For Solicitors and Referrers: Psychological Reports for CICA, AFCS, PTSD and C-PTSD

Independent psychological assessments and reports for trauma-related injury, diagnostic clarification and formal evidence.

I accept selected instructions for independent psychological assessments and reports in matters involving CICA, AFCS, PTSD, Complex PTSD, psychological injury, trauma-related mental health difficulties, functional impairment and diagnostic clarification.

I am a HCPC-registered Chartered Clinical Psychologist and psychotherapist based in the Harley Street Medical District, with specialist experience in trauma, PTSD, C-PTSD, EMDR, psychological assessment and medico-legal report writing. My reports are designed to provide clear clinical evidence, careful diagnostic formulation and structured recommendations where psychological injury needs to be understood in depth.

I work with individuals, solicitors and referrers. I do not provide court attendance or oral evidence.

CICA Psychological Reports

I provide psychological assessments and reports for adults making CICA claims involving trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, sexual abuse, rape, assault, domestic abuse, coercive control, historic abuse and other violent crime.

A CICA psychological report may be useful where the psychological impact of a crime needs to be clearly assessed and documented. Reports may address diagnosis, symptom severity, functional impairment, prognosis, treatment needs and, where appropriate, the relationship between the index trauma and the person’s current psychological presentation.

CICA reports are not brief therapy letters or general statements of distress. They are structured psychological reports based on clinical interview, psychometric measures where appropriate, diagnostic formulation and professional opinion.

AFCS Psychological Assessments and Appeal Reports

I provide psychological assessments and reports for selected AFCS matters, including service-related trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, psychological injury, functional impairment and appeal-related evidence.

AFCS cases may involve complex questions of service history, moral injury, chronicity, prognosis, delayed onset, functional capacity and the relationship between service-related experiences and current psychological presentation. A specialist report can be particularly helpful where a claim has been rejected, under-awarded or understood too narrowly.

I offer both more focused AFCS psychological assessment and report work, where the documentation is limited and the clinical question is relatively contained, and more complex AFCS appeal reports where there is substantial documentation, diagnostic complexity or a need for detailed appeal-focused analysis.

PTSD Diagnostic Assessment

Where clinically indicated, I use the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, known as the CAPS-5. This is widely regarded as the gold-standard structured clinical interview for PTSD assessment and diagnosis.

This is different from relying only on a self-report questionnaire such as the PCL-5. The PCL-5 can be a useful screening or supplementary measure, but it does not replace a structured clinical interview administered by a trained clinician.

A PTSD diagnostic assessment may be appropriate where a formal opinion is needed regarding trauma exposure, re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance, mood and cognition changes, hyperarousal, distress, functional impact, prognosis and treatment needs.

C-PTSD Diagnostic Assessment

For ICD-11 Complex PTSD, I offer assessment using the International Trauma Interview, or ITI, where clinically indicated. The ITI is a clinician-administered interview designed to assess ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD.

This is different from relying only on a self-report measure such as the ITQ. The ITQ may be useful as a supplementary measure, but the ITI allows for a more careful clinical exploration of symptoms, trauma history, emotional regulation, self-concept, relational difficulties and functional impairment.

C-PTSD assessments may be particularly relevant in cases involving prolonged, repeated, developmental, interpersonal, institutional, military or captivity-related trauma.

Assessment Process

1. Initial enquiry
   Please send a brief outline of the matter, including the type of report required, any relevant deadline, whether the instruction relates to CICA, AFCS, PTSD, C-PTSD or another trauma-related issue, and whether you are enquiring as an individual, solicitor or referrer.
2. Review of suitability and scope
   I will consider whether the assessment falls within my area of expertise, whether the timescale is realistic, and whether the report requested is clinically appropriate.
3. Agreement and payment
   For self-funding clients, payment is usually divided into two instalments: half upon signing the agreement and the remaining half due by the time of the assessment appointment. Solicitor-funded or third-party funded assessments can be discussed in advance.
4. Records and questionnaires
   Where appropriate, records may be reviewed before the appointment. Psychometric measures may be sent in advance and should be completed before the clinical assessment.
5. Clinical assessment
   The assessment is usually conducted over a 90–120 minute appointment, either in person at 4 Devonshire Street in the Harley Street Medical District or online where clinically appropriate.
6. Written report
   Reports are usually completed within approximately seven business days after the assessment, provided all relevant documentation and questionnaires have been received. More complex cases or substantial bundles may require a longer timeframe.

Limitations

I accept selected instructions only where the question falls within my area of clinical competence and where I am able to provide a careful, independent psychological opinion.

• I do not provide court attendance or oral evidence.
• I do not provide psychiatric diagnosis, medication recommendations or psychiatric expert opinion.
• I do not provide reports that are advocacy documents. Reports are independent clinical documents based on assessment, evidence, formulation and professional opinion.