Dr. Sophie Johnson

Assessment Dr Rao and Coaching S Johnson

In summer of 2021, at age 47, I had an online adult ADHD assessment with Dr Rao. She is clearly very knowledgeable and experienced with ADHD. My assessment was very thorough, starting with an in-depth questionnaire that I completed and questionnaires that my husband (as someone who knows me well now) and my sister (as someone who knew me as a child) completed. The appointment itself was around 3 hours long. She was very professional and kind, asked probing questions gently, gave me time to respond, and explained things when I had questions. She assessed all of the possible symptoms, how they express (or not) in me now and in my past, how they affect (or not) my home/work/social life, and she explored all of the possible other diagnoses that have to be ruled out as explanations for the symptoms. She used the DSM5 criteria, which I’ve read is the ‘gold standard’. At the end she gave me her conclusion and explained it in detail and gave me time to ask questions and talk about how I felt about it.

Since then I’ve had follow up appointments and did medication titration with Dr Rao herself. She gave me lots of information about different types of medications, discussed all pros and cons clearly, was very careful to not bias my opinions and choices, and made me feel comfortable asking any questions. She arranged a shared-care agreement with my NHS England GP (and later with my NHS Wales GP, when I moved house) so I can get my medication through the NHS.

I chose the ADHD Center originally because once I learned about ADHD, that I might have it, and how long most assessment waiting lists are, I was worried about what waiting for years not knowing if I had it or not might do to my mental health. I am lucky that I could afford to use the ADHD Centre to get an assessment with only a trivial wait (about 2 weeks)! But aside from the waiting times, I have heard so many other worrying things about assessments and titration through other providers (private and NHS), that I am really glad that I chose the ADHD Centre. They really are experts. I felt like I had a very thorough, appropriate, well-informed assessment and titration.

I also had some ADHD coaching through the Centre with Sophie Johnson (8 sessions or so, I think) and those were very positive too. She clearly also has a lot of knowledge and experience and encouraged me lead the direction of our discussions. She offered strategies to cope only if I specifically asked for them. I think most of us adults have tried and invented so many strategies on our own over the decades, but she had some I hadn’t heard of. But mainly she was especially helpful with getting me to question my underlying attitudes towards my symptoms and life in a gentle way that helped me learn to be more forgiving and accepting of myself.

I am extremely grateful to the ADHD Centre. I am not being dramatic when I say that it has really changed my life. I feel like I am now on a real path towards inner peace and not just running on a hamster wheel (and continually falling off) like I had been for decades.