Dr Sam Gower
Principal Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director
Chartered Clinical Psychologist with more than 17 years of experience across Ireland and the UK — and the clinical lead behind every AutismCare assessment.
Ireland and the UK's complex-needs specialist
Dr Sam Gower is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with more than 17 years of experience, registered in both Ireland and the UK. He leads the clinical team at AutismCare, supervising clinical standards across the practice's adult and child assessment and support services.
Alongside his work at AutismCare, Sam serves as a Clinical Director with the NHS, commissioning out-of-hospital healthcare services. Since 2021 he has been Clinical Director for Personalised Healthcare Commissioning with the Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit, the largest commissioner of Continuing Healthcare in England, with an annual care spend of approximately £950 million.
From the clinic floor to national clinical leadership
Sam's career spans front-line clinical practice, national charity leadership, and senior roles in NHS healthcare commissioning — always centred on people whose needs are too often described as "complex".
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Training
BSc (Hons) Psychology
University of Bath
Sam began his training with an undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Bath.
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Qualification
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
Queen's University Belfast
He qualified as a Clinical Psychologist at Queen's University Belfast, going on to build his early career in clinical services across Ireland and the UK.
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Senior clinical roles
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Charity and independent services, Ireland & UK
Across a number of charity and private organisations, Sam led psychology services for adults and children with intellectual disability, autism and acquired brain injury — including those with complex and co-occurring mental health needs.
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Charity leadership
Clinical Director
Pieta House
Sam served as Clinical Director of Pieta House, the Irish charity providing free, professional counselling to people affected by suicide and self-harm.
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2021 – Present
Clinical Director, Personalised Healthcare Commissioning
Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit, NHS
Sam is a Clinical Director with the NHS, commissioning out-of-hospital healthcare services with the Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit — the largest commissioner of Continuing Healthcare in England, with an annual care spend of approximately £950 million.
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Concurrent
Panel Member
Redress Scotland
Alongside his NHS role, Sam works with Redress Scotland, supporting survivors of abuse experienced in childhood care settings.
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Present
Principal Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director
AutismCare
At AutismCare, Sam leads the clinical team and supervises all clinical processes, and is the named clinical lead on the practice's adult and child autism assessment services.
Assessment that sees the whole person
Sam's career has been shaped by people whose presentations rarely fit neatly into a single box — and by services that too often asked them to.
Autistic adults and children, people with intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injuries, those living with co-occurring mental health conditions: this is where Sam has spent his working life. That experience runs through AutismCare's approach — assessments that take the whole person into account, conducted with care, and reported honestly.
His work with Redress Scotland, supporting survivors of abuse experienced in childhood care settings, reflects the same commitment: careful, trauma-informed listening in circumstances where trust has to be earned.
Clinical oversight at AutismCare
Every AutismCare assessment pathway operates under Sam's clinical supervision, from the first screening questionnaire to the final diagnostic report and aftercare recommendations.
Book an assessment with Dr Gower's team
Dr Gower is the named clinical lead on AutismCare's adult and child autism assessment services, with appointments available within days, not years.
