ADHD services

Not always. NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) accepts self-referrals for common issues like anxiety and depression — no GP visit needed. For specialist NHS care (CMHT, psychiatry) you usually do need a GP referral. Private therapists and psychiatrists accept patients directly.

NHS support is free but waiting lists for talking therapies and specialist services can be long, and session counts are often capped. Private support typically starts within days or weeks, lets you choose your therapist, and isn't limited by NHS commissioning rules — but you pay per session.

It depends on what you're looking for: counsellors and psychotherapists help with talking-based support; clinical psychologists handle complex or trauma-related work; psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication. Check each provider's regulator (BACP, UKCP, BPS, GMC) on their profile.

Yes — UK therapists are bound by their regulator's ethics framework, which requires confidentiality except in specific safeguarding situations (risk of serious harm to you or others). Your therapist will explain the limits at your first session.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health support: call NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health, call Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7), or text SHOUT to 85258. This site is for finding routine support, not crisis care.

On the NHS, yes - your GP needs to refer you to a specialist ADHD service. Under the NHS Right to Choose, your GP can refer you to an independent provider instead, and the NHS funds the assessment. Most private clinics accept self-referrals, so you can book directly without seeing your GP first.

The clinical assessment itself is broadly similar - a detailed interview with a psychiatrist or specialist nurse prescriber, reviewing your history, symptoms, and how ADHD affects your daily life. The main differences are waiting time (NHS waits are often years; private is usually days to weeks), cost (NHS is free; private typically costs several hundred pounds), and what happens next with medication and follow-up.

Yes. Under the NHS Constitution, you have the right to choose any qualified provider for your first outpatient appointment. This includes independent ADHD assessment services that are approved by the NHS. Your GP submits the referral, and the NHS funds it. Some ICBs have placed restrictions on Right to Choose referrals, so the process is not always straightforward, but the legal right remains.

If medication is recommended, a psychiatrist or specialist nurse prescriber will start you on a trial and adjust the dose over several weeks (called titration). Once your medication is stable, your care can transfer to your GP under a shared care agreement. You may also benefit from ADHD coaching, workplace adjustments, or psychological support for related difficulties like anxiety or low self-esteem.

ADHD can be diagnosed by consultant psychiatrists and specialist nurse prescribers with independent prescriber status. Both are recognised under NICE guidelines. Clinical psychologists can contribute to assessment but cannot prescribe medication. For ongoing support, ADHD coaches, occupational therapists, and therapists trained in CBT for ADHD can all play a role.

Yes. Children can be referred by their GP to a local NHS child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) or paediatric service for ADHD assessment. Private child ADHD assessments are also available. Waiting times for children are generally shorter than for adults but still vary considerably by area.