Did Not Want Or Cannot Access Diagnosis

"I don’t necessarily want a label or diagnosis. I just want to understand."

Not everyone who comes to a psychologist is looking for a label or specific assessment for things like ADHD or autism assessment. Sometimes you simply want to understand why.

Common Questions

• Why is my child finding school so difficult?
• Why do seemingly small things lead to enormous emotions?
• Why can they cope in one environment but fall apart when they get home?
• Why are they anxious, avoidant, angry, withdrawn or overwhelmed?
• Why do they struggle with friendships, learning, attention, confidence, independence or everyday demands?
• Why do the strategies that seem to work for other children not seem to work for mine?

Finding the Answers

And perhaps the most painful question of all:

What am I supposed to do to help?

When you have tried reassurance, boundaries, rewards, consequences, routines, conversations with school and everything else you can think of, it can leave you feeling helpless.

You may even have started questioning yourself.

What Psychological Assessment Offers

Psychological assessment can offer something different. Rather than simply looking at the behaviour we can see, we try to understand what may be underneath it.

We can consider development, cognition and learning alongside emotional wellbeing, relationships, sensory experiences, neurodevelopment, trauma and attachment, physical or medical experiences, family circumstances and the environments in which difficulties occur.

Moving Forward

Sometimes the most important outcome isn't a diagnostic label.

Sometimes it is finally being able to say:

“This makes sense now.”

And from understanding can come a much clearer idea of what to do next.