How do I get an appointment for an adult ADHD Assessment?
The first step is to go to a primary healthcare provider and ask for a referral to my service. Primary healthcare providers include family physicians and nurse practitioners. They work in a few different settings such as Family Medicine Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, Urgent and Primary Care Clinics, and Online Clinics. Your primary healthcare provider must provide a complete referral and then fax it to my office. Please see the Referral Information for important details about services offered at my office, including the Referral Form for consideration.
How long will I have to wait to get an appointment for our telehealth meeting?
The wait-time for an appointment depends on a few variables such as; my office receiving the referral from your primary healthcare provider - complete with your email address, your return of the Online Assessment Form, your availability, and my office appointment availably. Presently, the first appointment is approximately 2 to 4 weeks after my office receives your completed Online Assessment Form.
What is the status of my referral?
To manage demand, Dr. Emes’s office accepts Adult ADHD assessment referrals via fax only. In compliance with CPSBC guidelines, all successful transmissions are processed and confirmed via return fax within two business days. No need to wait months to learn the status of your referral. Please note: the absence of a return fax means the referral did not arrive and the patient is not on our waitlist. For status updates, patients should contact their referring provider directly to ask if a faxed response has been received from our office. For detailed instructions about the status of your referral see: Referral Status
What services do you provide at your office?
This office provides specialized diagnostic services for adults (18+) with ADHD as their primary psychiatric concern, offering both telehealth and in-person assessments. While the practice does not offer individual follow-up care or medication management, ongoing group-based support is available through a weekly in-person Treatment and Support Group facilitated by Dr. Craig Emes for those in the Greater Victoria area. For a referral to be accepted, a valid patient email address and provincial insurance coverage are strictly required. Please note that services do not include the initiation or continuation of prescription medications, nor the completion of work, tax, or insurance-related documentation. Reassessments are available after six months, provided a new referral is submitted by a primary healthcare provider. For more information see: Referral Information
How do you diagnose ADHD in Adults?
Diagnosing ADHD in adults isn’t as simple as taking a quick blood test or a three-minute social media quiz; it’s more like conducting a forensic investigation into your own history. Because symptoms like "zoning out" or "starting ten projects at once" can easily be mistaken for stress or simple burnout, a healthcare professional—typically a psychiatrist or psychologist—must perform a comprehensive clinical evaluation. They aren't just looking for current quirks; they are searching for a persistent pattern of behavior that didn't just show up last Tuesday, but has been causing significant friction since childhood across major areas of life, from career performance to personal relationships. By using standardized rating scales and carefully ruling out other "look-alike" conditions like anxiety or sleep disorders, they help transition a person from a lifetime of frustration to a clear, evidence-based understanding of how their brain is wired. At Diagnosing Adult ADHD you will find the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.
What are my Adult ADHD treatment options?
The first thing to know about ADHD treatment is that it is not only treated with medications. Yes, ADHD medications are very effective but their use alone will only take you so far, as a comprehensive treatment plan involves a multimodal holistic approach. Did you know that over 80% of adults with ADHD also have another mental health condition such as anxiety, depression or substance addiction? Your treatment plan should take into consideration all of your mental health conditions, not just the ADHD. At Treating Adult ADHD you will find detailed information and resources for managing Adult ADHD.
Are their any resources for College and University students in British Columbia?
Most postsecondary institutions in British Columbia have a "Centre for Accessible Learning" to assist with resources for adults diagnosed with ADHD. Here are a few local resource centres: UBC, SFU, BCIT, VIU, Royal Roads University, Camosun College and University of Victoria. In general, these centres help with the process of obtaining academic accommodations and financial support. Theses services first require that you provide their office with "documentation of disability." For academic accommodations, this documentation is usually the Verification of Mental Health Disorder form. Requesting financial support usually begins with the Appendix 8 form which can be downloaded from StudentAidBC. Together with the ADHD consultation report sent from my office, your referring primary healthcare provider has all the information required to assist you in completing these forms. See Treating Adult ADHD for specific recommendations for support.
How much do these services cost?
NO COST, as I am a medical specialist and your BC provincial insurance plan (MSP) pays for the service.
The first step is to go to a primary healthcare provider and ask for a referral to my service. Primary healthcare providers include family physicians and nurse practitioners. They work in a few different settings such as Family Medicine Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, Urgent and Primary Care Clinics, and Online Clinics. Your primary healthcare provider must provide a complete referral and then fax it to my office. Please see the Referral Information for important details about services offered at my office, including the Referral Form for consideration.
How long will I have to wait to get an appointment for our telehealth meeting?
The wait-time for an appointment depends on a few variables such as; my office receiving the referral from your primary healthcare provider - complete with your email address, your return of the Online Assessment Form, your availability, and my office appointment availably. Presently, the first appointment is approximately 2 to 4 weeks after my office receives your completed Online Assessment Form.
What is the status of my referral?
To manage demand, Dr. Emes’s office accepts Adult ADHD assessment referrals via fax only. In compliance with CPSBC guidelines, all successful transmissions are processed and confirmed via return fax within two business days. No need to wait months to learn the status of your referral. Please note: the absence of a return fax means the referral did not arrive and the patient is not on our waitlist. For status updates, patients should contact their referring provider directly to ask if a faxed response has been received from our office. For detailed instructions about the status of your referral see: Referral Status
What services do you provide at your office?
This office provides specialized diagnostic services for adults (18+) with ADHD as their primary psychiatric concern, offering both telehealth and in-person assessments. While the practice does not offer individual follow-up care or medication management, ongoing group-based support is available through a weekly in-person Treatment and Support Group facilitated by Dr. Craig Emes for those in the Greater Victoria area. For a referral to be accepted, a valid patient email address and provincial insurance coverage are strictly required. Please note that services do not include the initiation or continuation of prescription medications, nor the completion of work, tax, or insurance-related documentation. Reassessments are available after six months, provided a new referral is submitted by a primary healthcare provider. For more information see: Referral Information
How do you diagnose ADHD in Adults?
Diagnosing ADHD in adults isn’t as simple as taking a quick blood test or a three-minute social media quiz; it’s more like conducting a forensic investigation into your own history. Because symptoms like "zoning out" or "starting ten projects at once" can easily be mistaken for stress or simple burnout, a healthcare professional—typically a psychiatrist or psychologist—must perform a comprehensive clinical evaluation. They aren't just looking for current quirks; they are searching for a persistent pattern of behavior that didn't just show up last Tuesday, but has been causing significant friction since childhood across major areas of life, from career performance to personal relationships. By using standardized rating scales and carefully ruling out other "look-alike" conditions like anxiety or sleep disorders, they help transition a person from a lifetime of frustration to a clear, evidence-based understanding of how their brain is wired. At Diagnosing Adult ADHD you will find the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.
What are my Adult ADHD treatment options?
The first thing to know about ADHD treatment is that it is not only treated with medications. Yes, ADHD medications are very effective but their use alone will only take you so far, as a comprehensive treatment plan involves a multimodal holistic approach. Did you know that over 80% of adults with ADHD also have another mental health condition such as anxiety, depression or substance addiction? Your treatment plan should take into consideration all of your mental health conditions, not just the ADHD. At Treating Adult ADHD you will find detailed information and resources for managing Adult ADHD.
Are their any resources for College and University students in British Columbia?
Most postsecondary institutions in British Columbia have a "Centre for Accessible Learning" to assist with resources for adults diagnosed with ADHD. Here are a few local resource centres: UBC, SFU, BCIT, VIU, Royal Roads University, Camosun College and University of Victoria. In general, these centres help with the process of obtaining academic accommodations and financial support. Theses services first require that you provide their office with "documentation of disability." For academic accommodations, this documentation is usually the Verification of Mental Health Disorder form. Requesting financial support usually begins with the Appendix 8 form which can be downloaded from StudentAidBC. Together with the ADHD consultation report sent from my office, your referring primary healthcare provider has all the information required to assist you in completing these forms. See Treating Adult ADHD for specific recommendations for support.
How much do these services cost?
NO COST, as I am a medical specialist and your BC provincial insurance plan (MSP) pays for the service.
