ADHD assessment or ADHD therapy: which do you need?
People often search for an assessment when what they really want is support, or book support when what they really need first is a diagnosis. The two are separate services, done by different professionals, and it helps to know which door you are knocking on.
An assessment answers one question
An ADHD assessment is a structured clinical process that decides whether a diagnosis applies. In the UK it is carried out by a psychiatrist, or by a specialist nurse or psychologist working within a service that has a psychiatrist overseeing diagnosis. It normally involves detailed questionnaires, a long interview about childhood and adult life, and sometimes input from a parent, partner or old school reports. The outcome is a written report. If a diagnosis is made, the same service may then discuss medication options and arrange titration and monitoring with your GP.
- Purpose: confirm or rule out a diagnosis
- Carried out by: psychiatric or specialist diagnostic services
- Result: a report, and sometimes a medication plan
Therapy answers a different question
Therapy is about how life feels and works day to day. It does not diagnose anything. A therapist can help you understand patterns such as overwhelm, shutdown, time blindness, rejection sensitivity, shame about unfinished tasks or years of being told you are lazy, and can help you build routines and self talk that suit the way your brain actually works. You do not need a diagnosis to have therapy, and a diagnosis on its own does not change the habits and beliefs you have built up over decades. Many adults find they want both, in whichever order suits them.
What AIP Therapy does and does not offer
AIP Therapy provides therapy, not diagnosis. James Harris is a BACP registered member (MBACP) with a BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy and works with adults who have a diagnosis, who suspect ADHD, or who are waiting for an assessment. He does not carry out ADHD assessments and cannot issue a diagnosis or prescribe medication. If you want a formal diagnosis, the route starts elsewhere, and therapy can run alongside it while you wait.
How to get an assessment in the UK
The usual first step is your GP. In England you can ask to be referred for an adult ADHD assessment, and under the NHS Right to Choose arrangements you may be able to pick an approved provider rather than your local service. Waiting times vary widely by area. Private assessments are also available; if you go private, check the clinician's registration, ask whether your GP will accept the report for shared care of any medication, and get the full cost in writing before you commit.
- Write down examples from childhood and adult life before your GP appointment
- Ask about Right to Choose providers if you live in England
- Check shared care arrangements before paying for a private assessment
Using the wait well
Assessment waits can be long, and waiting can stir up a lot: relief at finally having words for things, grief for the years that felt harder than they needed to, or worry about what happens if the answer is no. Therapy during this time does not depend on the result. Sessions can focus on the practical, such as planning, energy and sleep, or on the emotional side, such as self criticism and the stories you have been told about yourself. Sessions run for 60 minutes, in person at 72 Wilson Street in Derby or online, and the first session is free so you can decide whether the approach fits.
When to speak to your GP first
If you are struggling to function at work or home, have had thoughts of harming yourself, are using alcohol or other substances to cope, or have physical symptoms you have not had checked, speak to your GP before anything else. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, call 999, go to A&E, or call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans are available free on 116 123 at any time. Therapy is not an emergency service.
Common questions
Can a therapist tell me if I have ADHD?+
No. A therapist can talk with you about traits and experiences, but only an appropriately qualified diagnostic service can make an ADHD diagnosis.
Do I need a diagnosis before starting therapy?+
No. You can have therapy whether you have a diagnosis, suspect ADHD, or are on a waiting list.
Will therapy affect my assessment?+
Therapy does not replace or interfere with an assessment. Some people find it useful to arrive at an assessment having already thought through their history.
Does AIP Therapy prescribe ADHD medication?+
No. Medication decisions sit with a psychiatrist and your GP.
Support while you work out the rest
A free first session is a low pressure way to see whether therapy would help alongside, or instead of, an assessment.