difficulties in everyday life or seeking practical support while awaiting an assessment.
- Are considering a diagnostic assessment.
- Are waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment.
- Want to understand your strengths and needs.
- Are unsure which support service is appropriate.
- Experience barriers in education, work or daily life.
- Would prefer needs-led support without pursuing diagnosis.
- Want practical strategies while exploring your next steps.
Our team can help you decide which level of Discovery may be suitable.
Free Discovery Check-In
The optional free Discovery Check-In is a brief, age-appropriate starting point for exploring everyday strengths and support needs.
It includes 15 questions and offers an initial needs-led overview.
- Ages 7–12: Child Discovery Check-In.
- Ages 13–17: Young Person Discovery Check-In.
- Ages 18+: Adult Discovery Check-In.
The check-in explores areas of functioning such as attention, communication, learning, emotional wellbeing and everyday experiences.
It can help identify areas you may wish to explore further. It is not a diagnostic screening conclusion or clinical assessment.
It does not confirm, exclude or predict a neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
Full Discovery Needs Profile & Consultation
If you would like a deeper understanding of your individual needs, you can choose Lycali's Full Discovery Needs Profile and professional consultation.
This optional service allows for more detailed exploration of strengths, barriers, priorities and potential support.
- Completion of a fuller Needs Profile.
- Professional review and analysis.
- An individual consultation.
- Discussion of strengths and everyday barriers.
- Identification of practical support priorities.
- Recommendations for possible next steps.
This consultation can be used independently, even if you do not wish to pursue further sessions or an assessment.
No. The Discovery Needs Profile supports needs identification, reflection and planning.
It does not provide a diagnosis, replace formal assessment or determine eligibility for condition-specific treatment.
Registration & Welcome Documents
If you decide to book a professional consultation or continue into the six-session Discovery programme, Lycali will arrange the relevant registration process.
Following registration, you will receive welcome information outlining your chosen service and the next steps.
Terms & Conditions
Information about the service, confidentiality, bookings, cancellations and responsibilities.
Invoice
Confirmation of your agreed fees, payment arrangements and any additional charges, if they apply.
Consent to Treatment
The appropriate consent form for the agreed clinician-led support.
Please read all documents carefully and complete and return the required forms.
All mandatory registration, consent and pre-session documentation must be completed before any booked clinician-led session can take place.
Payment & Session Booking
Lycali will confirm the fees for your chosen service and the payment arrangements before booking.
Once payment has been received in accordance with the agreed terms and all mandatory documentation completed, we can progress your session arrangements.
Our administration team will confirm the date, time, practitioner and whether the sessions will be online, at a Lycali clinic or another agreed location.
You may choose the full Needs Profile and consultation without committing to six sessions.
Continuing into the six-session Discovery programme is a separate decision, based on your needs, goals and the recommendations discussed.
Pre-Programme Questionnaires Through WriteUpp
Where additional questionnaires are required for your clinician-led consultation or sessions, Lycali will provide these separately.
All required clinical questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp, Lycali's clinical management system.
These are separate from the free 15-question Discovery Check-In available on our website.
- Developmental or personal background.
- Strengths and interests.
- Attention and executive functioning.
- Communication and social experiences.
- Sensory preferences and regulation.
- Learning, education or work.
- Emotional wellbeing and daily routines.
- Personal goals and priorities.
Please set aside enough uninterrupted time to complete each form in one sitting.
Questionnaires cannot be saved part-way through and cannot be resubmitted once submitted.
Please review your responses before selecting Submit.
Allow Enough Time
Have relevant background information available before starting.
Cannot Save Progress
Partially completed forms cannot be saved and resumed later.
One Submission Only
Once submitted, a questionnaire cannot be resubmitted using the same form link.
If you would like a copy of your submitted questionnaire responses, please contact Lycali.
We can share a copy, subject to appropriate identity and information-sharing checks.
If you notice an error after submission, please contact our administration team.
All required registration, consent and WriteUpp questionnaires must be completed before the relevant booked clinician-led session.
Understanding Your Strengths, Needs & Goals
The Discovery clinician works collaboratively with the person and, where appropriate, their family or support network.
Together, you will explore what is already working well, what feels difficult and what changes would make the greatest difference.
- Personal strengths, interests and preferences.
- Communication and social interaction.
- Attention, planning and organisation.
- Sensory experiences and environments.
- Emotional regulation and wellbeing.
- Learning, education or workplace demands.
- Independence and everyday routines.
- Support that has or has not been helpful.
Goals will be practical and personally meaningful. The emphasis is on understanding individual needs rather than fitting a person into a diagnostic label.
The L.Y.C.A.L.I. Framework
The six clinician-led Discovery sessions follow Lycali's L.Y.C.A.L.I. Framework.
Each theme helps participants understand their individual profile and identify strategies that may improve everyday participation.
Learn
Explore patterns in attention, learning, communication, sensory experiences and wellbeing without assuming a diagnosis.
You
Identify strengths, interests, values, personal identity, preferences and what matters most.
Communicate
Explore communication preferences, relationships, asking for help and expressing individual support needs.
Adapt
Identify environmental adjustments, sensory strategies, regulation approaches and ways to manage change.
Life Skills
Develop practical strategies for routines, organisation, executive functioning, learning, work and daily activities.
Independence
Bring learning together, support self-advocacy, strengthen confidence and identify achievable next steps.
The framework provides structure, but each participant's priorities, activities and strategies are adapted to their age, strengths, circumstances and goals.
Six Clinician-Led Discovery Sessions
Where the six-session programme is agreed to be appropriate, the individual will receive personalised clinician-led support.
Sessions may involve discussion, reflection, practical activities, personalised strategies and reviewing everyday experiences.
- Build understanding of personal strengths and needs.
- Identify barriers affecting everyday life.
- Develop practical organisation and planning strategies.
- Recognise sensory and emotional regulation needs.
- Explore communication preferences and adjustments.
- Develop self-advocacy skills.
- Identify helpful changes at home, school or work.
- Establish realistic goals and next steps.
Children and young people will usually participate with parent/carer involvement where appropriate.
Adults participate directly and may involve a trusted person where they wish and consent.
Your clinician will confirm the most appropriate arrangements.
The aim is not to diagnose or change who someone is. It is to identify useful support and build on individual strengths.
Your Discovery Passport or Journal
As the programme progresses, participants can bring together key reflections, strengths and strategies in a personalised resource.
Children Aged 7–12
A child-friendly Discovery Passport using age-appropriate activities and language.
Young People Aged 13–17
A personalised Passport or progress resource that encourages self-understanding and self-advocacy.
Adults Aged 18+
A Discovery Journal for recording insights, goals, strategies and reflections.
- My strengths and interests.
- What I find challenging.
- How I prefer to communicate.
- My sensory and environmental preferences.
- Strategies that help me.
- My everyday goals.
- Support I may need at home, education or work.
- What I would like to explore next.
Your clinician may provide worksheets, resources, practical activities or reflection prompts to use between appointments.
Lycali is developing a digital Discovery companion with age-specific resources and notes. Access will be explained when available and appropriate.
Discovery remains clinician-led and does not depend on the app.
Progress Review & Clinician Summary
Towards the end of the six-session Discovery programme, your clinician will review progress towards the goals identified together.
- Changes in understanding of strengths and needs.
- Progress towards personal goals.
- Helpful strategies and adjustments.
- Changes in confidence or participation.
- Remaining barriers or support needs.
- Recommendations for next steps.
End-of-Programme Summary
Your clinician will prepare a summary of the six sessions, including the main themes explored, goals, strategies, progress and recommended next steps.
This summary may help with ongoing needs-led support or discussions about further assessment.
It is not a diagnostic report or a formal diagnostic opinion.
Where required, follow-up outcome questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp.
Please allow time to complete them in one sitting, as they cannot be saved or resubmitted.
What Happens After Discovery?
Discovery helps you better understand individual needs and identify practical next steps.
For some people, the strategies developed during Discovery may be sufficient. Others may benefit from specialist support, further assessment or ongoing intervention.
- Continuing to use helpful strategies independently.
- School, college or workplace adjustments.
- Neurodivergent-informed coaching.
- Speech and Language Therapy.
- Psychological or therapeutic support where appropriate.
- Functional or workplace needs assessment.
- Specialist autism, ADHD, dyslexia or other assessment.
- Further guidance or onward referral.
Discovery, Assessment & Navigate
Lycali's pathways are designed to offer support at different stages, depending on individual needs.
Discovery
Explore needs before or without a diagnosis. Identify practical strategies and support.
Assessment
A formal diagnostic or specialist assessment may be considered where appropriate.
Navigate
Post-diagnostic psychoeducation for people with a confirmed neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
No. You do not have to complete Discovery before having an assessment, and you do not need an assessment to benefit from needs-led support.
Each stage is considered according to your circumstances, goals and preferences.
Fees & Additional Charges (If They Apply)
The initial online Discovery Check-In is free.
The optional professional Needs Profile analysis and consultation is £199.
If you proceed with six clinician-led Discovery sessions, the agreed programme fee and payment arrangements will be confirmed before booking.
Some appointments may involve additional travel or external clinic hire costs.
These charges do not apply to every appointment.
They may apply when a clinician needs to travel or an external clinic is required away from Lycali's main Broadstairs base.
If additional charges apply, they will be confirmed before booking and clearly outlined in your invoice.
Cancellation & Non-Attendance Policy
Lycali operates a 24-hour cancellation policy for booked clinician-led appointments.
This policy applies to relevant paid consultations and Discovery sessions, not the free website check-in.
At Least 24 Hours' Notice
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or rearrange a booked session.
The full late-cancellation charge will not apply where sufficient notice is provided.
Less Than 24 Hours' Notice
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are chargeable at the full booked session rate.
Did Not Attend (DNA)
If a booked appointment is missed without cancellation, it will be recorded as a Did Not Attend.
DNA appointments are charged at the full booked session rate.
How to Cancel
Please contact Lycali's administration team as soon as you know an appointment cannot go ahead.
Email: info@lycali.co.uk
Please refer to your welcome letter and terms and conditions for full cancellation arrangements, including any applicable statutory rights.
Useful Information & Resources
Find out more about Discovery, Lycali's practitioners, locations and wider support options.
Need Support?
If you are unsure which Discovery stage is appropriate, would like to book a consultation, or have questions about the six-session programme, please contact Lycali.
If you have difficulty accessing a questionnaire issued through WriteUpp or would like a copy of submitted responses, our team can assist.
Email: info@lycali.co.uk
Website: www.lycali.co.uk
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before any booked clinician-led Discovery appointment.
Clinical questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp. Please allow enough uninterrupted time to complete them in one sitting.
They cannot be saved part-way through or resubmitted after submission.
Please also check your invoice, appointment confirmation, additional charges (if they apply) and cancellation policy.