ADHD Services for Adults
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) impacts every adult in their own unique way. Having a clear diagnosis allows you to move ahead with confidence, knowing you can access the specialist support and strategies you need to truly thrive.
Expert Guidance at Every Stage
How an adult autism assessment works
To support you in the best possible way, we start by gaining a complete understanding of your neurodevelopmental profile and needs. Our specialist team will carry out a thorough, expert assessment to determine whether you have ADHD or not.
Step
1
Screening
If you suspect you might have ADHD, our free screening can offer valuable clarity and insight. This process is guided by our psychology team, led by a consultant clinical psychologist. If the results suggest ADHD, we’ll recommend a full diagnostic assessment to provide a clear and confident answer.
Step
2
Gathering Insight
Before scheduling your assessment, we ask someone who knows you well — ideally from childhood — to complete a report form and an online screening tool. This helps us understand more about your early development, as neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD are present from birth. Gaining a fuller picture of your strengths and needs supports our clinical team in their assessment. If there isn’t anyone who can provide these details, don’t worry — we can still proceed. We’ll just ask you to bring along any information you have about your childhood, such as old school reports.
Step
3
Assessment
Your diagnostic assessment will be conducted by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who specialises in diagnosing ADHD in adults. During the session, they’ll carry out a detailed clinical interview using the DIVA-2, exploring how your symptoms affect your life at home, at work, in relationships, and what you were like as a child. They’ll bring together all the information gathered before and during your assessment, and carefully consider it against the DSM-5 criteria to decide if you meet the threshold for an ADHD diagnosis. You’ll receive a clear explanation of the outcome on the same day, along with tailored recommendations for support and adjustments at home and work.
Step
4
Diagnostic Report
After your assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report that clearly explains our findings and the outcome in an easy-to-understand way. It will include our tailored recommendations, along with helpful guidance on post-diagnostic support and treatment options available at Arete Health.
Step
5
Ongoing Support
If your assessment results show that you have ADHD, we’ll take time to discuss all the support options available to you. This typically involves exploring a ‘menu’ of choices, including both medication and therapeutic approaches, and we’ll help you decide what feels right for you. If you opt for medication, a specialist prescriber will assess your suitability, carry out routine checks, and, if appropriate, start you on a treatment plan. After your initial prescription, you’ll have regular follow-ups to monitor how well the medication is working and check for any side effects. Once you and your clinician agree that the treatment is effective and your dose is stable, we’ll arrange for your local NHS ADHD service or GP to take over your ongoing prescriptions and routine care.
Understanding Adult ADHD
Valuing Neurodiversity
Many adults are neurodivergent — in fact, this is the reality for millions. Having ADHD doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you; it simply means your brain approaches attention, time, and motivation differently from neurotypical minds. An adult ADHD assessment is the first step towards understanding your unique way of thinking.
When ADHD goes unrecognised, it can lead to real difficulties in work, relationships, and everyday life. With a clear assessment and diagnosis, we can offer tailored strategies, support, and therapies to help you embrace your strengths and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
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You may be experiencing…
While many people with ADHD share common traits, every brain is unique — which means ADHD can be experienced in a wide variety of ways.
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Frequently Asked Questions Anything
Anything you’d like to ask us?
Taking the first steps to understanding why you feel different, unhappy, or struggling takes courage. We’re here to help you find the support that’s right for you.
Will a private ADHD diagnosis for adults be accepted by the NHS?
Our assessments fully adhere to NICE guidelines and follow the highest quality, evidence-based clinical models. As a trusted NHS provider, we regularly work with various NHS Trusts and ICBs to help manage waiting lists. This means any diagnosis made through our service is recognised and accepted by the NHS.
What happens if I'm not diagnosed?
Our adult autism assessment process begins with a free screening stage, led by a consultant clinical psychologist and our psychology team. They’ll review the details in your referral alongside results from a robust, clinically validated screening tool. This helps indicate whether ADHD may be present. While it isn’t a diagnosis, it gives you valuable insight to decide if you’d like to proceed with a full assessment, before making any financial commitment. It’s important to note that even if your screening suggests ADHD, your assessment might still result in a non-diagnosis if you don’t meet the clinical threshold. If that happens, our team will provide tailored recommendations for further support, and where appropriate, we can ask your GP to arrange referrals for other assessments or services.
How long will I have to wait before I am assessed?
This largely depends on how quickly we receive your pre-assessment information. Once all questionnaires are completed and returned, we aim to offer an assessment appointment within four to six weeks.
I don’t have anyone to help with the pre-assessment questionnaires, will this affect my assessment?
We ask someone who knows you well — ideally from childhood — to provide additional information to support the assessment. This is because, according to the DSM-5, symptoms must have been present since childhood for an ADHD diagnosis. Simply put, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that has been part of you your whole life. We understand, however, that not everyone has someone who can help with this. While it may make the assessment more challenging, it won’t stop it from going ahead. If you don’t have someone to assist, we recommend bringing any information that reflects your childhood strengths and needs, such as old school reports.
Do you provide ADHD treatment with medication?
Yes, we can provide treatment for ADHD in the form of medication for clients who have been diagnosed and are deemed suitable for treatment. Before deciding whether medication is the right option for you, you will need to meet with a specialist prescriber who will discuss the benefits and risks of treatment and carry out some medical observations (blood pressure, pulse, height and weight). We will also usually ask your GP to carry out an ECG and sometimes routine blood tests prior to deciding if medication is a safe option for you. If you and the clinician agree that medication is appropriate, we will provide you with a treatment plan and give you your first prescription. You will need to be regularly reviewed to monitor for any side effects and to ascertain if your symptoms are being adequately managed. Sometimes the clinician will need to adjust the dose or type of medication you are prescribed, and this will happen alongside monitoring until you reach a stable dose and you and your clinician feel your ADHD is being adequately managed. We will then ask your GP to take over monitoring and prescribing, but we will always be available to you and your GP for ongoing specialist advice and support.
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We're with you at every step
Every mind is unique, and many of us are neurodivergent. While these differences can bring challenges, we believe that with empathy, understanding, and expert care, everyone can thrive. We’re here to support you throughout your neurodevelopmental journey.