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About Bright Minds Centre

Experienced clinicians across child, adolescent and adult pathways

Bright Minds Centre provides assessment, diagnosis, reports and recommendations for children, young people and adults seeking clarity around ADHD, autism and related neurodevelopmental questions.

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What Bright Minds is about

Bright Minds Centre brings together consultant psychiatry, occupational therapy, paediatric nursing and neurodevelopmental assessment expertise. The service is designed to give families, adults and professionals a clear assessment pathway, a carefully considered diagnostic opinion and practical recommendations for next steps.

Our approach is calm, respectful and neurodiversity-affirming. We focus on understanding the person's profile, gathering relevant background information and explaining outcomes in a way that supports home, school, work and future planning.

Assessment-only scope

Bright Minds Centre provides assessment, diagnosis, reports and recommendations. Where wider support or ongoing clinical input is needed, this is arranged separately through independent providers or partner organisations where appropriate.

Meet the team

Consultant-led multidisciplinary expertise

Dr Angeliki Papastefanou

Medical Director and Lead Clinician

Dr Angeliki Papastefanou is a CCT-qualified, GMC-registered Consultant Psychiatrist with extensive experience across child, adolescent and adult mental health services, including specialist NHS CAMHS, ADHD and neurodevelopmental pathways. She provides senior clinical leadership for Bright Minds Centre's assessment pathways, supporting safe, high-quality and person-centred care.

  • Assessment and management of ADHD, autism and complex mental health presentations
  • Trained in ADOS-2 and ADI-R
  • Section 12 Approved Doctor and Approved Clinician
  • Specialist training in medico-legal report writing

Monika Baranyai

Autism and Psychology Lead

Monika Baranyai is an experienced Clinical Psychologist specialising in autism and ADHD assessment across children, adolescents and adults. Drawing on NHS, independent healthcare and specialist forensic experience, she supports comprehensive multidisciplinary formulation and consistent, high-quality autism assessment at Bright Minds Centre.

  • Experienced in ADOS-2, ADI-R, DIVA-5, ACE+ and 3Di
  • NICE-compliant multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental assessment experience
  • Integrates developmental history, clinical observation and psychological findings
  • Neuro-affirmative, person-centred and trauma-informed approach

Joan

Occupational Therapist and Autism Development Practitioner

Joan is an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist and Autism Development Practitioner with over 20 years of experience across paediatrics, autism, ADHD, neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, sensory integration, spinal and acquired brain injuries, and mental health rehabilitation. She has advanced experience in autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment using tools including ADOS-2, ADI-R, DIVA-5 and ACIA, and holds an MSc in Sensory Integration.

  • HCPC registered
  • Senior clinical and leadership experience across NHS, private, education and international settings
  • Supports families, schools, professionals and multidisciplinary teams
  • Warm, practical, neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approach

Dr Akinkunmi Odutola

Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

Dr Akinkunmi Odutola is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Section 12(2) Approved Psychiatrist with experience across forensic psychiatry, secure inpatient services, adult mental health, community psychiatry, child and adolescent mental health, memory services and medico-legal work. He has worked across secure, prison and community forensic settings, providing clinical leadership, forensic risk assessment, diagnostic formulation, tribunal reports, medico-legal reports and multidisciplinary assessment.

  • Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • Approved Clinician status
  • UKAAN Adult ADHD training in diagnosis
  • Forensic risk assessment and diagnostic formulation expertise

Dr Awadhesh Solanki

Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr Awadhesh Solanki is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with a CCT in CAMHS and specialist expertise in eating disorders, neuropsychiatry, autism, ADHD, crisis work and Tier 4 adolescent inpatient care. He currently works as a Consultant Psychiatrist within Somerset CAMHS Community Eating Disorder Service, providing clinical leadership across community, day-care and acute hospital settings.

  • MRCPsych, RCPsych Eating Disorder Credential, DNB Psychiatry, MD Psychiatry and MBBS
  • Training in ADOS, ADI and UKAAN
  • Clinical leadership across community, day-care and acute hospital settings
  • Evidence-informed, compassionate and person-centred care

BrightMinds Centre