When a second opinion may be helpful

A second-opinion assessment can be valuable when you have questions about a previous diagnosis, when treatment has not made sense in light of your experience, or when the full complexity of your difficulties may not yet have been properly considered.

People seek a second opinion for many reasons. Sometimes they have been told they have anxiety or depression, but suspect there is a deeper trauma picture. Sometimes they have been given a personality disorder diagnosis and are wondering whether complex PTSD, dissociation, autism, ADHD, or developmental trauma may better explain what is happening. Sometimes they are simply left with the feeling that the story they have been told about themselves is too small for the life they have actually lived.

Common reasons people seek a second opinion

• you have received a diagnosis that does not feel right or does not fully explain your difficulties
• you have been given multiple diagnoses without a clear overarching formulation
• you suspect trauma, complex PTSD, or dissociation may have been overlooked
• you are wondering about overlap between trauma and neurodivergence
• previous treatment has felt mismatched, unhelpful, or insufficiently tailored to your actual difficulties
• you would like a more thoughtful, in-depth psychological perspective on a complex presentation
• you need greater clarity before beginning therapy, pursuing an assessment pathway, or seeking supporting documentation

What a second opinion can offer

A good second opinion is not simply about agreeing or disagreeing with another clinician. It is about thinking carefully and independently about the whole picture. That may include symptoms, developmental history, trauma history, attachment patterns, dissociation, neurodivergent traits, personality organisation, functional impairment, and the broader emotional structure of the person’s difficulties.

In some cases, a second opinion confirms that an earlier diagnosis was broadly accurate, while adding nuance or treatment recommendations. In other cases, it identifies something important that has been missed. Either way, the aim is greater clarity, not unnecessary complication.

My approach

I specialise in complex, trauma-informed psychological assessment. My work is especially suited to presentations where the picture is layered, longstanding, or not easily captured by a brief or standardised approach. I have particular expertise in trauma, complex PTSD, dissociation, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, attachment-related difficulties, and psychologically complex adult presentations.

My approach is both clinically rigorous and deeply human. I do not see diagnosis as a matter of attaching labels for their own sake. I look carefully at what may underlie the symptoms, how the difficulties developed, what has been defended against, and how the person’s life has been shaped by these patterns over time.

Where appropriate, I also consider questions of overlap or differential diagnosis, including whether a presentation may involve trauma, dissociation, autism, ADHD, mood disorder, or other intersecting factors.

What the assessment may involve

Depending on the referral question, a second-opinion assessment may include:

• a detailed clinical interview
• review of relevant previous reports or diagnostic letters where available
• careful exploration of symptom history, trauma history, developmental background, and current functioning
• psychometric measures where clinically appropriate
• differential diagnostic thinking and broader psychological formulation
• verbal feedback and, where agreed in advance, a written summary or fuller report

Some clients seek a second opinion for personal clarity alone. Others need it to help guide treatment, support a referral pathway, or inform further assessment or documentation.

Who this service is for

This service is for adults who feel that their psychological picture has not yet been fully understood. It may be especially valuable for people with longstanding or complex difficulties, mixed symptom presentations, trauma histories, dissociative experiences, or uncertainty about prior diagnoses.

It is also well suited to thoughtful clients who want more than a quick label. Some people are not looking for a new diagnosis so much as a more accurate and meaningful understanding of themselves.

Appointments

Second-opinion assessments are available online and in central London. If you would like to enquire, please get in touch with a brief outline of your concerns, any previous diagnoses or reports, and whether you are seeking verbal feedback, a written summary, or a fuller report.