Second opinion
Does your diagnosis fit?
Have you or your child been assessed, and are you left with a feeling that it doesn't quite fit — or that something was overlooked?
Why it makes sense to ask us
A second opinion is only worth something if it comes from people who have done the assessments themselves. We both have.
This is worth stating clearly, because there is a widespread misunderstanding: psychologists do diagnose. In psychiatry, a psychologist can have full responsibility for an assessment, and that is exactly the work Shirin has done daily for many years.
What we can do — and what has to happen elsewhere
As psychologists in private practice, we cannot change a diagnosis that is already in your psychiatric record. It can only be changed where it was made.
But that is not what is needed first, either. The route looks like this:
- We carry out an independent, thorough psychological assessment of what, in our professional judgement, lies behind the difficulties.
- If our assessment differs from the diagnosis that was made, you receive it in writing, together with a treatment plan.
- With that, you can approach the psychiatric service yourself and ask for the diagnosis to be looked at again — and if it turns out to be wrong, it can be removed there.
We already work with psychiatrists, and this is how the system is meant to work.
Why a second look often finds something
Not because psychiatry gets it wrong. But because several conditions look alike from the outside, and because an assessment done within a limited time has less room to tell them apart than a course of several sessions does.
This is especially true of ADHD, where the core symptoms — difficulty concentrating, restlessness, impulsivity, forgetfulness — are shared with a number of other conditions:
- Complex PTSD and developmental trauma. A nervous system on constant alert cannot hold its focus. It looks like inattention and is something else entirely.
- Prolonged stress and burnout. Lead to measurable memory and concentration problems, which go away again when the strain does.
- Anxiety and depression. Both affect executive functions directly.
- Chronic sleep deprivation. Can explain the whole picture on its own.
- Dissociation. Often misread as being absent or disengaged.
The reverse is also true: some people are told it is stress or anxiety when it is really undetected ADHD or autism. The assessment goes both ways.
How it works
- First session. We go through the history, what you were assessed for, and what makes you doubt it.
- Case history and testing. We look at developmental history, stressors, trauma and sleep — and use relevant psychological instruments where they add something.
- Assessment. You receive a written psychological assessment with our conclusion and a treatment plan.
- The way forward. If the assessment indicates that the diagnosis should be looked at again, we help get it passed on to a doctor or psychiatrist.
An honest word about what to expect
Sometimes the conclusion is that the original assessment holds. Then that is what we say — and for many, that is actually the answer they came for. We do not write one-sided statements, and we do not produce assessments to order.
Who this is especially relevant for
- You, if you have been assessed for ADHD but there is a history of trauma that no one asked about
- You, if you have been given medication without any noticeable effect
- You, if you were assessed during a period of massive strain and doubt whether the picture was representative
- Parents who do not feel that the diagnosis explains their child
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Are psychologists allowed to diagnose?
Yes. Psychologists diagnose, and in child and adolescent psychiatry a psychologist can have full responsibility for an assessment. Shirin Azour has worked in child and adolescent psychiatry since 2018 and has assessed and diagnosed daily for years. Simon Secher has carried out initial assessments in an educational psychology setting and independent, broad child psychological evaluations.
So can you remove my diagnosis?
Not as private practitioners. A diagnosis in your psychiatric record can only be changed where it was made. What we can do is carry out an independent and thorough psychological assessment — and if it points somewhere else, you receive it in writing together with a treatment plan. With that in hand, you can go to the psychiatric service yourself and ask for the diagnosis to be looked at again.
What exactly do I get?
A written psychological assessment based on sessions, case history and relevant testing. It describes what we see, what speaks for and against the different explanations, what we conclude, and what we recommend — both in terms of treatment and of next steps.
How long does it take?
Typically three to five sessions, depending on how complex the picture is. We tell you in advance, once we know the history.
What does it cost?
The sessions are charged as ordinary sessions — see prices. The written assessment is agreed separately.
Can you be used against my psychiatrist?
No, and that is not what we do. We do not write one-sided statements and do not produce assessments to order. We describe what we see professionally — and sometimes the conclusion is that the original assessment holds.
There is no waiting list to join first
Book directly in the calendar, or call if you would rather talk to a person.