Level 2: ADHD & Psychiatric Assessment

Offered remotely to adult clients throughout California. In-person assessment is available upon request.

A Level 2 ADHD + Psychiatric Assessment includes the same evaluation procedures as a Level 1 assessment, along with a deeper assessment of psychiatric symptoms.

This type of assessment is particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing mental health conditions that may be affecting attention and concentration. Individuals who have undergone mental health treatment but continue to struggle with attention and focus, raising questions about underlying ADHD, are well-suited for this type of evaluation. This evaluation is also appropriate for those with complex mental health histories that require a more detailed examination to ensure an accurate ADHD diagnosis.

This evaluation includes an assessment of:

Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Trauma disorders
Substance use disorders

Key Elements of a Level 2 Assessment

Clinical Interview
- Meeting with a psychologist to collect a detailed history of ADHD symptoms and behavior, and their impact on day-to-day functioning in work, school, and relationships.
- Exploring family history of ADHD. ADHD has a strong genetic component.
- In-depth review of current and past psychiatric symptoms.
Structured Diagnostic ADHD Interview
- A structured diagnostic tool is used to systematically assess ADHD symptoms to ensure consistency in the evaluation and that diagnostic criteria are met.
Standardized ADHD Measures and Rating Scales
- These assessment tools are completed by the client and others who know the client well (friends, family members, or colleagues).
- Rating scales help the clinician determine symptom severity in multiple environments.
- Standardized tools are measured against norms in the general population.
Standardized Psychiatric Measures
- A robust standardized measure of psychiatric symptoms will be used to investigate the presence of psychiatric disorders.
Diagnosis and Results
- If supported by the data, both ADHD and psychiatric diagnoses will be provided.
- A 2-3 page summary of findings will be included.
- Results may be particularly helpful for psychiatric providers to guide decisions about psychiatric medication when multiple diagnoses may be present.
- Results may support requests for school accommodations that do not require cognitive testing.

Treatment and Accommodation Recommendations Offered

This type of evaluation is helpful for adults seeking increased self-understanding regarding ADHD and their mental health, or those wishing to proceed with psychiatric medication and/or therapy targeting ADHD as well as other psychiatric symptoms. The results of the evaluation may be provided as documentation to a prescribing provider. A Level 2 assessment is generally adequate in informing a prescriber’s decision to medicate. However, in rare cases a prescriber may require more extensive testing (Level 3) before making a decision to proceed with medication. The decision to prescribe medication based on your diagnosis from Bay Area Family Therapy Services is up to your prescriber. Bay Area Family Therapy Services does not provide medication management.

This level may fit if you:

Have current or past psychiatric diagnosis that notably affect your attention, focus, concentration, or motivation.
Have more than one current psychiatric diagnosis.
Have psychiatric symptoms that affect your daily functioning.
Your provider has suggested that you might have an “underlying ADHD.”
Are seeking school or work accommodations for ADHD and your school or employer guidelines do not require cognitive or neuropsychological testing. Additional fee may apply to fill out paperwork.

At or before the beginning of your first appointment, your clinician will seek to clarify with you the level of assessment that best suits your needs. However, it is not always possible to tell in advance which type of evaluation will best suit your needs, and your clinician may recommend a different Level based on information shared in the first session. If you book Level 2 Assessment but your clinician feels a Level 1 Assessment would be sufficient, you will have the option to proceed with a Level 1 Assessment.

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