Assessment & diagnosis
Are you looking for a formal assessment for anxiety, OCD, PTSD or another mental health condition? Our private diagnostic assessment gives you a clear answer, backed by a written clinical report.
You do not need a diagnosis to start therapy, and many of our clients never have one. But you may want to know for certain, or need written evidence to support a request for adjustments at work or in education.
Conditions we assess for
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Hypochondriasis (Health Anxiety)
- Panic Disorder
We can also assess for a range of other mental health conditions. If what you are looking for is not on this list, please get in touch — we are often able to help.
You will need to select which condition you want to be assessed for before you book, because each assessment uses a different set of clinical measures. If you are unsure which one applies to you, contact us before booking and we will guide you.
How does assessment work?
After booking an assessment, you will be asked to complete a consent form. You will then meet with your psychologist, and together we will explore your experiences and whether they meet the criteria for diagnosis.
The assessment session usually takes 30-90 minutes. On rare occasions, we may need to do a second assessment session to ensure we get a correct result.
We use structured diagnostic interviews and validated measures chosen for the condition being assessed, rather than a single generic questionnaire. Some of the questionnaires can be completed beforehand, if you wish.
At the end of your assessment, your psychologist will confirm whether you meet the criteria or not. You will then receive a clinical report, usually within one week of your assessment session.
What are the fees?
£300. This includes the assessment sessions, scoring and interpretation, and your written clinical report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between assessment and diagnosis?
An assessment is the process. We gather a detailed history, ask structured questions about your symptoms, and use validated clinical measures to establish whether your experiences meet the diagnostic criteria for a particular condition. A diagnosis is a possible outcome of the assessment process.
What if I do not meet criteria?
You still receive a full report explaining what we found and what we would recommend.
What will I receive?
You will receive a clinical report confirming whether you meet the diagnostic criteria or not. If you meet the criteria, this report will contain your formal diagnosis. The report will make recommendations for what you should do next.
Please note that we do not complete additional paperwork such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) applications or court reports. You are welcome to submit your clinical report as evidence in these situations.
Will my diagnosis be recognised?
Yes. Your assessment is carried out by a Chartered Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, using the same diagnostic criteria and standardised measures used in NHS services. It is a valid clinical diagnosis.
How that diagnosis is then used is up to the organisation you present it to. Employers and education providers generally accept a report from a registered psychologist. Your GP may or may not add a private diagnosis to your medical record, and an NHS service may carry out its own assessment before offering you a place on a treatment pathway. We are happy to talk this through with you beforehand if you are seeking assessment for a specific purpose.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly.