Reviews
I was diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type in January 2020, and even though that was over five years ago, I can honestly say I’ve had an incredibly positive journey. Years prior, I had been dismissed by the NHS when I raised concerns about whether I had ADHD or bipolar. But being assessed by Dr Sally Cubbin was life-changing. I remember walking out of the assessment in tears - happy tears - because I finally felt seen, heard, and validated.
From the very beginning, Dr Cubbin made me feel completely at ease. I felt comfortable opening up about my struggles and possible traits, and not once did she make me feel silly or dismiss any of my doubts.
The process of trying medication was smooth and never rushed. Everything was clearly explained, and it’s always been easy to get in touch via her receptionist to book appointments. With her support, I was able to find the right dose and brand of medication, and I was fortunate to have it passed on to my GP under shared care.
Even now, years later, my annual reviews with Dr Cubbin never feel like just a box-ticking exercise. She offers thoughtful guidance, checks in on how I’m doing, and always takes the time to explore any concerns. I’ve always felt like I could ask anything without judgment.
Anyone diagnosed with ADHD knows it’s a lifelong journey of learning and unlearning. I’m truly grateful that Dr Cubbin was the one to guide me through it - she’s played such a key role in helping me better understand myself, and I genuinely wouldn’t want anyone else on this path with me.
I write this review without hesitation. Dr Sally Cubbin has, quite simply, transformed my son’s life as we knew it, with her treatment of his ADHD. When my son first saw Dr Cubbin he was in a very bad way mentally. He was unable to cope with the enormity of being away at university and we had reached a crossroads where he was likely to pull out and come home. An outcome which would have been detrimental to his wellbeing. He was fragile, volatile, and not managing with independent living or self care.
Since seeing Dr Cubbin, he is now coming towards the end of his degree and due to achieve all he hoped for. Not only is he excelling in all aspects of university life, but he is managing to simultaneously hold down a demanding part time job. His university professors have recognised his prowess and as a result they have encouraged him to stay on a further year to complete a Masters, something that was previously inconceivable.
My son tells me he is able to focus for the first time in his life, and work comfortably to reach his potential. I don’t believe this this would have been possible without Dr Cubbin’s in-put.
We are deeply grateful to Dr Cubbin and her efficient, responsive team. She is kind and reassuring, but above all, practical, capable and knowledgable in her field. I trust her completely with my son’s wellbeing. As a mum, my fears for my son’s future have eased and I am beginning to feel an optimism I haven’t previously experienced. My gratitude to Dr Cubbin is heartfelt.
I am the mother of a teenager with ADHD. I am a doctor myself, and I have a lot of experience of ADHD, and yet I confess that I missed the diagnosis in my own child. I am enormously grateful to Dr Cubbin and her team.
From the very start - a prompt, friendly and helpful response from her secretary - to the consultation with Dr Cubbin herself, the service has been superb.
The team arranged appointments and correspondence smoothly and efficiently. Dr Cubbin was calm, capable and knowledgeable, and instantly inspired trust in both of us. We had a long appointment where she genuinely listened to everything, and was so thoughtful and careful in making the diagnosis. And, on top of all that, everything was done with such kindness and understanding - appointments squeezed in at short notice to fit around exams and work commitments, for example.
We are at the start of this journey but we feel confident and reassured, we trust Dr Cubbin and her team and we are truly grateful .
I've been under the care of Dr Cubbin from the beginning of my ADHD diagnosis and she has been fantastic throughout the 3 years since. She listened to my concerns about my medication and worked with me to find a suitable prescription and treatment plan for me.
Having experienced difficulties in various areas of functioning since I was a child, I had somehow made it into mid-life without ever having received the right explanation or help. Over the years some of my peers within the field of mental health had suggested that I might meet criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD. I wanted to be sure that if ADHD were to be ruled in or out that the conclusion would be convincing, and I therefore did my research before deciding who to have an assessment with. In all of my searches, Sally’s expertise jumped out. I had also read her chapters in the book, “Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women” and was heartened by her vast knowledge in this field, and her desire to enhance others’ knowledge in this area too. I therefore chose to wait until Sally was accepting new patients, rather than pursuing a speedier assessment elsewhere.
Sally was incredibly thorough. Pre-assessment questionnaires were completed by myself and my family to inform the assessment – which Sally had read in detail prior to us meeting. It was clear that she was keen to understand me across contexts and time. In addition to her extensive expertise and ability to weigh up multiple factors, she was also enormously patient and kind. Having undiagnosed ADHD for many decades, I had become very used to feeling misunderstood by others - and myself - often resulting in deep feelings of shame throughout my life. Through her comprehensive assessment and report I have been able to increase my self-understanding and acceptance, and reduce the sense of shame that I have carried for far too long. Being able to have a language for my difficulties now also helps others to better understand me too. And through finding the right treatment together, I am now far more productive in both my personal and professional lives. My care with Sally has been exemplary, and I am only sad that I did not meet her sooner.
I would also like to acknowledge her practice secretaries who have been absolutely wonderful at every step of the process. They are always incredibly kind, supportive, and responsive (which has been especially helpful during the worldwide ADHD medication shortage).
For a website called ‘I Want Great Care’ – I can say with my whole heart, that this has certainly been true for me.
Specialises in
- Psychiatry
Profile
Dr Sally Cubbin is a highly qualified, experienced and caring Consultant Psychiatrist with special expertise in the diagnosis and management of Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). She is happy to assess and treat patients from age 18 (sometimes age 16 and 17).
She holds a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Oxford University and uses these skills for the treatment of mental illness using a psychological approach to compliment her medical skills.
She is a member of the executive committee of the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) as well as a member of the training sub committee. In this role she has worked on the development of UKAANs national training programme which provides one and two day workshops for psychiatrists to learn how to assess for and treat adult ADHD, which she helps deliver.
She was first registered by the General Medical Council (GMC number 4009027) in 1993 holds the degrees Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Bristol, UK (1993) as well as a Masters Degree (MSc) in Psychological Medicine (University of Wales, Cardiff 2000). She completed her higher training in psychiatry in the Oxford Deanery and also The Maudsley Hospital, London.
She worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) National Referral Service in London for four years from 2008 to 2012 where she assessed and managed patients with this disorder. She now works in private practice and also provides an Adult ADHD service for the NHS in Southampton. She holds clinics at the Manor Hospital, Oxford, the Cardinal Clinic, Windsor as well as the Priory Wellbeing Centre in Southampton.