When your child is struggling with their mental health, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Perhaps you’ve noticed changes in their mood or behaviour, they are finding school increasingly difficult, or they seem to be struggling with friendships, anxiety or everyday life. Sometimes, you may simply have a feeling that something isn’t quite right.

At Somerville Clinic, I offer private child and adolescent psychiatric assessments for children and young people experiencing a wide range of mental health and developmental difficulties.

I’m a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with extensive experience working with children, adolescents and their families. My approach is friendly, approachable and centred around understanding each young person as an individual.

I believe that a good psychiatric assessment should be about much more than identifying a diagnosis. It’s about taking time to understand what is happening, exploring the factors that might be contributing to difficulties and helping families make sense of their experiences.

General child and adolescent mental health assessments

As a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, I assess a broad range of mental health difficulties. You don’t need to know exactly what is wrong or arrive with a suspected diagnosis before getting in touch.

Some of the difficulties I commonly work with include:

• Anxiety disorders and panic.

• Depression and low mood.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Emotional regulation difficulties.

• Difficulties with behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

• School-related difficulties and school avoidance.

• Friendship and relationship difficulties.

• Self-esteem and confidence.

• Sleep difficulties.

• Complex mental health presentations.

• Difficulties where mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions may overlap.

Children and young people don’t always present with clear-cut symptoms, and sometimes difficulties in one area of life can be a reflection of something else going on underneath.

My role is to explore the wider picture, consider possible explanations and help identify the most appropriate way forward.

Whether you have specific concerns or are simply looking for a professional opinion, I’m very happy to see families who would like to explore their child’s difficulties.

ADHD and autism: understanding neurodiversity

Alongside my general psychiatric work, I have a particular clinical interest in neurodiversity, especially ADHD and autism.

I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, adolescents and adults, and I particularly enjoy working with individuals whose presentations may be less immediately obvious.

This includes young people who mask their difficulties, work hard to meet expectations or appear to be coping well externally while experiencing significant challenges internally.

For example, a child might be achieving academically, maintaining friendships and appearing settled at school, but experiencing considerable anxiety, exhaustion or emotional difficulties behind the scenes.

I think it is important to look beyond stereotypes and consider how an individual experiences the world, rather than relying on a checklist of symptoms alone.

I also recognise that ADHD and autism are not the explanation for every difficulty. A careful assessment should consider alternative explanations, overlapping conditions and the individual’s wider circumstances. My aim is always to develop an accurate understanding of the young person, rather than to reach a particular diagnosis.

ADHD assessments

ADHD assessments at Somerville Clinic are allocated two hours.

This allows time to explore the young person’s developmental history, attention, concentration, activity levels, impulsivity, emotional regulation and experiences across different settings.

We also consider the impact of any difficulties on education, relationships, family life and emotional wellbeing.

Information from parents and school can help build a fuller picture, and the information gathering process will be tailored to the individual assessment. Where appropriate, further information or clarification may be sought to help inform clinical understanding.

I also want families to have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns they may have. Understanding the assessment process and what the findings mean is an important part of the experience.

Autism assessments

Autism assessments are conducted in person at Somerville Clinic and incorporate the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), a recognised gold-standard observational assessment. The initial meeting and the feedback meeting can be conducted online. 

An autism assessment considers much more than social communication alone. We explore developmental history, social interaction, communication, relationships, sensory experiences, routines, interests and the individual’s overall experience of the world.

I am particularly interested in recognising presentations where masking may make autism less immediately apparent, including in young people who have developed strategies to navigate social situations or meet the expectations of those around them.

The ADOS-2 forms one part of a broader clinical assessment, helping to build an overall understanding of the young person.

What happens during an assessment?

I appreciate that meeting a psychiatrist can feel daunting, particularly for children and teenagers who may be unsure what to expect.

I try to make appointments as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Building rapport with young people is something I particularly enjoy, and I believe that helping them feel at ease is an important part of understanding their experiences.

I adapt my approach depending on the age, communication style and individual needs of the young person.

Depending on the reason for referral, an assessment may include:

• An opportunity for parents or carers to explain their concerns and share their perspective.

• Time to speak with the young person, in a way that is appropriate for their age and needs.

• Exploration of developmental history, family circumstances, education and relationships.

• Consideration of previous assessments, reports or relevant information.

• Questionnaires or additional information gathering where clinically appropriate.

• Discussion of possible diagnoses, contributing factors and recommendations.

The precise structure of an appointment will depend on the individual and the questions we are trying to answer.

I recognise that parents and carers have an invaluable understanding of their children, and their experiences and observations are an important part of the assessment process.

A personal and individual approach

One of the things I value most about psychiatry is getting to know people and understanding what makes them who they are.

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Two young people with the same diagnosis can have very different experiences, strengths and needs.

I want children and teenagers to feel that they can be themselves during appointments, without feeling that they have to give the right answers or behave in a particular way.

I also want parents to feel comfortable discussing their concerns, asking questions and sharing things they may have found difficult to explain elsewhere.

My aim is to provide a thoughtful and balanced assessment, considering the young person’s strengths alongside their difficulties and helping families develop a clearer understanding of what might be happening.

Face-to-face appointments in Chester and online consultations nationally

I offer face-to-face psychiatric appointments for children and young people at my clinic in Chester.

For families who live further afield, I also offer online consultations and psychiatric assessments across the UK, where appropriate.

Autism assessments are currently conducted in person because of the observational component involved.

This flexibility allows families to access consultant-led psychiatric care whether they are local to Chester or based elsewhere in the country.

Getting in touch

You don’t need to have a clear idea of what diagnosis your child might have before contacting Somerville Clinic.

Perhaps you’re worried about anxiety, low mood or difficulties at school. Perhaps you’ve wondered about ADHD or autism, or maybe there are several things happening at once and you’re struggling to make sense of them.

Whatever your concerns, I would be very happy to hear from you.

My aim is to provide experienced, compassionate and individualised psychiatric care, giving children and young people the opportunity to be heard and helping families understand the best way forward.

At Somerville Clinic, we believe that understanding the individual is the starting point for providing the right support.