What this service is for

I offer specialist psychological assessments and supporting reports for people applying for Personal Independence Payment, challenging a decision, preparing for review, or needing clearer professional evidence about how their condition affects day-to-day functioning.

This service is particularly suitable for people whose difficulties involve trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD, dissociation, severe anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, functional impairment, or overlapping psychological presentations that are not easily captured in a brief GP letter.

What a good PIP report should do

PIP is not awarded simply on the basis of diagnosis. What matters is how your condition affects specific tasks in daily life and mobility. Good supporting evidence should therefore describe not only what condition you have, but how it impacts your functioning in practical terms.

A strong report may help clarify:

• how your condition affects everyday functioning
• whether you can do relevant activities safely, reliably, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time
• the effect of symptoms such as dissociation, panic, shutdown, hypervigilance, low mood, cognitive overload, or trauma triggers
• why your difficulties may be greater than they appear in brief appointments or unfamiliar settings
• the consistency, severity, and functional consequences of your symptoms over time

What the assessment may involve

Depending on the referral question, this service may include:

• a clinical interview focused on symptoms, daily functioning, and the history of your difficulties
• review of relevant background information and existing documents
• careful exploration of how your condition affects daily living and mobility activities
• psychometric measures where clinically appropriate
• a professionally written report or support letter tailored to the agreed purpose

Some clients need only a brief letter summarising clinically relevant functional difficulties. Others need a fuller standalone assessment and report, particularly if there is no existing treating clinician able to provide detailed evidence.

Important note

I can provide independent clinical evidence where appropriate, but I cannot guarantee the outcome of a PIP claim or appeal. The final decision is made by the Department for Work and Pensions, which considers all the evidence available.

I also only provide reports that I can support professionally and ethically. This means I may sometimes conclude that a brief letter is more appropriate than a full report, or that further assessment is needed before any opinion can responsibly be offered.

My approach

My work is especially suited to clients whose difficulties are complex, trauma-related, longstanding, or easily misunderstood. I specialise in trauma, complex PTSD, dissociation, and psychologically complex presentations, and I aim to write reports that are clinically careful, clear, and properly focused on functional impact rather than vague generalities.

Where appropriate, I can help articulate the real-world impact of symptoms that are often minimised or poorly understood, including dissociative shutdown, trauma-related avoidance, severe emotional dysregulation, cognitive overload, panic, exhaustion, and fluctuating capacity.

Appointments and fees

PIP-related work may be available either as:

• a brief supporting letter for an existing client where clinically appropriate
• a fuller functional report for an existing client
• a standalone psychological assessment and report for a new client

Fees vary according to the level of assessment, complexity, and length of report required. Please enquire with a brief outline of your circumstances and whether you are seeking a short letter, a fuller report, or a standalone assessment.