Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in London
Considered, consultant-led assessment
Every child’s profile is distinct, and a diagnosis is only useful when it is reached with care. Dr Athina Zakynthinaki, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, leads each assessment, drawing on more than fifteen years as an NHS consultant specialising in neurodevelopmental assessments. Her approach is rigorous in method and neuroaffirmative in spirit.
Your child is understood in the context of family, school and development, using validated tools alongside a thorough clinical conversation. You leave with a clear formulation, a detailed written report and recommendations that are practical for home and for school, with ADHD medication and continuing care available within the same service where appropriate.
Consultant-led
Remote appointments across the UK
Specialist Multidisciplinary Team
CQC Registered
Reserve Time to Experience Our Expertise
Current waiting time for an initial consultation: approximately 2-3 weeks.
Why families choose our clinic
Consultant-led assessment and ongoing care
Every assessment and diagnostic conclusion is clinically led by Dr Athina Zakynthinaki, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Where ADHD medication is appropriate, we can provide initiation, titration and ongoing review within the same service. We can also assess and treat co-occurring mental health difficulties rather than considering neurodevelopmental needs in isolation.
A genuinely multidisciplinary autism assessment
Our autism pathway includes the ADI-R developmental interview and an ADOS-2-informed remote observational assessment. The assessment is completed by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Zakynthinaki and appropriately trained senior speech and language therapy or occupational therapy clinicians. Information from the child, family, school and assessment team is considered together before a diagnostic conclusion is reached.
ADHD assessments conducted by a consultant psychiatrist
Your child’s ADHD clinical assessment and diagnostic decision are personally conducted by Dr Athina Zakynthinaki, a medically qualified Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
Experience with complex presentations
We have extensive experience of assessing children and adolescents with overlapping neurodevelopmental conditions, anxiety, low mood, autistic burnout, school avoidance, masking and previous assessments that have been inconclusive.
Personalised care and clinical continuity
Families have continuity with a named consultant who understands their child’s presentation and remains clinically responsible for their care.
Where further psychiatric care or ADHD medication is needed, treatment can continue within the same service.
Our Services
Neurodevelopmental Assessments
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A comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment including the ADI-R developmental interview and an ADOS-2-informed remote observational assessment.
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A comprehensive, NICE-guided diagnostic assessment for children and adolescents conducted by Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Includes detailed symptom assessment across settings and careful consideration of co-occurring needs, with clear conclusions and practical recommendations for home and school.
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An integrated pathway for children and adolescents whose presentation may reflect both autism and ADHD. The assessment brings together the full autism and ADHD evidence, allowing overlapping features and co-occurring needs to be considered within one coordinated diagnostic process.
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Consultant psychiatric assessment for concerns such as anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related difficulties and complex presentations involving both mental health and neurodevelopmental needs.
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Alongside our assessment services, we offer medication management for children and young people with a range of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. This includes initiating medication following a new diagnosis, titration and monitoring, repeat prescriptions, follow-up reviews, and annual reviews. All prescribing is evidence-based, follows NICE guidelines.
Psychiatric Assessments and ADHD treatment
Our Process
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Submit a new patient enquiry
Complete the short enquiry form with a brief description of your child’s needs. The information is reviewed to determine whether our remote service is appropriate and safe for your child.
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Initial Consultation
You and your child will meet with Dr Zakynthinaki to discuss their development, strengths, current difficulties and the questions you would like the assessment to address. The most appropriate pathway—autism, ADHD, combined assessment or psychiatric care—can then be agreed.
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Pre-assessment information
You will receive the relevant questionnaires and requests for supporting information. Depending on the pathway, this may include information from parents, the young person and school, together with previous reports.
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Specialist assessment appointments
The required clinical appointments are arranged once the essential pre-assessment information has been received. ADHD clinical assessments are personally conducted by Dr Zakynthinaki. Autism assessments include a detailed developmental interview and an ADOS-2-informed observational assessment conducted by trained multidisciplinary clinicians.
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Diagnostic review and feedback
All available evidence is reviewed before the diagnostic conclusion is reached. A feedback appointment is then offered to explain the findings, answer questions and discuss recommendations and any appropriate next steps.
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Written report
The assessment report will explain the diagnostic conclusion, clinical reasoning and practical recommendations for home and education. It is normally provided within five working days of the feedback appointment.
What families say about their experience
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
A private ADHD diagnosis doesn’t guarantee that your GP will prescribe medication or agree to shared care, so ongoing treatment may remain private. If NHS treatment matters to you, please check with your GP before booking and starting private treatment.
Funding your care
We accept insured patients for initial psychiatric consultations. We work with all major insurance companies including BUPA, Aviva, WPA, Cigna, Allianz.
Authorisation for psychiatric consultations does not cover autism or ADHD assessments. Autism and ADHD assessments are self-funded, as insurers generally don’t cover them.
Ready to make an enquiry?
Phone : 020 8681 50 50
Tell us briefly about your child’s needs. Every enquiry is reviewed before an appointment is confirmed so that we can determine whether our remote service and the requested pathway are appropriate.
Email : bookings@childpsychiatry.uk
Medical Secretary: Ms Ruth Martin
Is our clinic right for your child? Our clinic is a remote, non-emergency service for ADHD and autism assessment and ADHD treatment. We are not able to help if your child is currently self-harming, has had thoughts of suicide or a suicide attempt in the last 3 months, or is currently receiving treatment from an NHS CAMHS team. Please contact your GP or CAMHS. If your child is in danger, call 999 or NHS 111 (mental health option).