Certain aspects of living with ADHD can increase susceptibility to traumatic experiences, including repeated, ongoing messages of inadequacy or defectiveness. It’s SO common for people with ADHD to feel like something is wrong with them, that they can’t trust themselves or others, and it’s unsafe to be themselves.  Unfortunately, this can have long-term impact on wellbeing. 

As a trauma-trained therapist, I can help you shift out these patterns and acknowledge the trauma often experienced while being a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world. It could make a significant difference in your therapy experience. 

ADHD often shows up differently in childhood than in adulthood. As you age, your ADHD can present differently based on the stressors you’re facing (i.e. a new job) or the phase of life you’re in (i.e. going to college, becoming a parent). You may have received ADHD support in school or home, but these supports probably didn’t follow you into adulthood. Therefore, you may have felt like you had to ‘start over’ in learning how to manage your ADHD as an adult.  Additionally, your childhood ADHD supports probably focused on how to succeed externally at home or school, but not on how this diagnosis might have impacted your internal sense of self. Specifically, messages of being ‘too much’, ‘defective’,  or ‘lazy’ can accumulate in feelings of shame and worthlessness.  This is where working with an Adult ADHD therapist is helpful. I can help you navigate your ADHD in the context of adulthood and help fill the gaps in internal support you may not have received as a child.

A good place to start is with this online self-screening tool. You can bring your results to the session and we can explore this together. 

It may also be helpful to learn more about the different subtypes of ADHD to see if they describe what you are going through. 

There are three types: 

1. predominantly inattentive (struggling with focus and organization +), 

2. predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (exhibiting restless and impulsive behavior +)

3. A combo of both. 

You can find more information about ADHD subtypes here, We can use that information to focus on your specific ADHD challenges and find the best ways to support you.

It can be tricky to untangle ADHD from other things. If through our exploration we develop a hunch that it could be ADHD, we can do some screening and assessing. I can also connect you with providers who do diagnostic testing and workups if you want something more thorough. This will help us to ensure we have the most comprehensive understanding of your experience. 

As an ADHD therapist, I not only will take you seriously, but am skilled in helping you self-advocate, particularly because some medical and mental health professionals may have limited knowledge about ADHD or may hold biases. This is especially true if you appear high-functioning or if they suspect you are seeking stimulants for non-medical reasons. If you feel like your provider is not taking your concerns seriously, it might be wise to consider finding a different provider who is more knowledgeable and understanding of ADHD when possible. 

ADHD Coaching is typically skills-focused, more highly structured, and your progress depends on completion of coaching homework. I would not describe my style as traditional ADHD coaching, but I can help you problem solve and figure out strategies to help you sustain living in a neurotypical world. 

ADHD Therapy goes deeper than coaching. We will go beyond addressing strategies and skills, and delve deeper into how ADHD has influenced your sense of self and overall well-being. To do this we’ll integrate an array of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR for trauma healing, mindfulness, self-compassion, parts work, strengths-based empowerment, and body and nervous system attunement. 

Firstly, it's fantastic that you have already developed ways to navigate life with ADHD! Even with your current approaches for managing ADHD, therapy can be super beneficial. We may explore how these approaches align with your values and life goals, considering ways to make slight adjustments as you move through different phases of life. 

We'll practice reinforcing your current methods that we know are working well and consider the benefits of revising the strategies that no longer serve you. It’s tough out there and it can be healing to develop a sense of gratitude for the ways you have learned to survive and thrive in a world not designed for neurodivergence.

The choice between therapy, coaching, medication, or a combination to treat adult ADHD often depends on individual preferences, symptoms, and goals. ADHD Therapy can offer a supportive space for exploring the emotional nuances of ADHD and the impact it has on your sense of self and place in the world. Coaching tends to focus more on practical tools for time management, organization, and goal setting, empowering individuals to achieve specific objectives and navigate daily living more effectively. Medication can help manage ADHD symptoms by operating at the level of neurotransmitters in the brain to influence focus, attention, impulse control, and emotion regulation.

If trying all of these at once seems overwhelming, you may want to start with one or two complementary approaches and gradually integrate or pause others as needed throughout your ADHD journey.