Private Assessment and Support in the UK
## Understanding your options before you commit
- Some people explore private assessment, counselling, occupational therapy or coaching alongside, or instead of, other available support. The options can feel confusing, particularly when you are already dealing with uncertainty or long waits.
- Paying for a service does not automatically make it the right service for you. Take time to understand what is offered, who will provide it and what the full cost may be. You do not have to make an immediate decision.
## Different services do different things
- It helps to begin with what you would like support with. Are you looking for an assessment, help with emotional wellbeing, practical ways to manage daily tasks, or advice about sensory needs?
- Assessment, counselling, coaching and other services are not interchangeable. Ask the provider to explain the scope of their work and whether they are qualified to offer the particular service you need. A professional who offers practical support may not be qualified to diagnose a condition or prescribe medication.
## Questions to ask before booking
- - Who will I see, and what are their qualifications and relevant experience?
- Do they regularly work with people of my age and with needs similar to mine?
- What professional registration or membership do they hold, and how can I check it?
- What happens during the appointment, and can the format be adapted for my communication or sensory needs?
- What is included in the quoted price? Are reports, follow-up appointments or other services charged separately?
- What are the cancellation terms and complaints arrangements?
- What happens afterwards, and who is responsible for ongoing support? - - Will my GP take over the delivery of any medication and further support ?
- - Will the Education Authority and or Social Services accept the assessment provided by the Private Sector ?
- - You can ask for this information in writing. A clear explanation is more useful than pressure to book quickly.
## Checking professional credentials
- The appropriate register depends on the profession and the service. Registration, professional-body membership and accreditation are different things; ask which applies to the person you will see.
- Useful starting points include the [General Medical Council's registers HERE for doctors, the [Health and Care Professions Council's register]
- tors, the [Health and Care Professions Council's register] HERE and the BACP therapist directory HERE for counselling and psychotherapy options. These are examples, not a complete list of relevant bodies.
- Checking credentials is one part of choosing support. Also consider whether the professional listens, explains their approach clearly and respects your preferences.
## If you are considering a private autism or ADHD assessment
- Ask who carries out the assessment, what it involves, what report you will receive and what support is available afterwards. If you need the report for a particular service or purpose, ask that organisation about its requirements before paying.
- Some independent providers also deliver NHS-funded assessments. An NHS-funded referral and an assessment you pay for yourself are different arrangements, so confirm which you are being offered. NHS information about ADHD assessment routes HERE .
## Think about ongoing costs as well as the first appointment
- If ADHD medication is being considered, ask about specialist reviews, monitoring, prescription fees and medicine costs. Speak to your GP before assuming that NHS prescribing will follow a private assessment.
- “Shared care” means that a specialist and GP agree how prescribing and monitoring responsibilities will be shared. It is not automatic. Ask both the provider and your GP what would happen if a shared-care arrangement is not available. NHS explanation of ADHD prescribing HERE and ADHD UK's private assessment guidance HERE
## Support does not always have to be paid for
Depending on your needs, you may also find useful help through NHS services, local organisations, charities, peer support, education staff or workplace support. Availability and eligibility vary.
Practical changes at home, school or work can also be worth exploring. Buying a product or booking a private service should not be presented as the only way forward.
## Where Frisson8 fits
Frisson8 can offer general information and signposting. We do not carry out assessments, provide clinical treatment or decide which profession
Contact pages HERE if you are unsure where to start.