Meet Emma
Dr Emma Rigby, Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director
I’m Emma, a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director at I.N. Therapy Berkshire. For over 10 years, I have worked across NHS and independent services, supporting children, young people, adults and families with a wide range of emotional, psychological and neurodevelopmental needs.
My work now particularly focuses on autism and ADHD assessment, neurodivergence support, trauma and psychological wellbeing.
Why I Created I.N. Therapy Berkshire
I established I.N. Therapy Berkshire because I wanted to create the kind of psychological service I believe people deserve: one that is compassionate, unhurried and genuinely person-centred.
Too often, people tell me that they have previously felt dismissed, misunderstood or left with more questions than answers.
My aim is to provide a space where people feel listened to and understood from their first contact with us, and where assessment or psychological support helps them develop a clearer understanding of themselves rather than simply receiving a diagnosis or set of recommendations.
Lived Experience
My interest in neurodivergence is professional, but it is also personal.
I have ADHD myself and am also a parent within a neurodivergent family. This gives me an additional understanding of the questions, uncertainty and emotions that can come with recognising neurodivergence, seeking assessment, navigating education and professional systems, and advocating for yourself or your child.
I understand that neurodivergence can bring significant strengths alongside genuine challenges, and that someone can appear highly capable in one environment while finding other aspects of everyday life unexpectedly difficult.
Lived experience does not replace clinical expertise, but it has shaped the values I bring to my work: curiosity rather than assumption, compassion rather than judgement, and a focus on understanding what someone needs rather than what they are expected to be.
My Approach
Whether I am completing an autism or ADHD assessment, providing psychological therapy or supporting someone following diagnosis, I believe in understanding the whole person rather than focusing only on symptoms, scores or diagnostic criteria. I take time to understand each person's experiences, strengths, difficulties and the environments in which they live, learn and work.
My approach is collaborative, person-centred and neuroaffirming. I aim to create a space where people feel able to speak openly and where experiences that may previously have been overlooked or misunderstood can be explored with curiosity and compassion.
Being neuroaffirming does not mean overlooking difficulties or the very real impact they can have. It means understanding those difficulties without assuming that difference itself needs to be corrected.
Understanding Neurodivergence Beyond Stereotypes
Autism and ADHD do not always look the way people expect them to. I have a particular interest in presentations that may be more subtle, internalised or masked, including people who have developed sophisticated strategies for coping within education, work and relationships.
Someone may appear to be managing well while experiencing considerable effort, exhaustion or difficulty beneath the surface.
This is why my assessments consider not only what someone does, but their internal experience, developmental history, the strategies they have developed and how their functioning may vary across different environments.
Clinical Experience
I have worked across mental health and psychological services for more than 10 years, including roles within the NHS and independent practice.
My clinical experience includes psychological assessment and therapy with adults, children and young people experiencing a wide range of emotional, psychological and developmental difficulties.
Over time, my work has increasingly specialised in autism and ADHD assessment and in understanding the ways neurodivergence can interact with mental health, trauma, relationships, education and everyday functioning.
My background in trauma and complex psychological difficulties is particularly valuable when someone's experiences cannot be understood through a single diagnostic lens.
Collaborative & Multidisciplinary Working
I work alongside a trusted network of professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Consultant Psychiatrists and other specialists.
Different professional perspectives can be particularly valuable when someone's presentation is complex or when assessment raises questions across several areas of development or functioning.
Professional Background
• Doctoral-level training in Clinical Psychology
• HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist
• Specialist experience in autism and ADHD assessment
• Extensive experience in psychological therapy and trauma
• Trained in CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy, ACT and EMDR
• Multidisciplinary assessment and collaborative professional working
How Can I Help?
Whether you are considering an autism or ADHD assessment, looking for support around neurodivergence, seeking help for your child or considering psychological therapy, you are welcome to get in touch.
You do not need to know exactly which service is right for you before contacting us. We can help you consider the options and decide on the most appropriate next step.