ADHD Assessment and Support in Brisbane

ADHD assessment and therapy with registered psychologists

Brisbane Counselling Centre has supported people in Brisbane since 1989. Psychologists in attendance at the Centre offer comprehensive ADHD assessments for adults and adolescents, and practical, evidence-based therapy for people who already have a diagnosis or suspect they may have ADHD.

An assessment gives you a clear answer and a detailed written report. Therapy gives you strategies that work with the way your brain works, rather than against it.

Please call to speak with our reception team about which pathway suits you.

Written and clinically reviewed by Natascha Madden, Registered Psychologist (AHPRA reg. PSY0000953827), Brisbane Counselling Centre. Last reviewed: October 2026

What isADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control, activity levels and emotional regulation. It begins in childhood, although many people are not recognised until adolescence or adulthood.

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, laziness or a lack of willpower. It reflects differences in how the brain manages attention, motivation and self-regulation, which is why people with ADHD often struggle with tasks they genuinely want to do.

There are three presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. The inattentive presentation is the one most often missed, particularly in girls and women, because it is quieter and easily mistaken for daydreaming, anxiety or a lack of effort.

According to the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD, ADHD affects between 6% and 10% of Australian children and adolescents. There are no Australian adult prevalence studies using current diagnostic criteria, but the Guideline estimates that adult rates are likely to be similar to international findings of between 2% and 6% of the population.

What does ADHD look like in adults?

Adult ADHD rarely looks like the hyperactive child most people picture. More often it shows up as:

• Starting lots of things and finishing few, or leaving tasks until the last minute
• Losing track of time, running late and missing appointments
• Struggling to get started on tasks that feel boring or overwhelming, even important ones
• Drifting off in conversations or meetings, or rereading the same page several times
• Misplacing keys, phones, wallets and paperwork
• Feeling restless, finding it hard to relax, or interrupting people
• Impulsive decisions, including impulsive spending
• Strong emotional reactions, frustration, and sensitivity to criticism or rejection
• Hyperfocus on things that interest you, to the point of losing hours

Many adults have built elaborate coping systems – lists, late nights, over-preparing – that work until life gets busier. A new job, a promotion, university, becoming a parent or perimenopause is often the point where those systems stop holding.

How do I know ifI have ADHD?

ADHD can only be diagnosed through a comprehensive assessment with a qualified practitioner. Online quizzes and social media checklists can prompt useful questions, but they cannot tell ADHD apart from conditions that look similar, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems or burnout.

A diagnosis generally requires that symptoms have been present since childhood, show up in more than one area of life such as work and home, and cause real difficulty with day-to-day functioning.

Many people who come for an ADHD assessment also have anxiety, depression or a history of trauma. A good assessment looks at the whole picture, so that whatever is going on is identified and treated.

If some of this sounds familiar, you don’t need to have it all worked out before you get in touch.

What does an ADHD assessment involve?

ADHD assessments at Brisbane Counselling Centre follow a structured, multi-step process in line with the Australian ADHD Clinical Practice Guideline.

1. Initial appointment. You meet with a psychologist to talk through your concerns and history, and together decide whether a full assessment is the right next step. The initial appointment is $275.
2. Clinical interview. A detailed conversation about your development, schooling, work, relationships, health and family history. For teenagers, parents are usually interviewed as well.
3. Questionnaires and rating scales. You complete validated measures and someone who knows you well, such as a partner or parent, often completes an observer version of the assessments. Old school reports and previous assessments are helpful too.
4. Screening for related conditions. Your psychologist checks for anxiety, depression, trauma, learning difficulties and autism, which commonly occur alongside ADHD or can look like it.
5. Written report and feedback. Your psychologist explains the findings in plain language and gives you a detailed written report with practical recommendations for treatment, home, work and study.

Full assessment fees start from $2,500 depending on what is required. Read more about psychological assessments or see our fees and rebates.

What happens after an ADHD diagnosis?

A diagnosis is a starting point. Treatment for ADHD works best when it combines several approaches, tailored to you.

ADHD-informed therapy Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) adapted for adult ADHD has good evidence for improving organisation, procrastination and day-to-day functioning, with or without medication. Therapy also builds practical skills in planning, time management and emotional regulation, using approaches drawn from ACT and DBT.

Understanding and self-compassion Many adults feel relief when years of being called lazy or disorganised finally make sense. Many also feel grief or frustration about what might have been different. Therapy gives you space to work through both, and to replace self-criticism with strategies that fit.

EMDR is not a treatment for ADHD itself, but it can be very helpful where ADHD comes with a history of trauma, anxiety or strong negative beliefs about yourself. Read more on our EMDR page.

Support for partners and families ADHD affects the people you live with. Sessions can include a partner or parent to help everyone understand what is happening and reduce conflict. See couples and marriage counselling and counselling for parents.

Medication Psychologists do not prescribe medication. If you want to explore medication, your report can be provided to your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. In Queensland, GPs have been able to prescribe ADHD medication for adults since 1 December 2025. Your GP can tell you what applies in your situation.

Adjustments at work and study Your report can support reasonable adjustments at work, university access plans and school-based support.

Help is available

If you have been wondering whether ADHD explains what you have been struggling with, or you already have a diagnosis and want practical support, a caring professional can help you make sense of it and move forward. Take the courageous step and reach out for help today.

Please call to speak with our reception team to discuss your needs further. The Brisbane psychologists and counsellors are available to help.

If you need urgent support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours. In an emergency, call 000.