ADHD assessment and treatment

Shannon is a general adult and forensic psychiatrist who assesses and treats ADHD in adults by telehealth. Much of his working life has been spent with people whose difficulties were misread for a long time before anyone looked properly, which is a reasonable description of how a great many adults arrive at an ADHD assessment.

ADHD is rarely the only thing present. Anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep disturbance and substance use either sit alongside it or account for the symptoms outright, and separating them is the substance of the assessment. At Pandion these are screened as standard rather than treated as an optional extra. Where ADHD is not the right answer, that is said clearly, along with what the assessment did find.

Sport and performance

Shannon competed in sport at national and international level, and remains actively involved in contemporary music performance.

That background informs a particular interest in using good mental and physical health principles together, to help people understand themselves, look after their health and work towards their goals. Sports and performance issues and optimisation are among the areas he works in.

Forensic psychiatry and medicolegal work

Shannon holds an Advanced Certificate in Forensic Psychiatry and spent over twenty years with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health. He prepares court reports and works in rehabilitation psychiatry.

Across that work his focus has been consistent: helping people reach the best quality of life available to them, whatever the starting point.

Background and training

Shannon holds a medical degree from the University of Melbourne and completed clinical training at St Vincent’s Hospital. He worked across a range of general and specialist psychiatry settings in Melbourne, country Victoria and London before specialising in forensic psychiatry.

He also holds a Diploma of Music from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Outside the clinic

Shannon likes loud guitars, and playing sport in sunshine or rain.