Frequently Asked Questions

Our assessments fully comply with NICE guidelines, and we use the highest quality and well-regarded clinical model within our service. Importantly, your child will be seen by a doctor (paediatrician or psychiatrist) as part of the assessment, which isn't always the case with private assessments. We are also a trusted NHS provider and often support different NHS Trusts and ICBs with waiting lists. This means a diagnosis made by our service should be accepted the NHS and schools/colleges.

The diagnostic assessment is carried out by either a paediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist, who are experts in identifying ADHD in children and young people.

Our clinic is in the heart of Canterbury in Kent. We've designed the children’s service to be comfortable, calming and fun and we often receive feedback from families that their children had such a nice time they want to come back. There are more details about our clinic and how to find us here

During the assessment, your clinician will ask you and your child some questions about their strengths, needs, likes, and dislikes as well as their development, including information around key early years milestones. Throughout the appointment, your clinician will also be discreetly observing your child’s mannerisms and behaviours. They will bring together all the information gathered (during the screening and questionnaire stages and the clinical interview) and assess this against the DSM-5 criteria, to determine if a diagnosis is clinically appropriate or not. The outcome will be presented to you, along with recommendations on further support and/or treatment for your child, immediately after the assessment is complete.

Psicon can offer medical and non-medical support to children and young people diagnosed with ADHD. For non-medical support, we can offer sessions with a clinical psychologist who will be able to advise on a behavioural approach to managing their difficulties. We can prescribe medication and support for a year or more following diagnosis, to ensure the condition is safely and effectively managed.

Having assessed thousands of children for ADHD, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our assessments are designed to take masking and camouflaging into account – especially with girls. Our team are very well trained in understanding this area and our assessment includes information gathered from both home and school, as well as data captured from what’s called a QB check. A QB check is an online test created by experts in the field to objectively compare the reactions of your child against key ADHD symptoms, the results of which are compiled in a report which is used by the clinician to inform the diagnostic assessment.

Our team are very experienced in working with young people and understand that an assessment is often a stressful experience for all the family. We will do our very best to put your child (and the whole family) at ease and are very skilled at engaging even the most shy and anxious children. In the worst case, if a child cannot engage in the session, we will either work with what they are able to do or offer another appointment.

If your child does not receive a diagnosis, this does not mean there isn't a problem. ADHD can present like many other conditions and part of the assessment is ensuring that we can evidence that the traits we see are neurodevelopmental. A child’s experiences can influence how they operate and sometimes this can look like ADHD. It is important to establish the cause of the difficulties so that the best support and understanding can be offered. If a child’s presentation is better understood by behavioural or psychological factors, the approach would be very different than if they have ADHD.

We always take the school’s observations into account, as this is an integral part of the assessment. To diagnose ADHD, it must be clear in multiple environments. As school is very structured, it is often a great place to be able to see it. However, if school does not report any observations of ADHD traits, it does not mean there will be no diagnosis, as there can be other reasons for this. Not all children present with clearly with ‘classic’ observable signs of ADHD – particularly females. Children with ADHD can concentrate extremely well if they are working on a task that is exciting or interests them and not all children show their hyperactivity by moving and fidgeting. Just as it’s true that not all children who fidget and are distractable have ADHD. It’s our job to look deeper and see what might be expected and what might be ADHD.

Our expert and fully NICE compliant ADHD assessments are priced at £1,200. This includes all pre-assessment data collection (including a QB Check) and analysis, face to face time with the consultant and a comprehensive written report that can be used to help school and others understand your child better.

This often depends upon how quickly parents and school can return the pre-assessment, but once we've received all questionnaires, we aim to provide an assessment appointment within four to six weeks.

While the assessment process and diagnostic criteria are the same across the gender spectrum, it is true that ADHD in girls can present very differently to boys. The criteria on which a diagnosis is made is largely known to be associated with symptoms in and this can mean that girls who have ADHD may go undiagnosed. Boys often present their symptoms in a more obvious or ‘stereotypical’ way, for example they may present with more challenging behaviours, be more physically hyperactive or boisterous. Whereas females may have more subtle traits such as being easily distracted, having a tendency to daydream, being disorganised and forgetful. Having assessed thousands of children for ADHD, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our team are very well trained in understanding the female presentation of ADHD and are fully aware that traits and symptoms can be trickier to see in girls.

Yes, if it is deemed to be the most clinically suitable route for your child, then we can provide treatment and titration with medication following a diagnosis of ADHD. This remains an NHS service, and your child will therefore receive NHS prescriptions charged at the standard NHS tariff by your local pharmacy.

Please note we are unable to offer a titration service for children and young people who have been assessed by a different diagnostic provider (either privately or via the NHS).

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Many people first recognise ADHD traits during adolescence, as increased demands at school and socially can highlight challenges that previously went unnoticed.

Teens with ADHD often experience difficulty concentrating, managing their impulses, or staying organised, even when they're genuinely trying their best. If you observe these traits in your teenager, a professional assessment by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can help clarify if ADHD support is appropriate.

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Our assessments fully comply with NICE guidelines, and we use the highest quality and well-regarded clinical model within our service. We are also a trusted NHS provider and often support different NHS Trusts and ICBs with waiting lists. This means a diagnosis made by our service will be accepted by the NHS.

The diagnostic assessment is carried out by either clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who are experts in identifying ADHD in people aged 18 and over.

Our clinic is in the heart of Canterbury in Kent and is designed to be as comfortable, calming and friendly as possible. There are more details about it, and how to find us, here.

The diagnostic assessment is carried out by either a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, who are experts in identifying ADHD in adults. During the appointment, they will carry out a thorough clinical interview using the DIVA-2, which covers questions about how your symptoms or traits are impacting on your life at home and at work, your relationships, plus what you were like as a child. They will compile all of the information that has been gathered during and prior to the assessment and consider this against the DSM-5 criteria to determine whether you do, or don't, meet the threshold for a diagnosis of ADHD. The outcome will be explained to you on the day, along with recommendations for adjustments at home and work as well as support options available to you.

If the results of the assessment indicate that you have ADHD, we will go through all the relevant support options with you. This usually looks like a ‘menu’ of possibilities (including medication and therapeutic options) and we'll help you select those you feel would work best for you. If you choose to opt for medication to treat your symptoms, a specialist prescriber will assess your suitability for treatment, carry out some routine tests and, if appropriate, initiate a treatment plan for you. After your first prescription, you will be asked to have regular reviews with your prescriber who will monitor the efficacy of the medication and any side effects you might have. When you and your clinician feel that you are on a stable dose, we will ask your GP to take over the management of the prescriptions and routine monitoring. However, we will always be available for expert advice and will most likely need to continue to see you once a year for specialist reviews.

Our adult ADHD assessment process includes a free screening stage, carried out by our psychology team and led by a consultant clinical psychologist. They will look at information contained within your referral, as well as scores from a well-researched and clinically validated screening tool. This information will show whether ADHD is indicated, or not. And even though it’s not diagnostic, it will enable you to make an informed decision as to whether to proceed with a full assessment before making any financial commitment. However, it is important to understand that despite the screening process being positive for ADHD, sometimes the outcome of the assessment will be a non-diagnosis. This means you don't meet the threshold to be diagnosed with ADHD. If this is the case for you, our clinical team will still be able to provide recommendations for further support and we may even be able to ask your GP to make an onward referral for another type of assessment should this be clinically appropriate.

We know that often clients attend their assessment with the feeling that the process will confirm something they already know. So, coming away from an assessment having been told that ADHD isn't diagnosed can be quite distressing and/or difficult to understand. ADHD can be tricky to diagnose later in life, and often symptoms or traits of ADHD can overlap with other psychological or psychiatric conditions e. g. anxiety, trauma or attachment disorder. Choosing an appropriately experienced and skilled clinician will mean that they can carefully unpick your symptoms and work with you to identify whether the way you feel is due to a neurodevelopmental condition like ADHD, or because of some other difficulties you may have faced in your life. If you do not receive a diagnosis, our clinical team will still be able to provide recommendations for further support and we may even be able to ask your GP to make an onward referral for another type of assessment should this be clinically appropriate.

We ask someone who knows you well to support the assessment process by giving extra information. This is because the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5) states that to meet the threshold for a diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms/traits/behaviours must have been present from childhood. Put simply, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by physiological differences in the brain, so will have been with you all your life. However, we understand that some people won't have anyone to support the process, and while this can make it trickier to conclude the assessment, it won't prevent the assessment from going ahead. If you aren't able to find someone to support you, we would advise you to bring as much information as you can that shows your strengths and needs as a child, for example old school reports.

Our expert, fully NICE compliant ADHD assessments are priced at £1,200. This includes all pre-assessment data collection and analysis, face to face time with the consultant and a comprehensive written report that can be used to help employers and others understand you better.

This often depends upon how quickly we receive the pre-assessment information, but once we've received all questionnaires, we aim to provide an assessment appointment within four to six weeks.

While the assessment process and diagnostic criteria are the same across the gender spectrum, it is true that ADHD in women can present very differently than in men. The criteria on which a diagnosis is made is largely known to be associated with symptoms in men and this can mean that women who have ADHD may go undiagnosed. Men often present their symptoms in a more obvious or ‘stereotypical’ way, for example they may present with more challenging behaviours, be more physically hyperactive or boisterous. Whereas women may have more subtle traits such as being easily distracted, having a tendency to daydream, being disorganised and forgetful. Having assessed thousands of individuals for ADHD, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our team are very well trained in understanding the female presentation of ADHD and are fully aware that traits and symptoms can be trickier to see in women and girls.

Our private autism assessments are carried out by a multidisciplinary team. It brings together the expertise of three clinicians, including either a paediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist, along with two of the following: clinical psychologist, speech and language therapist, or occupational therapist. The assessment takes place and is concluded on the same day, with immediate feedback on the diagnostic outcome provided to families. For children referred via the NHS, information on the assessment process can be found here.

Our clinic is in the heart of Canterbury in Kent. we've designed the children’s service to be comfortable, calming and fun and we often receive feedback from families that their children had such a nice time that they want to come back! There are more details about our clinic and how to find us here.

When you arrive, you and your child will meet with our clinical team. Our clinicians will want to get to know your child, so once everybody has said ‘hello’ two of the team will take them to do lots of fun activities, like puzzles and storytelling. This is called an ‘ADOS’ and is considered the ‘gold standard’ tool for observing children as part of an autism assessment. During the ADOS, one of the clinicians will be observing and taking notes, while the other engages your child in naturalistic games and tasks designed to show up any autistic traits. While your child is with the clinicians, you'll be asked to speak with a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist. They'll ask you about your child’s development, behaviours, strengths and needs. At the end of the session, the clinical team will re-group to discuss all the information gathered before and during the assessment appointment. They will then meet with you to provide feedback on the assessment, the diagnostic outcome and any recommendations they have for follow-up support and adjustments for home and school.

We can offer sessions with a clinical psychologist. This might be for parents, as well as the young person, and focus on understanding and adjusting to having a diagnosis. It can also focus on mental health difficulties that have come about as a result of the young person’s challenges.

Having assessed thousands of children for autism, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our assessments are designed to take masking and camouflaging into account – especially in females. Our team are very well trained in understanding the female presentation of autism and are aware that traits and symptoms can be trickier to see.

Our team are very experienced in working with young people and understand that an assessment is often a stressful experience for all the family. They will do their very best to put the young person and the whole family at ease and are very skilled at engaging the most shy and anxious children. In the worst case, if the child cannot engage in the session, we will either work with what they are able to do or offer another appointment.

If your child does not receive a diagnosis, this does not mean there isn't a problem. Autism can present like many other conditions and part of the assessment is ensuring that we can evidence that the traits we see are neurodevelopmental. A child’s experiences can influence how they operate and sometimes this can look like autism. It is important to establish what the cause of the difficulties are so the best support and understanding can be offered. If a child’s presentation is better understood by psychological factors, the approach would be very different than if they are autistic.

We always take the school’s observations into account, as this is an integral part of the assessment. To diagnose autism, it must be clear in multiple environments. As school is very structured, it is often a great place to be able to see it. However, if school does not report any observations of autistic traits, it does not mean there will be no diagnosis, as there can be other reasons for this. Autistic children can be ‘model’ students as they follow rules very well and quietly get on with their work. They can mask and make it seem like all is well but then have a ‘meltdown’ as soon as they get home. Our team are very familiar with this and will take everything into account when assessing.

Whilst the assessment process and diagnostic criteria are the same across the gender spectrum, it is true that autistic girls can present very differently to autistic boys. The criteria on which a diagnosis is made is largely known to be associated with symptoms in boys and men, and this can mean that girls who are autistic may go undiagnosed. Boys often present their symptoms in a more obvious or ‘stereotypical’ way, whereas girls may have more subtle traits. This is because they often learn how to hide their symptoms (mask) in order to fit in with their peers. Having assessed thousands of children for autism, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our assessments are designed to take masking and camouflaging into account – especially in girls. Our team are very well trained in understanding the female presentation of autism and that traits and symptoms can be trickier to see.

Our NICE compliant, fully multidisciplinary autism assessments are priced at £1,950. They include the collection and analysis of all pre-assessment information, including a school report and a full multi-disciplinary team assessment that will include either a paediatrician or psychiatrist. this is often a key factor in whether an assessment will be accepted by school or other healthcare providers. It also includes a comprehensive report with recommendations for next steps, plus a follow-up session with the psychology team, to talk through the report and answer any further questions.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference present from early childhood, although it can become more noticeable during adolescence due to changing social expectations, relationships, and demands at school.

Teenagers may become increasingly aware of feeling socially different, having distinct communication styles, or facing difficulties in managing routines and sensory sensitivities. If you believe your teenager relates strongly to these experiences, a professional assessment by a multidisciplinary team specialising in autism can help you understand these differences better and offer tailored support.

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A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in the assessment, psychiatric diagnosis and medical treatment of mental health conditions. A clinical psychologist works from a non-medical model and seeks to understand individuals in the context of their own life. They develop a formulation, or ‘shared understanding’ designed to help the individual and their family see why an issue might have developed, what triggers it and what stops it from going away. Their main type of treatment is talking therapy, and they can draw from a range of options to provide a tailored approach. It takes about the same amount of time to train as either a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you don't know which one you need, we would be happy to help you decide.

Once we have received your child’s referral information, we aim to offer an assessment appointment within four to six weeks.

Most often, sessions are organised weekly. They might start out like this but can then be arranged fortnightly or monthly – or even as required once there has been progress.

Our wellbeing assessments are priced at £350 and include a detailed review of your referral, allocation to the right clinician to support your child’s needs, an in-depth psychological assessment carried out by a HCPC registered clinical psychologist and clear recommendations for ongoing support or specialist assessment. Follow-up sessions are £130

Every person is unique so there is no ‘correct’ number of sessions. We can work to your timeframes and budgets when deciding how to proceed. Most often we see young people for 10 to 12 sessions, which is usually enough to see some meaningful change.

While Psicon do not offer an in-house psychiatry service we are proud to have a longstanding relationship with Dr Vibhav Shetty, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist well renowned in Kent. As a medical doctor, Dr Shetty is able to provide full psychiatric assessments and diagnose psychiatric conditions, while providing ongoing support with follow-ups and medical treatment from our clinic in Canterbury, Kent. Should you or your clinician feel it appropriate, we can organise a referral to Dr Shetty on your behalf.

We would be happy to liaise with a school and can write to or speak with them with your consent. Sharing a formulation of a child’s difficulties can be very useful to ensure a joined-up approach to their support.

Yes, we regularly offer support to parents to help them better understand the needs of their child and learn new techniques to help manage challenging behaviour.

Yes, they are completely confidential, and no one can know what is spoken about without consent from the person in treatment if they are aged 13+. Below this age, parents are entitled to be informed about what is discussed. Regardless of age, we aim to establish a trusting relationship where the person being treated can feel safe in the knowledge that what they say will be treated in confidence, but also to advise if we think that it’s important or useful to share some things with parents. This can all be discussed and tailored to the family at the time. The only time we would break confidentiality without consent or discussion is if we were worried about someone in a crisis and they were in immediate danger.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in the assessment, psychiatric diagnosis and medical treatment of mental health conditions. A clinical psychologist works from a non-medical model and seeks to understand individuals in the context of their own life. They develop a formulation, or ‘shared understanding’ designed to help the individual and their family see why an issue might have developed, what triggers it and what stops it from going away. Their main type of treatment is talking therapy, and they can draw from a range of options to provide a tailored approach. It takes about the same amount of time to train as either a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you don't know which one you need, we would be happy to help you decide.

Our team of psychologists are able to offer a range of different therapeutic interventions. When we receive your referral, we will allocate you a clinician based on your clinical requirements so you can get the most out of your therapy. We can provide the following interventions within our adult mental wellbeing service:

Once we have received your referral form, we aim to offer you an initial assessment appointment within four to six weeks.

Most often, sessions are organised weekly, but after a while can be arranged fortnightly or monthly. Once progress is made, they may even be scheduled as required.

Our mental wellbeing assessments are priced at £195 (£350 if a written report is required) and include a detailed review of your referral, allocation to the most appropriate clinician for your presentation and needs, an in-depth psychological assessment with a HCPC registered clinical or counselling psychologist and expert recommendations for ongoing support or specialist assessment. Follow up therapy sessions with your clinician are £130.

We do not provide a psychiatry service at Psicon. However, we do have access to skilled consultant psychiatrists who we can recommend. We can support a referral to them if this feels appropriate for you.

Psychiatric medication can only be prescribed by a GMC registered doctor, such as a psychiatrist. At Psicon we are a psychology-led service and do not provide psychiatry. However, we do have access to skilled consultant psychiatrists who we can recommend. We can support a referral to them if this feels appropriate for you.

No. Psychiatric conditions can only be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. At Psicon we are a psychology-led service and do not provide psychiatry. However, we do have access to skilled consultant psychiatrists who we can recommend. We can support a referral to them if this feels appropriate for you.

We have access to a group of over 150 registered healthcare professionals, including clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, psychiatrists and specialist nurse prescribers.

To date, we have worked with over 15 NHS Trusts and ICBs across seven counties, many of whom have commissioned repeated contracts over the years. We are exceptionally proud to be an established and trusted NHS partner and provider and we are confident that, should you choose Psicon, both you and your patients will receive an unparalleled service.

We are able to quickly mobilise our services anywhere in the country and can use NHS estates or provide our own.

We are expert providers of autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments for patients across the lifespan.

We are proud to be registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission and ensure we apply the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act (2008) across the service, whether activity is ‘regulated’ or not. We also have robust clinical governance processes in place to ensure safe, efficient and effective care for our patients.

Yes, all our assessments are fully NICE compliant. We utilise different clinical models depending on the age of the patient and the type of assessment. With access to a full multidisciplinary team of clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, we are able to adapt our clinical models to suit the needs of your patient group and the budget available.

We can mobilise new contracts within weeks. With the support of our experienced leadership team, we can ensure the most efficient use of your time.

We believe in collaboration, transparency and ensuring an open dialogue with our NHS commissioners. As such, we have developed what we believe to be an unrivalled reporting process, carried out by our dedicated business intelligence team. It is centred around activity to target, compliance with key performance indicators, patient feedback and satisfaction. We routinely receive exceptional feedback from our Trust and ICB colleagues on the quality of our activity reports.

Yes. Our neurodevelopmental service provides assessments to children from two (six for ADHD) to 18 years of age, with no upper limit for adult patients. (We have assessed patients who are over 80 years old!)

Yes. Psicon became CQC registered in 2019 for treatment of disease, disorder or injury. This means that in addition to providing diagnostic assessments, we can also provide ADHD treatment services. Dr Dan Simmonds is our registered manager and Louise Simpson is our nominated individual. Details on our CQC registration can be accessed here.

We work on behalf of many different NHS Trusts and ICBs and will be able to assess you/your child in your local area, most often within an NHS facility such as a hospital or community centre. All information about where you need to go will be contained within your appointment confirmation letter, which you'll receive shortly after arranging the assessment date.

Due to the new ICB-set activity plans, waiting times will now vary depending on your area  rather than being the same nationwide. While we aim to see patients within 9–12 months, this is no longer guaranteed for every region and will depend on your local ICB’s agreed activity levels. We will keep our website updated with ICB-specific wait times.

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The online form has been designed to be the quickest and simplest method for GPs to use when referring someone via 'right to choose'.  The online form is also beneficial because it will be processed as soon as the GP submits the form and you'll therefore get notified with next steps almost immediately.  If your GP still isn't able to use the online form, you can download an adult form here, or a child form from here.

Please note that this will require manual processing by our team which can take up to 4 weeks.‍

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Your full diagnostic report will usually be sent out to you within eight weeks of the conclusion of the assessment. We can provide a short letter confirming the diagnostic outcome while you wait for the full report. Just ask us.

We ask that all questionnaires are returned within 21 days. Once all the questionnaires are completed and returned, we will send you a confirmation to acknowledge their safe receipt. We kindly ask parent/guardian to pass the survey link(s) to the school to complete. Where paperwork is returned in a timely manner, assessments will be offered within the anticipated wait time, from the date of the original referral.

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This is very much dependent upon what your local Trust or ICB have asked us to do and the length of time that they have given us to complete the project. However, the waiting time once transferred to Psicon will usually be significantly less than if you were to remain on the Trust’s waiting list.

Anyone can access our wellbeing services at Psicon, but at the moment we don't provide these services outside of Canterbury or via NHS referral. Details of our self-funded wellbeing services can be found here. In some cases, following an ADHD assessment, we may be able to provide treatment with medication, depending on the type of arrangement we have with your local Trust or ICB. Our clinicians will be able to provide further information on suitable treatment options following the assessment if you/your child are diagnosed with ADHD.

Yes, if it is deemed to be the most clinically suitable route for you or your child, then we can provide treatment and titration with medication following a diagnosis of ADHD.  This remains an NHS service, and you/your child will therefore receive prescriptions charged at the standard NHS tariff by your local pharmacy. Please note, we are unable to offer a titration service for anyone who has been assessed by a different provider (either privately or via the NHS).