Is assessment only about getting a diagnosis?

No. Diagnosis can be important, but assessment should also help you understand what is happening, why it may have developed, what is maintaining it and what support may be useful next. Many people want clarity, not just a label.

Do you offer ADHD and autism assessments for adults?

Yes. Hampstead Psychology offers adult ADHD assessments and adult autism assessments. These assessments look carefully at current difficulties, developmental history and how patterns have affected different areas of life over time.

Do you offer autism assessments for children?

Yes. We offer child autism assessments. These are designed to be careful, developmentally appropriate and useful for parents, schools and other professionals involved in the child’s care.

Can assessments be completed online?

Some adult assessments can be completed online where clinically appropriate. Other assessments, particularly some child or neurodevelopmental assessments, may require in-person appointments or additional information from family members, schools or other professionals.

What happens after the assessment?

Your clinician will discuss the findings with you and explain any recommendations. Depending on the assessment, this may include therapy, psychiatric input, school or workplace adjustments, medication review, further assessment or practical strategies for everyday life.

Private Psychological, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Assessments

Q: How do I know which assessment I need?

You do not need to know this before enquiring. Many people come to us because they are unsure whether they need a psychiatric assessment, psychological assessment, ADHD assessment, autism assessment or therapy. We can help you think through the most appropriate starting point.

At Hampstead Psychology, we offer careful, high-quality assessments for adults, children and families seeking psychological understanding, diagnostic clarity or a clearer route into treatment and support.

People often come to assessment when something has not been fully understood. This may involve anxiety, low mood, emotional difficulties, attention and concentration problems, possible ADHD, possible autism, complex overlapping symptoms, or concerns about a child’s development.

Our assessments are designed to be clinically thoughtful and practically useful. The aim is not simply to provide a label. It is to understand what is happening, what it means, and what kind of support, treatment or recommendations may be helpful next.

We offer assessments in Hampstead, London and online where clinically appropriate. Some assessments may require in-person appointments or information from family members, schools or other professionals.

Contact Hampstead Psychology to enquire about the right assessment for you or your child.

Assessment at Hampstead Psychology

A good assessment should feel careful, structured and relevant to your situation. It should help bring together different parts of the picture, rather than focusing narrowly on one symptom or one diagnosis.

At Hampstead Psychology, assessments are carried out by experienced clinicians, including psychologists and psychiatrists where appropriate. We take time to understand the difficulties you are experiencing, how long they have been present, what may be contributing to them, and how they are affecting everyday life.

For adults, this may include work, relationships, emotional wellbeing, concentration, decision-making, sleep, physical health, burnout, identity, coping patterns and previous treatment experiences.

For children, assessment may include developmental history, emotional and behavioural presentation, school functioning, social communication, sensory differences, family context and the child’s experience across different settings.

Types of assessment we offer

Adult psychiatric assessments

Adult psychiatric assessments are carried out by a psychiatrist and can be helpful for concerns such as mood difficulties, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, bipolar disorder, medication questions, diagnostic uncertainty or more complex mental health symptoms.

A psychiatric assessment can clarify diagnosis, consider medical and psychological factors, review treatment needs and identify whether medication, psychological therapy or further support may be appropriate.

Adult psychological assessments

Adult psychological assessments are carried out by an experienced psychologist and focus on understanding emotional, cognitive, behavioural and relational patterns.

They can be useful for anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, burnout, perfectionism, health anxiety, relationship difficulties, emotional regulation problems or difficulties that have not shifted through previous support. The outcome may include a psychological formulation, treatment recommendations and a clearer understanding of what is keeping the problem going.

Adult ADHD assessments

Adult ADHD assessments explore longstanding difficulties with attention, focus, organisation, restlessness, impulsivity, time management or emotional regulation.

They look at current symptoms, developmental history and functioning across different areas of life, while also considering other factors that can look similar, such as anxiety, trauma, sleep problems, burnout or depression.

Child autism assessments

Child autism assessments can be helpful when parents, schools or professionals have questions about a child’s social communication, play, flexibility, sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation or developmental profile.

A child autism assessment is thoughtful, child-centred and developmentally appropriate. It usually brings together parent information, developmental history, direct clinical assessment and, where relevant, school or nursery information.

Adult autism assessments

Adult autism assessments can be helpful for people who have long felt different, socially exhausted, highly sensitive to certain environments, reliant on masking, or unsure why relationships, workplaces or transitions feel more demanding.

The assessment explores developmental history, social communication, sensory differences, routines, masking, relationships, strengths and challenges, with the aim of understanding whether autism is present and what this means in practical terms.

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When an assessment may be helpful

An assessment may be helpful if you or your child are experiencing difficulties that have not been fully understood, or if previous explanations have felt incomplete. Some people come to us because they want diagnostic clarity. Others want to understand whether ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, burnout or another difficulty may be contributing to what they are experiencing.

Assessment can also be helpful when someone has tried therapy, medication, school support or workplace adjustments, but still feels that the underlying picture has not been properly clarified.

For parents, assessment can provide a clearer way of understanding a child’s needs and deciding what support may be useful at home, at school and in future planning.

What an assessment explores

The exact structure depends on the type of assessment, but we usually begin by understanding the current concerns and how they are affecting everyday life. We may explore developmental history, family history, education, work, relationships, emotional wellbeing, physical health, previous treatment, coping strategies and the impact of the difficulty over time.

For ADHD and autism assessments, we also look carefully at patterns across the lifespan and across different settings. This matters because neurodevelopmental differences are not assessed only through a snapshot of current symptoms.

Where relevant, assessment may include questionnaires, structured clinical interviews, information from someone who knows you well, school information, previous reports or liaison with other professionals.

What happens during the assessment process

The process usually begins with an enquiry so we can understand what kind of assessment may be needed and which clinician is most appropriate. You may then be asked to complete questionnaires or provide background information before the appointment. This helps the clinician make best use of the assessment time and ensures the appointment is focused on the right questions.

During the assessment, your clinician will ask about the current difficulties, relevant history and the impact on daily life. The style is structured but thoughtful, with space to understand complexity rather than forcing your experience into a narrow checklist.

After the assessment, the findings are discussed with you clearly. Where a report is provided, this will usually include the clinical picture, diagnostic conclusions where appropriate, and recommendations for next steps.

What the report may include

Where a formal report is part of the assessment, it may include a summary of the referral question, relevant history, assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions where appropriate, and practical recommendations.

Recommendations may relate to therapy, medication review, workplace adjustments, school support, family guidance, further assessment, or ways of managing daily life more effectively.

The aim is for the report to be clinically robust and useful. A good assessment should help you understand what is happening and what to do next.

Assessment in Hampstead, London and online

Hampstead Psychology offers private psychological, psychiatric and neurodevelopmental assessments in Hampstead, London and online where appropriate.

Some adult assessments can be completed online, depending on the clinical question and the type of assessment required. Some child and neurodevelopmental assessments may require in-person appointments or information from school, family members or other professionals.

We will advise you on the most appropriate format when you enquire.

Taking the next step

If you are unsure which assessment is right for you or your child, you do not need to decide alone.

Contact Hampstead Psychology and we will help guide you towards the most appropriate assessment pathway. We can advise whether the concern is likely to need a psychiatric assessment, psychological assessment, ADHD assessment, autism assessment or another form of support.

The first step is simply to tell us what you are hoping to understand.

Useful links

Adult Psychiatric Assessment, Adult Psychological Assessments, Adult ADHD Assessments, Adult Autism Assessments, Child Autism Assessments, , Fees, Meet the Team, Contact.

Urgent Help

If you are worried about immediate risk to your safety, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent support but it isn’t an emergency, contact NHS 111 or your GP. You can also contact Samaritans on 116 123 (24/7).

Meet The Team

At Hampstead Psychology, all of our psychologists have extensive training to doctoral level and decades of experience in their field of expertise. You will be matched with a psychologist that has the knowledge and skill to help you understand and overcome your problem - not just in the short term but for good.