ADHD Comprehensive Pre-Assessment
WHY ADHD ASSESSMENT FEELS SO CONFUSING IN NSW
Many teenagers and adults who suspect ADHD quickly discover that the pathway to diagnosis can feel overwhelming.
Long waitlists, unclear referral pathways, and the need to repeat your story across multiple providers can make the process slow, expensive, and emotionally draining.
In NSW, many people find themselves navigating a fragmented system that may involve several professionals before they reach a diagnostic decision.
ADHD Comprehensive Pre-Assessment
Common Assessment Challenges
Without a structured starting point that gathers the right information first, the following experiences are common:
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Waiting months to see a psychiatrist
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Paying for multiple appointments that repeat similar assessments
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Not knowing which professional to see first
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Feeling uncertain about whether ADHD is actually present
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Trying to organise reports, school history, and collateral information yourself
As a result, many families spend $1,000–$6,500+ before they receive clear answers.
DBT
WHAT IS DBT?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based approach designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, build better relationships, and make positive life changes. Rooted in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), DBT focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Whether you’re struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation, DBT provides the skills to help you regain control of your life. At Mindful Recovery Services, we provide a comprehensive approach to support by combining personalised therapy with a variety of programs to meet your individual needs.
A Structured Starting Point
Our ADHD Comprehensive Pre-Assessment provides a clear, organised pathway before psychiatric consultation for people aged 13+.
Rather than arriving at a psychiatrist appointment with incomplete information, this service completes the clinical groundwork needed for diagnostic consideration.
This allows the psychiatrist to focus on diagnostic decision-making and treatment planning, rather than spending multiple appointments gathering baseline information.
How The Process Works
How The Process Works
Step 1 - Structured Clinical Assessment
✔ Structured Clinical Assessment
Across several sessions, our clinicians complete a detailed assessment of ADHD symptoms, developmental history, and current functioning.
We use recognised screening tools and structured interviews commonly considered during ADHD diagnostic evaluations.
How The Process Works
Step 2 - Comprehensive Clinical Report
✔ Comprehensive Clinical Report
All assessment findings are synthesised into a detailed report that includes:
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Developmental and symptom history
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Results from validated ADHD screening tools
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Functional impact across work, school, and relationships
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Consideration of overlapping conditions such as anxiety or depression
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Collateral information from parents, partners, or school reports where available
The report is written in a format designed to support medical diagnostic review.
How The Process Works
Step 3 - Psychiatric Consultation (Optional)
✔ Optional Psychiatric Consultation
If you decide to pursue a diagnosis, the report can be provided to a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Because the clinical groundwork has already been completed, many psychiatrists are able to review the information more efficiently during consultation, reducing the need for numerous psychiatrist appointments.
How The Process Works
Step 4 - Psychological Skills Support (Optional)
✔ Optional Psychological Skills SUpport
Whether or not you pursue medication, many people benefit from learning practical skills to manage ADHD-related challenges.
Our clinic offers structured psychological programs that help develop emotional regulation, organisation, and stress management skills.
We also offer parenting resources & skills-based programs that have been shown to be highly effective for families navigating ADHD.
What's Included In Our ADHD Comprehensive Pre-Assessment
What's Included
Four Structured Assessment Sessions
Session 1
Intake & Screening (90 minutes) A comprehensive intake covering developmental history, current symptoms, and initial screening measures such as the Conners-4 and ASRS.
Session 2
Structured ADHD Interview (90 minutes) A detailed DIVA-5 interview exploring ADHD symptoms across childhood and adulthood, alongside additional screeners including WURS, ESQ-R, PHQ-9, and GAD-7.
The assessment process occurs across four sessions designed to gather information thoroughly while allowing time for clinical review.
Session 3
Collateral & Functional Assessment (60 minutes) Review of supporting information such as school reports, partner or parent interviews, and executive function and sensory profiles.
Session 4
Feedback & Next Steps (60 minutes) A feedback session where findings are explained, the report is provided, and next steps are discussed.
This session also includes psychoeducation about ADHD traits and practical strategies you can begin using immediately.
What's Included
Comprehensive Written Report
At the completion of the assessment, you receive a detailed clinical report that includes:
✔ Developmental and symptom history
✔ Results and interpretation of screening measures
✔ Functional impact across key life domains
✔ Collateral information synthesis
✔ Executive functioning and sensory profiles
✔ Non-diagnostic formulation aligned with AADPA ADHD guidelines
✔ Psychiatrist referral template
✔ Clear next-step recommendations
✔ Practical strategies to manage ADHD-related challenges while awaiting diagnosis.
This Service Provides:
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Clinical screening
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Structured assessment
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Diagnostic preparation
This Service Does Not Provide:
A medical diagnosis
Medication prescribing
Diagnosis of ADHD can only be made by a qualified medical practitioner such as a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Frequently Asked Questions
The report provided contains all the recognised screening measures psychiatrists need to consider a diagnosis. The report will also provide a full psychosocial assessment & impact report, so they can understand easily the impact of the symptoms.
No. The pre-assessment is not a diagnostic process. Only a medical practitioner such as a psychiatrist or paediatrician can make a diagnosis.
Medicare rebates may be available for some sessions, with a GP referral.
That’s absolutely fine! Many people find it helpful to know whether they have traits of ADHD, but do not require formal diagnosis or medication. Our team specialise in psychological support for ADHD traits that can assist if you decide you would like that kind of support following pre-assessment.
The pre-assessment occurs over 4 sessions. The first 2 are 90 minutes long, and the last 2 are 60 minutes long. These sessions occur no sooner than 2 weeks apart to allow our clinical team to prepare the final report.
