Managing Your ADHD

ADHD therapy helps you make the most of your attention, energy and time, by working with the brain that you have. We don’t see ADHD as inherently problematic, but simply as a description of how some brains work. And like most ways being, it works well for some things, less well for others.

Right now, you might have trouble achieving your goals and dreams because…

  • It’s hard to keep track of tasks, or finish them

  • Distractions pull you in

  • You’re focused on right now, so planning is difficult

  • Sticking to a plan is even harder

  • You don’t always show up OR

  • You show up late, or unprepared

  • You change plans at the last minute

  • You present work that isn’t complete, that doesn’t reflect your real abilities

  • You feel ashamed or guilty about being unreliable, SO

  • You avoid things you need to do

We can help you learn the tools you need to overcome these challenges, so that you can thrive.

Affirming Approach to ADHD

Many people who have ADHD diagnoses have been told that their way of functioning is bad or wrong, and lots of folks carry a lot of shame and guilt about their basic way of being. We think that human brains work in different ways, so each of us may need different ways of working to achieve our goals and dreams.

Our many different ways of thinking and functioning all have benefits and strengths, as well as challenges. People with ADHD often excel at making associations, finding creative solutions, and imagining new possibilities.

We work with you to recognize and maximize your unique individual gifts. We can help you…

  • Find strategies that work for you individually

  • Build on your strengths to help you reach your goals

  • Overcome shame and guilt about how you function in the world

  • Navigate your ADHD at work, at school, and at home

  • Collaborate with the people in your life to meet both your needs and theirs.

ADHD and Relationships

Trust in relationships is built from presence. You learn to trust someone when you know you can rely on them, that they’ll be there for you consistently. It also helps to know that the other person likes you as you are and assumes the best about you.

Because ADHD affects the ability to focus and respond beyond the present moment, it can result in some mixed messages about reliability. On the one hand, folks with ADHD often have the ability to hyperfocus in moments of need or crisis, which can make them very responsive and reliable when something really big happens. On the other hand, the day-to-day stuff like taking out the trash or remembering appointments can be a lot harder.

When one or both people in a relationship have ADHD, some stressful dynamics can develop. One person might be more forgetful and need more reminders, but the need for reminders can result in frustration and resentment for both people. If you don’t have ADHD, you might wonder if the other person really cares, or if you can really count on them. If you have ADHD, you might feel hurt or angry if a partner or friend questions your intentions, or constantly reminds you of what you haven’t done.

We can work on ADHD-related relationship issues in individual or couples therapy. We focus on finding ways to meet needs for everyone involved, and on finding ways to communicate about ADHD that are positive, supportive, and understanding.