Whilst ADHD traits will have been present in childhood, many people do not receive a diagnosis until they are adults. This may be because difficulties were unrecognised or mis-attributed to a mental health or behaviour problem; because a person was able to compensate for and mask the challenges; or they had a very supportive and enabling environment that was a good fit for the way their brain worked.

Adults may begin to question whether they have ADHD when the demands in their environment start to overwhelm their coping strategies and they seek support for this; they have a child who gets a diagnosis of ADHD; or they learn about ADHD in the media and recognise signs from their own life.

An ADHD assessment can help you to make sense of the things you have found difficult (often throughout life) and to understand why you may have felt different to the “norm”. This can enable you to develop greater self-awareness, acceptance and compassion – as well as learning strategies to make life easier, and to work with your brain, rather than against it. It can also be helpful in communicating these needs to your workplace or educational setting to ensure you get the right kind of support to enable you to thrive and meet your potential.

If an assessment indicates a diagnosis this can help to access further sources of support such as medication, or the Access to Work scheme.

ADHD often occurs alongside other conditions (such as autism, anxiety and depression, for example). A robust assessment explores all of these issues to make sure you have a holistic understanding of your needs and can access the right kind of support.

No. Some people feel clear that they want to proceed directly to a full ADHD assessment, and that’s absolutely fine.

The 90-minute consultation is there for people who feel unsure, want professional input before committing, or would benefit from thinking things through in a bit more depth. Many people find it a helpful starting point, but it isn’t required.

That uncertainty is very common, especially in adults whose difficulties overlap with stress, burnout, trauma, anxiety or depression.

The consultation and assessment process are designed to explore ADHD alongside other possible explanations, rather than assuming a diagnosis from the outset. The aim is to arrive at a thoughtful understanding of what’s going on for you and what would be most helpful next — whether or not ADHD is part of the picture.

In order to provide a gold standard ADHD diagnostic assessment I ensure assessments are carried out in line with NICE guideline NG87 and the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN)’s Adult ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard (AQAS). The assessment process includes:

1) initial screening conversation to ensure an assessment is indicated

2) information gathering – you and someone who knows you well completing various questionnaires, and sending in any relevant reports or medical notes (including school reports/records where possible)

3) review of reports/notes; scoring and interpreting completed questionnaires

4) comprehensive clinical and diagnostic interview – this will take place throughout your assessment day and covers your current difficulties as well as your personal and developmental history, mental and physical health. It will include a structured ADHD specific interview (the DIVA-5) and a conversation with someone who knows you well.

5) QBCheck – the assessment day includes completing a computerised task called the QBCheck, which measures attention, impulsivity and activity levels. Please note the QBCheck is not compatible with all devices and so may not be possible if your device does not meet the technical specifications.

6) feedback session – this will be a 50 minute online session to discuss the results of your assessment, answer any questions you may have, and discuss next steps.

7) preparing your report, which includes an in-depth summary of the assessment process and outcome, a psychological formulation of your difficulties, personalised recommendations and resources.

No, but I do have partnership arrangements with specialist prescribers that I can refer you to.

Due to the overlap of ADHD symptoms with other conditions the diagnostic process is a complex one. It requires a thorough analysis of current lived experience as well as a developmental history, alongside consideration of differential diagnosis. ADHD symptoms can be present in other conditions, and ADHD also often co-occurs with other mental health problems. It is therefore really important that an assessor has training and experience in assessing and treating a broad range of mental health difficulties – this is something that Clinical Psychologists are well trained to do.

In addition, Clinical Psychologists are able to offer a broader psychological understanding that goes beyond diagnosis – helping to make sense of your experiences through a bio-psycho-social formulation, and offer personalised recommendations alongside this.

As a Clinical Psychologist I can also offer post-diagnostic support to help you explore the meaning and impact of the diagnosis and build coping strategies.

The current fees are outlined above on this page.

If you proceed from a consultation to a full assessment, the consultation fee is deducted from the assessment cost. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, the consultation can be a helpful place to start.