Adult ADHD Assessment & Diagnosis in Manchester, Cheshire & Stockport
Our private adult ADHD assessment provides a thorough, evidence-based pathway to diagnosis. Assessments are available in person across Manchester, Cheshire and Stockport, or online throughout the UK.
ADHD in women is often underdiagnosed, misunderstood and mislabelled. Many women spend years, or even decades, feeling “too sensitive”, “disorganised” or constantly overwhelmed, without realising these experiences may be linked to ADHD rather than personal shortcomings.
A specialist adult ADHD assessment offers clarity, validation and a better understanding of how ADHD affects your daily life, helping you move forward with greater confidence and self-understanding instead of self-blame.
ADHD, Trauma, Anxiety and Misdiagnosis in Women
Many women seeking an adult ADHD assessment have spent years trying to understand why everyday life feels more difficult than it seems for others. Difficulties with concentration, organisation, emotional regulation and overwhelm are often mistaken for anxiety, depression, burnout or the lasting effects of trauma, making ADHD harder to recognise.
How Trauma Can Resemble ADHD
Trauma and ADHD can share similar symptoms, including difficulties with concentration, memory, emotional regulation and sleep. While these experiences may appear alike, the underlying causes are different. A comprehensive assessment helps distinguish between them to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
How ADHD Can Be Mistaken for Anxiety
ADHD and anxiety frequently occur together, but one can also be mistaken for the other. Many adults develop anxiety after years of coping with the challenges of undiagnosed ADHD. Understanding the difference is an important part of receiving the right support.
Common experiences such as racing thoughts, difficulty switching off, procrastination, perfectionism, and feeling overwhelmed can be attributed to anxiety when ADHD may also be playing an important role.
While anxiety and ADHD frequently occur together, it is important to understand whether anxiety is the primary difficulty, a consequence of ADHD, or both.
How Our Assessment Process Considers These Differences
Our specialist ADHD assessment looks beyond individual symptoms to build a complete picture of your experiences. Using recognised clinical assessment tools, detailed interviews and a comprehensive mental health review, we carefully consider ADHD alongside anxiety, trauma and other conditions.
This thorough approach helps us reach an accurate diagnosis where appropriate, while providing clear recommendations and practical next steps that support your wellbeing long after the assessment.
Why ADHD Is Often Missed in Women
ADHD has traditionally been researched and diagnosed based on how it presents in boys and men. As a result, many women reach adulthood without recognising that ADHD may be the underlying reason for the challenges they have experienced throughout their lives.
Instead of hyperactivity, ADHD in women often presents as chronic overwhelm, emotional sensitivity, forgetfulness, perfectionism, difficulty managing everyday tasks and persistent self-criticism. These experiences are frequently mistaken for anxiety, depression or simply being “too much”, delaying diagnosis and appropriate support.
In women, ADHD often presents as:
→ Chronic overwhelm and mental exhaustion
→ Emotional sensitivity and self-criticism
→ Difficulty managing time and organisation
→ Forgetfulness and losing focus
→ Perfectionism and people-pleasing
→ Anxiety or low mood alongside ADHD
→ Feeling constantly overwhelmed by everyday tasks.
Our Adult ADHD Assessment Process
Initial Screening
Complete clinically recognised questionnaires and an online QB Check to help identify whether a full ADHD assessment is recommended.
Comprehensive Assessment
Attend two in-depth clinical interviews with experienced ADHD practitioners to explore your history, symptoms and day-to-day experiences.
Psychiatric Review
A Consultant Psychiatrist reviews your assessment alongside a comprehensive mental health screening to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Feedback & Next Steps
Receive your diagnostic outcome, a detailed written report and personalised recommendations, together with access to our on-demand CBT for ADHD course..
If your screening results do not indicate ADHD, we’ll discuss the findings with you before proceeding. In this case, you only pay for the initial screening stage.
Specialist ADHD Assessment
Our specialist adult ADHD assessment goes beyond a checklist of symptoms. We take time to understand your lifelong experiences, including patterns of attention, emotional regulation, relationships, work, education and overall wellbeing. Every assessment is tailored to your individual circumstances and completed using recognised clinical assessment tools and evidence-based practice.
Assessments are:
→ Thorough and evidence-based
→ Aligned with recognised clinical guidelines
→ Sensitive to how ADHD presents in women
→ Conducted in a supportive, non-judgemental environment
→ Focused on understanding you, not just reaching a diagnosis
Online Adult ADHD Assessments Across the UK
For those outside the local area, we also provide online ADHD assessments across the UK. These are conducted via secure video consultation and follow the same clinical standards as face-to-face assessments.
Online assessments are ideal if you:
→ Prefer to attend appointments from home
→ Have work or family commitments
→ Live outside Manchester, Cheshire or Stockport
→ Would like access to specialist ADHD assessment from anywhere in the UK
ADHD Assessment Fees & Payment Options
Our comprehensive adult ADHD assessment costs £1,200. To make the process more accessible, we offer flexible payment plans, allowing you to spread the cost across the different stages of your assessment rather than paying everything upfront.
Your first payment is £200, which covers the initial screening questionnaires and QB Check. If a full assessment is recommended, the remaining balance can be paid in instalments as you progress through each stage of the assessment.
Assessment Fees Breakdown
Initial Screening – £200
Complete clinically recognised questionnaires and an online QB Check to determine whether a full ADHD assessment is recommended.
Clinical Assessment
Attend two in-depth clinical interviews with experienced ADHD practitioners, exploring your history, symptoms and day-to-day experiences.
Psychiatric Review
A Consultant Psychiatrist reviews your assessment alongside a comprehensive mental health screening to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Feedback & Diagnostic Report Receive your diagnostic outcome, a detailed written report, personalised recommendations, and complimentary access to our on-demand CBT for ADHD course.
The remaining assessment fee is £1,000 and can be divided into a flexible payment plan.
Total Assessment Fee: £1,200
If medication is needed, medication titration is carried out by our consultant psychiatrist (additional cost).
ADHD therapy sessions are available:
Face-to-face in South Manchester, Cheshire, and Stockport
Online across the whole of the UK, offering flexibility and continuity of care
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have known about your ADHD for some time, therapy can help you turn insight into meaningful, sustainable change.
Why Choose Think Hive Health?
Choosing an ADHD assessment is about more than receiving a diagnosis. It’s about feeling understood, listened to, and supported by clinicians who recognise the unique ways ADHD can present in adults, particularly women.
✓ Experienced clinicians specialising in adult ADHD assessments
✓ Neurodiversity-affirming, compassionate and non-judgemental care
✓ Evidence-based assessments using recognised clinical tools
✓ Clear recommendations and ongoing support after your assessment
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our ADHD assessment is a multidisciplinary, four-part process carried out in line with NICE guidelines.
Part 1: After you enquire and agree to engage with the assessment, we will send you out a number of electronic assessment questionnaires to complete and return to us.
*If the results of these do not indicate symptoms consistent with ADHD we will speak to you regarding the next stage of the process*
Part 2: A detailed clinical interview with an Accredited Psychological Therapist trained in ADHD assessment. This assessment can take up to 2 hours.
Part 3: A follow‑up assessment session with the same Psychological Therapist or another from the team will be conducted within the same fortnight. This can take up to 2 hours.
The Psychological therapy team will interpret the results from the 3 parts, and present to the Psychiatry team.
Part 4: A diagnostic appointment with a Psychiatrist. Once completed, the full report will be sent to you.
Part 5: Access to ADHD resources including a detailed CBT course on managing ADHD using psychological tools.
This structure ensures a thorough, evidence‑based evaluation that considers your developmental history, current symptoms, and how ADHD may be affecting different areas of your life.
After diagnosis, you will have several options:
Medication consultation and titration with our Psychiatrist.
CBT-based therapy tailored for ADHD
Support with organisation, emotional regulation, and executive‑function skills.
Guidance on workplace or academic adjustments
Many people choose to combine medication with therapy for the best long‑term outcomes.
Yes. We offer CBT for ADHD, which helps with:
Managing attention and focus
Reducing procrastination
Improving organisation and planning
Coping with emotional dysregulation
Building routines and habits that support daily functioning
This can be started after your assessment or diagnosis.
The full process typically takes place over several weeks.
Parts 1 to 3 are usually scheduled close together, with the Psychiatric assessment (Part 4) following once your therapist has completed the clinical formulation. This staged approach allows for a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis.
Yes. Our assessment model follows NICE NG87 recommendations, which state that ADHD should be diagnosed by a specialist and supported by a multidisciplinary team. This is why our process involves both Accredited Psychological Therapists and a Psychiatrist and reviewed by a multidisciplinary team.
Shared‑care arrangements vary between GP practices. Some GPs are willing to take over prescribing once your medication is stabilised; others may decline.
We recommend speaking with your GP before your assessment to understand their policy. If they require specific information from us, we can provide it.
No. The assessment fee does not include medication or a prescription.
If you receive an ADHD diagnosis, the Psychiatrist will discuss medication options with you during Part 4. You can then decide whether you’d like to explore a medication trial privately.
No. You do not need a referral from your NHS General Practitioner (GP) to book a private, self-funded assessment. You can book directly with the clinic.
This depends on your GP and local NHS trust. Some accept private diagnostic reports; others require an NHS reassessment. It’s best to check with your GP in advance so you know what to expect.
People often find it helpful to gather:
School reports (if available)
Any previous assessments
Notes about symptoms you experience at work, home, or socially
Feedback from someone who knows you well
This information helps us build a clear picture of your developmental history and current challenges.
Yes. Our service specialises in adult ADHD assessments, including individuals who were never assessed in childhood or who suspect they may have been overlooked.
Can ADHD be diagnosed later in life?
Absolutely. Many adults seek assessment after recognising long‑standing patterns of inattention, impulsivity, or executive‑function difficulties. A later‑life diagnosis can be validating and can open the door to effective support.
Yes, we offer remote assessments via secure video call. The process and diagnostic standards are exactly the same as our in‑person assessments.
The cost of our private ADHD assessment is £1200 which includes all stages, consultation, assessment screenings and reports.Payments can be made in installments.
Yes. Your diagnostic report can be used to request workplace adjustments, DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance), or other support services.
Book Your ADHD Assessment Today
If you’re looking for a trusted ADHD assessment service in South Manchester, Cheshire, Stockport, or anywhere in the UK online, we’re here to help.
Get in touch today to discuss your options, ask questions, or book your assessment.