PTSD Assessment: Private PTSD and Complex PTSD Diagnosis for Adults
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a frightening, life-threatening, or deeply distressing event. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops in a similar way, but is more often linked to prolonged or repeated trauma – such as ongoing abuse, domestic violence, or events experienced in childhood.¹,²
A PTSD assessment is used to determine whether your symptoms are consistent with PTSD or Complex PTSD, while also ruling out other conditions such as anxiety, depression, or dissociative disorders. Taking a PTSD test may bring you a sense of clarity about what you’ve been experiencing and offer guidance on the next steps to take. Private PTSD assessments are available in person in London and online for adults across the UK.
The Benefits of Getting a PTSD Assessment
There are several benefits to being assessed for PTSD or Complex PTSD as an adult.
01
Validation and Understanding
- A PTSD or C-PTSD diagnosis often brings clarity and validation, helping you make sense of long-standing symptoms – such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, or feeling emotionally cut off – that you may have lived with for years.³
02
Access to Evidence-Based Treatment
- If PTSD or C-PTSD is confirmed, recognised, evidence-based treatments – such as trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, or Cognitive Processing Therapy – can be explored to help you reduce symptoms and process difficult memories at a manageable pace.⁴
03
Improved Relationships
- Trauma can affect how safe you feel with other people. Understanding the role of PTSD or C-PTSD can help you address relationship difficulties, rebuild trust, and feel more connected to those around you.⁵
04
Workplace and Educational Support
- A formal diagnosis may support requests for reasonable adjustments at work or in further education, such as flexible hours, time off for therapy, or adjustments to reduce exposure to known triggers.⁶
05
A Clearer Path Forward
- An assessment provides a structured way to understand your symptoms and how they connect to your experiences, helping you and any future therapist plan support that fits your needs.
What a Private PTSD Assessment Involves
As a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, I assess and diagnose PTSD and Complex PTSD in adults, with assessments available in person in London and online across the UK. To help you better understand the process, I’ve outlined the criteria I consider and the process I follow below.
Diagnosis Criteria
PTSD assessments follow established diagnostic guidelines, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which are used by psychologists and psychiatrists worldwide. Complex PTSD is formally recognised in ICD-11.⁷,⁸
To meet the criteria for PTSD, symptoms must include:
- Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or other deeply distressing events
- Re-experiencing the event – for example, through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories
- Avoidance of reminders linked to the trauma, such as people, places, or conversations
- Negative changes in mood and thinking, such as persistent fear, guilt, shame, or feeling detached
- Heightened arousal, including being easily startled, on edge, or struggling to sleep
For a diagnosis of Complex PTSD, the core symptoms of PTSD are present alongside three additional features:
- Difficulties with emotional regulation – such as feeling easily overwhelmed or emotionally numb
- A persistently negative view of yourself, often involving deep shame or feelings of worthlessness
- Ongoing difficulties in relationships, including feeling distant from others or struggling to feel safe
Symptoms must also have been present for more than a few weeks and significantly affect daily life, and not be better explained by another condition.
What Happens During an Assessment?
- During the assessment, I will ask a range of questions to understand your experiences and whether they align with an anxiety disorder. This often includes your medical and mental health history, current symptoms, sleep, key relationships, work and home life, and any specific situations you find yourself avoiding. We’ll also explore how long symptoms have been present and the impact they’re having on your day-to-day functioning.
- I use validated clinical tools – such as the GAD-7 and structured clinical interviews – alongside the conversation to help build an accurate picture, and consider whether other conditions (such as depression, ADHD, autism, or PTSD) may better explain or sit alongside what you’re experiencing.⁷
- There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. The assessment is there to make sense of your experiences. If a diagnosis is made, I will talk you through what this means in practical terms, including the type of anxiety disorder, treatment options, and the next steps available to you.
Book a Private PTSD Assessment in London
If you suspect that you may have PTSD or Complex PTSD, you are welcome to get in touch. I am a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS). I have specialist training and experience in trauma assessment and treatment, and have worked across NHS services, private clinics, and academic settings.
What this means for you:
- Your assessment is conducted to the highest clinical standards, in line with NICE guidance for PTSD
- Every step of the process is informed by research and best practice, ensuring accuracy and reliability
- Results are interpreted in a way that is meaningful and actionable, helping you understand your symptoms and access tailored support
- You can choose between in-person appointments in central London or secure online sessions, depending on what feels most comfortable
Contact me to arrange an assessment or to ask any questions you have about the PTSD and Complex PTSD assessment process.
FAQs About PTSD and C-PTSD Assessment
It’s natural to have questions about being assessed for trauma. Below, I’ve answered some of the most common queries I receive about PTSD and Complex PTSD assessments.
PTSD and Complex PTSD assessments are carried out by appropriately trained mental health professionals, such as clinical or counselling psychologists and psychiatrists.⁹ As a psychologist trained in trauma assessment, please reach out to me if you are searching for a private PTSD test for adults in London or online.
PTSD typically develops after a single traumatic event or a smaller number of events, while Complex PTSD is more often linked to prolonged or repeated trauma – particularly when escape felt difficult or impossible, such as in childhood abuse or domestic violence. Both share the core symptoms of PTSD, but C-PTSD also involves longer-standing difficulties with emotions, self-image, and relationships.²
Yes. PTSD and Complex PTSD assessments can be completed online via secure video sessions, which can make accessing assessment more manageable – particularly if travel or being in unfamiliar places feels difficult. In-person appointments in London are also available.
No. Assessment focuses on understanding your symptoms and the impact of what happened, rather than asking you to recount distressing events in detail. You are always in control of how much you share, and we move at a pace that feels manageable.
Some of the key signs of PTSD and Complex PTSD include:¹,²
- Flashbacks, intrusive memories, or vivid nightmares
- Avoiding people, places, or conversations linked to the trauma
- Feeling constantly on edge, easily startled, or unable to relax
- Difficulties sleeping or concentrating
- Feeling emotionally numb, cut off, or detached from others
- Persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness
- Difficulties trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
- Strong emotional reactions that feel hard to manage