Adult ADHD Assessments in Kitchener-Waterloo

Take Charge And Achieve Your Best

ADHD isn’t about a lack of effort. It’s a different way of processing the world. Understanding how your brain works is the first step toward working with it, not against it. Our ADHD assessments give you clarity, practical recommendations, and a plan that fits real life at home, school, and work. In-person assessments are available in Kitchener–Waterloo, with secure online options across Ontario.

Smiling young woman leaning over the back of the couch and hugging her partner from behind.
Aesthetic Leaf
Stylized Lightbulb Icon

Diagnostic Clarity

An assessment can help you determine whether difficulties with focus, impulsivity, or restlessness are due to ADHD or another cause, so you can get a clear answer.

Stylized Hand-Heart Image

Guiding Treatment Planning

We help identify your unique strengths and challenges and recommend treatment options, such as therapy, medication, or workplace accommodations, to best support your needs.

Stylized Tree Image Purple

Improving Daily Functioning

By understanding how ADHD affects your work, relationships, and daily routines, we can suggest strategies to help you improve focus, productivity, and overall well-being.

Smiling Woman with curly hair

Why Am I So Disorganized And Easily Distracted?

These challenges often stem from differences in attention, impulse control, and executive functioning.

If you notice persistent difficulties with focus, organization, or completing tasks, an adult ADHD assessment can help identify the underlying cause.

Work or daily life may feel more challenging than expected. You might find it difficult to stay focused, keep organized, or begin new tasks, often feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities. Frequent forgetfulness, misplacing items, or missing appointments can disrupt your routine and cause frustration. Procrastination and trouble managing time may lead to unfinished projects or chronic lateness. You may also struggle to follow through on instructions or plans, which can affect your relationships with others and create misunderstandings. These challenges can impact your confidence, productivity, and overall well-being, making it harder to reach your personal or professional goals.

We offer a clear path forward. Through a detailed assessment process, our Psychologists identify your unique strengths and difficulties, and work with you to develop personalized recommendations. This may include strategies for improving focus and organization, treatment options such as therapy or medication, and guidance for workplace or daily life accommodations. 

At Colibri NeuroWellness, an adult ADHD assessment can help clarify your concerns and guide you toward effective support.
If you are noticing...

With the support and expertise at Colibri NeuroWEllness, you can gain the insight and tools needed to manage ADHD and enhance your quality of life.

Adult ADHD Assessments | Kitchener & Waterloo

Assessments We Offer

Formal assessments for adults help clarify how you learn, think, remember, pay attention, and manage emotions. We use standardized tests, interviews, and observations to develop a comprehensive understanding of your strengths and challenges. Our goal is to provide practical recommendations and next steps that are effective and relevant to your everyday life.

Stylized Brain Image

ADHD-Only Assessments with an NP

For Adults.

ADHD Assessments conducted by our Nurse Practitioner (NP) offer a focused evaluation for adults seeking clarity about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

During these assessments, the Nurse Practitioner utilizes clinical interviewing and validated screening tools to evaluate attention, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. The process includes a review of medical, developmental, and psychosocial history to understand how ADHD symptoms present and affect daily functioning.

Personalized recommendations are offered, which may include therapy, lifestyle strategies, or medication options to support improved focus, organization, and wellbeing.

Stylized Brain Image

ADHD + Women's Health Assessments with an NP

For Adults.

ADHD + Women’s Health + Assessments conducted by our Nurse Practitioner (NP) offer a tailored, whole-person approach that recognizes how hormones, life stages, and gender-specific experiences can shape symptoms of Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

For these assessments, the  Nurse Practitioner uses clinical interviewing and validated screening measures to evaluate attention, executive functioning, and emotional regulation alongside key aspects of women’s health, such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy and postpartum changes, and perimenopause, where hormonal shifts can influence focus, mood, and energy.

 By combining a detailed clinical interview, validated tools, and a review of medical and psychosocial history, this approach provides a nuanced understanding of how ADHD presents in women, along with personalized recommendations that may include therapy, lifestyle strategies, or medication options that align with each stage of life.

Stylized Brain Image

ADHD + Mental Health Assessments with an NP

For Adults.

ADHD + Mental Health Assessments with our Nurse Practitioner (NP) investigate symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) alongside broader mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, and sleep-related issues like insomnia.

The assessment process includes a detailed clinical interview, standardized screening tools, and an in-depth review of developmental, medical, and psychosocial history. This thorough approach allows for a nuanced understanding of how symptoms present, overlap, and impact daily functioning, including work, relationships, and overall quality of life.

By integrating both ADHD and general mental health, this assessment approach helps differentiate between conditions, identify co-occurring concerns, and deliver clear, individualized recommendations, whether that includes therapy, lifestyle strategies, or medication options.

Stylized Brain Image

ADHD-Only Assessments with a Psychologist

For Adults.

ADHD-Only Assessments conducted by a Registered Clinical Psychologist provide a streamlined and targeted option for adults looking to better understand ongoing executive functioning difficulties.

This type of evaluation focuses specifically on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, combining structured clinical interviews, standardized screening measures, and a thorough review of developmental background, education, and day-to-day functioning. In-person cognitive testing may be conducted, if appropriate, to further assess for ADHD.

Because the scope is limited to ADHD, the assessment is more efficient while still maintaining depth and accuracy. The outcome is a well-defined diagnostic conclusion along with practical, personalized recommendations, which may include lifestyle adjustments, therapy options, or medication when appropriate, to support meaningful and evidence-based next steps.

Stylized Brain Image

ADHD + Mental Health Assessments with a Psychologist

For Adults.

ADHD + Mental Health Assessments conducted with a Registered Clinical Psychologist examines symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) alongside broader psychological concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, sleep issues, and challenges related to stress or trauma.

Through a blend of structured interviews, validated assessment measures, and, when appropriate, cognitive testing, the psychologist builds a comprehensive picture of how these symptoms overlap and affect everyday life. In-person cognitive testing may be included as needed to evaluate for ADHD.

By taking this integrated approach, the assessment can distinguish ADHD from other similar-presenting conditions, uncover co-occurring issues, and support a precise and well-informed diagnosis. The final outcome is a detailed report with tailored, evidence-based recommendations, which may include therapy options, lifestyle changes, or referrals for medical evaluation when needed.

Understanding your strengths and challenges can bring relief, validation, and direction, helping you move forward with greater confidence and a clearer path ahead.

Adult ADHD Assessments | Colibri NeuroWellness

Why Work With Us?

Whether you’re seeking an ADHD-Only, Mental Health + ADHD or Women’s Health + ADHD Assessment, our approach goes beyond symptoms to understand you as a whole person, including the factors that may be influencing your attention, wellbeing, and day-to-day functioning.

A laughing man and a woman high five each other at work

Clients can choose a focused ADHD evaluation or opt for a more comprehensive assessment that also explores Mental Health (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress, or trauma) or Women’s Health (e.g., hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, postpartum experiences, or other life-stage-related shifts) concerns that may influence attention, energy, and mood.

This flexible model allows the process to be tailored to each individual’s unique presentation, ensuring a more complete understanding of both ADHD and any co-occurring mental health or biological factors that may be contributing to their symptoms.

Most adult assessments are offered virtually, allowing individuals to complete the process from home in a way that is flexible and accessible. This format is especially helpful for those with busy schedules, mobility challenges, or who live in areas where in-person services are harder to access, while still maintaining a structured and clinically thorough assessment process.

There is an option for in-person testing (if needed) as part of our ADHD assessments with our Psychologists, but the ADHD assessments with our Nurse Practitioner (NP) is fully virtual.

We take a neuro-affirming, whole-person approach that recognizes and respects the natural diversity of brains and nervous systems. Rather than focusing on “deficits,” assessments are designed to understand how each person thinks, processes information, and experiences the world.

The process is adapted to individual needs, including sensory sensitivities, communication preferences, pacing, and executive functioning challenges such as attention, organization, or information processing. This approach aims to create a supportive, flexible assessment experience that reduces stress, promotes clarity, and reflects how someone functions in real life, not just in a clinical setting.

Our Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners follow a semi-structured, evidence-based diagnostic process grounded in established clinical guidelines, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with current best practices. Symptoms of ADHD are evaluated using validated assessment tools alongside standardized clinical interviews to support a thorough and reliable diagnosis.

For a combined Mental Health + ADHD Assessment, symptoms related to concerns such as anxiety disorders, depression, and other aspects of emotional wellbeing are evaluated using standardized diagnostic criteria and validated symptom rating scales. The process also includes a careful review of functional impact and potential contributing factors to ensure an accurate, consistent, and clinically informed diagnosis

Women’s Health + ADHD Assessments also integrate biological and contextual factors alongside clinical findings to better understand symptom patterns and differentiate between overlapping conditions with ADHD. Together, this structured approach ensures that conclusions are reliable, comprehensive, and grounded in both current research and real-world functioning.

These assessments carefully evaluate for other conditions that may overlap with ADHD or present with similar symptoms, whether the focus is on ADHD alone, ADHD + Mental Health concerns, or ADHD + Women’s Health.

This comprehensive approach supports diagnostic clarity and reduces the risk of misdiagnosis.

The assessment focuses on real-world functioning by looking at how symptoms affect everyday life, including work performance, relationships, time management, and emotional regulation. Rather than relying solely on diagnostic criteria, it considers how these challenges show up in practical, day-to-day situations and overall quality of life.

Assessment reports are clear and easy-to-understand with minimal jargon, focused on what your results mean in everyday life.

A report will outline the assessment findings, explain any diagnostic conclusions, and describe how these may be affecting your day-to-day functioning. It also includes practical next-step recommendations that are tailored for you at home, post-secondary school, or work, and can be used to support treatment planning or formal accommodation requests in academic or workplace settings.

Recommendations may include behavioural strategies, psychotherapy options, lifestyle adjustments, and discussion of medication pathways where appropriate.

At Colibri NeuroWellness, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, Psychotherapists, Executive Functioning Coaches, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists work together as part of a coordinated care network, so you don’t have to navigate everything on your own.

When ongoing support is needed, clients are guided toward appropriate therapy, coaching, or other healthcare providers, ensuring smooth continuity of care beyond the assessment itself.

Meet Our Team

Connect With a Practitioner For ADHD Assessments in Kitchener-Waterloo or Online

Heather Wesselo Headshot

Heather Wesselo

MN. NP. CNE.

Nurse Practitioner

Kathy Smolewska, Clinical Director & Clinical Psychologist in Ontario

Dr. Kathy Smolewska

Ph.D., C.Psych.

Clinical Director/
Clinical Psychologist &
Neuropsychologist

At Colibri NeuroWellness...

Adult ADHD Assessments are led by our experienced Clinical Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners, who personalize the process to meet your unique needs. After the assessment you will receive clear results and practical recommendations designed to support you at home, school, and work.

Thin Stylized Heart Line1
a cheerful man wearing glasses and carrying a backpack

Adult ADHD Assessments | Kitchener & Waterloo ​

Our Approach To Adult ADHD Assessments

We start with a brief screening call or email with our administrative assistants to help you choose the right assessment for your needs. You will be emailed an Intake Form so you can describe why you are seeking an assessment and what your goals are.

For Nurse Practitioner–led assessments, a comprehensive picture of your experiences, needs, and goals is gathered during an Initial 60- or 90-Minute Appointment, completed virtually through Jane Video.

Assessments with a Psychologist begin with an Initial Background Interview conducted over Zoom or Jane Video, where you will discuss your history, current concerns, and work together to determine the most appropriate scope of assessment to meet your needs.

We take a whole-person approach to understand how attention, emotional wellbeing, and biological factors may be affecting your everyday life. Along with ADHD symptoms, we can also combine evaluations to explore related Mental Health or women’s health factors.

The goal is to understand not just what symptoms you’re experiencing, but how they connect and show up in real-life situations like work, relationships, and daily routines. This helps create a clear, well-rounded picture that supports accurate diagnosis and leads to practical, personalized recommendations you can actually use in your day-to-day life.

This means looking not only at your areas of difficulty, but also recognizing your strengths, coping strategies, and the ways you have learned to adapt over time.

Many people develop practical workarounds, resilience skills, or high-functioning routines that may not always be visible on the surface, and these are just as important to understand as challenges. By exploring both sides, we get a clearer picture of how you operate in different environments, what supports you naturally use, and where additional strategies or adjustments could make daily life easier and more sustainable.

When appropriate, combined Women’s Health + ADHD Assessments may include additional investigations to ensure a complete understanding of your symptoms.

This can involve connecting you with specialists, arranging bloodwork, or recommending medical tests to explore possible hormonal, endocrine, or other medical factors that may be influencing mood, energy, attention, or overall wellbeing. These referrals are used to support a more accurate and well-rounded picture of your health, ensuring that any contributing physical or medical conditions are identified and addressed alongside psychological or ADHD-related concerns.

After the assessment, you will meet with your Psychologist or Nurse Practitioner for a Feedback Session or Follow-Up Appointment to go over your results in detail. This is an opportunity to ask questions, clarify findings, and discuss next steps so you can leave with a clear understanding of your results and a plan moving forward.

Depending on your needs and the complexity of your assessment, you will receive either a diagnostic letter or a more detailed report summarizing the findings, any diagnoses, and recommended next steps. The option that best fits your situation will be discussed with you when booking and again during your assessment.

  • A diagnostic letter is 1-2 pages that provide a concise summary confirming that you were assessed and outlining any diagnosis made. Both our Psychologists and our NPs offer diagnostic letters.
  • A detailed report offers a more in-depth overview, typically including a 2–10 page clinical summary of the consultation, relevant diagnostic conclusions, personalized recommendations, and a table of assessment results, with a total length usually ranging from approximately 7–18 pages. A detailed report is typically provided only by our Psychologists.

Based on your results, you will receive tailored recommendations designed to help support your needs. This may include strategies, therapies, accommodations, or resources to help you function more comfortably and effectively in everyday environments.

Adult ADHD Assessments | Kitchener & Waterloo

FAQ About Adult ADHD Assessments

The most suitable type of assessment for you will depend on your specific concerns and what you’re hoping to better understand. An ADHD-Only assessment focuses specifically on ADHD, while combined options also explore emotional wellbeing (such as anxiety or depression) or women’s health factors like hormonal changes that may be affecting symptoms.

Most adult assessments are completed virtually, offering a flexible and accessible option while still following a structured and clinically thorough process. Assessments with our Psychologists, however, can include in-person testing if it’s appropriate.

In-person testing may be recommended if a more detailed cognitive or academic evaluation is needed. This is typically discussed with your provider during the initial appointment or interview, particularly when exploring concerns related to learning in areas such as reading, writing, or mathematics. In-person cognitive testing may assess areas like intellectual functioning, attention, processing speed, memory, and executive functioning skills such as planning, organization, problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control. 

The estimated time requirement depends on the assessment type and the complexity involved, and this is spread out between at least 2 appointments. After completion of the assessment, 1-3 weeks are needed to finalize and deliver the report or diagnostic letter.

Assessments with our Nurse Practitioner consist of a 60-90 minute Intake, potential bloodwork and medical tests, and a 30-minute Follow-Up appointment.

ADHD assessments with our Psychologists are more variable. On average, a non-complex Adult ADHD-Only Assessment with a Psychologist includes: 

  • Initial Appointment or Interview: 1 – 2 hours
  • Interview with a Collateral Informant (e.g., spouse/partner, parent, long-time friend): 1 – 2 hours
  • Review of Medical /Educational/Other Documentation Records (if applicable): 1+ hours
  • Questionnaire Administration, Scoring, & Interpretation: 1 – 2 hours
  • Follow-Up Appointment or Feedback Session: 30 minutes – 2 hours

Mental Health or Women’s Health evaluations are added on, as needed, based on your concerns.

No, a referral is not required to schedule an Adult ADHD Assessment. You can contact our clinic directly to book an appointment with one of our Psychologists or Nurse Practitioners. This allows you to access evaluation and support without needing a referral from another healthcare provider.

Unfortunately, OHIP does not cover assessments completed by a Psychologist or Nurse Practitioner at a private practice. Many clients are able to use extended health benefits, employee health benefits, or private insurance plans to cover some or all of the cost, depending on their coverage.

We offer direct billing for most insurance plans for assessments, however, because details vary between policies, it’s recommend that you review your plan to confirm coverage for the services provided, any limits, and when your benefits reset.

Coverage for assessments conducted by a Registered Psychologist are classified as “Psychological Services”. Nurse Practitioner (NP) assessments may be covered under a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) or a Wellness Spending Account (WSA).

Women’s health is an important part of understanding how symptoms present and change over time. These assessments explore how hormonal shifts, such as those related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and perimenopause, can influence attention, emotional regulation, sleep, energy levels, and cognitive functioning. Because these changes can sometimes mimic or intensify symptoms of ADHD, they are carefully considered alongside your overall history and day-to-day experiences.

The goal is to understand whether symptoms are consistent over time or fluctuate with hormonal changes, and how this may overlap with or impact other factors such as mood or stress. This integrated approach helps ensure a more accurate understanding of what is driving your symptoms, leading to clearer diagnosis and more tailored, effective recommendations.

Assessments are primarily focused on understanding your symptoms, confirming a diagnosis when appropriate, and providing clear, individualized recommendations for next steps. This may include therapeutic strategies, behavioural supports, workplace or academic accommodations, or guidance on further care options.

At Colibri NeuroWellness, we also offer medication management with our Nurse Practitioner if medication is considered appropriate as part of your treatment plan, allowing for continuity of care and coordinated support following your assessment. We also have Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Executive Functioning Coaches who can provide additional treatment options after the assessment has been completed.

Have more questions? See All FAQs

Adult ADHD Assessments | Kitchener & Waterloo

Life After An
ADHD Assessment

Getting clear answers is a powerful step. After an assessment, you gain a plan you can use, and that’s when daily life starts to feel less overwhelming.

After an assessment, you may notice:

“When we understand ADHD as a difference in self‑regulation, not a lack of intelligence or effort, everything becomes clearer and more compassionate.”

Colibri NeuroWellness

How To Get Started

You deserve to feel supported and understood, and connecting with us is simple. You can reach out in the way that works best for you.

Book a free 20-minute consultation online, send a message through the form, or contact us by phone or email.

Book Online
Book your free 20-minute consultation.

info@colibrineurowellness.com

826 King Street North, Unit 17, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4G8

Thin Stylized Heart Line2
Send us a message

We provide in-person therapy in Waterloo and surrounding communities, including Kitchener, Cambridge, Elmira, and St. Jacobs. For those across Ontario, we also offer secure virtual therapy so you can access support from the comfort of your home.

Dr. Smolewska & Associates is now Colibri NeuroWellness!

Same trusted team and quality therapy and assessment services to help you find clarity, strength, and balance.