DO YOU HAVE ADHD? OR ARE YOU NEURODIVERSE?
Anyone can be diagnosed with ADHD. It does not impact one specific: gender, race or sex.
WE OFFER COUNSELLING FOR NEURODIVERSE
INDIVDUALS AND THOSE WITH ADHD:
Many more adults, children, and teens are being diagnosed with ADHD these days as more awareness and diagnostic tools are available. Sometimes, it is identified in school due to grades or social issues with peers; perhaps it's identified after being frustrated over disorganization or change in multiple careers or multiple relationships, whatever got you to recognize you or a loved one has ADHD or is neurodiverse that is the first step.
There are many people struggling in school, life, socially, and at work not realizing they have ADHD and how it is impacting their life, mental health, and or relationships. There are a lot of pros and many frustrating cons to having ADHD. I know I have ADHD.
As someone who was diagnosed late in life with ADHD as well as having a teenage son with ADHD I more than understand its upsides as well as struggles having lived with it myself. I am a certified ADHD specialist as well as a therapist.
I offer ADHD coaching and therapy to teenagers, families, parents, and adults. Executive function skills training as well as neurodiverse educational support groups for female adults and male adults.
I offer 1:1 individual therapy as well as 1:1 executive functioning coaching packages. I do not diagnose ADHD at this clinic however your GP, NP, or psychiatrist can diagnose it. There are also various online virtual clinics that can diagnose for a fee. We do not prescribe medication at this clinic.
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP ADHD OR NEURODIVERSE INDIVIDUALS:
Therapy can be incredibly helpful for neurodiverse individuals, including those with ADHD, by providing tailored support that addresses their unique needs and experiences. Here are some ways therapy can help:
- Developing Coping Strategies: ADHD and other neurodiverse conditions often come with challenges like difficulty focusing, impulsivity, or sensory sensitivities. Therapy can provide strategies to manage these challenges in daily life. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals develop techniques to stay organized, improve time management, and handle distractions.
- Building Emotional Regulation: Many people with ADHD experience intense emotions or difficulty managing frustration. Therapy can teach tools for emotional regulation, helping individuals develop healthier responses to stress, anxiety, and frustration, which are common experiences for neurodiverse individuals.
- Improving Self-Esteem: People with ADHD may struggle with self-esteem due to the stigma associated with the condition or past experiences of failure. Therapy can help individuals reframe negative thoughts, recognize their strengths, and work toward self-acceptance.
- Social Skills Training: Some neurodiverse individuals, including those with ADHD, might face challenges in social situations. Therapy can help them develop social skills, understand social cues, and improve their relationships with others.
- Focus on Strengths: Therapy can help individuals with ADHD or other neurodiverse conditions identify their strengths and use them to their advantage. For example, many neurodiverse people are highly creative, energetic, or innovative, and therapy can help them leverage those traits in positive ways.
- Personalized Treatment: Therapists can provide individualized treatment plans based on a person's specific needs and challenges. They might incorporate approaches such as CBT, mindfulness, or behavioral therapy to support the person’s mental health and growth.
- Support for Family and Caregivers: Therapy can also extend to family members or caregivers, helping them understand the individual's condition better and providing them with strategies to offer support. This can strengthen the overall support system and improve relationships.
Therapy isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, but for neurodiverse individuals, it offers a space for understanding, growth, and support, helping them live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
WHAT ARE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS AND HOW CAN THERAPY HELP WITH THEM?
Executive function skills are essential cognitive abilities that help us plan, organize, manage time, solve problems, and make decisions. These skills are important for successfully managing everyday tasks, achieving goals, and maintaining relationships.
Here’s a breakdown of the key executive function skills and how therapy can help with them:
1. Inhibition (Self-Control)
- What it is: The ability to control impulses and stop oneself from acting on a whim, whether it’s stopping an impulsive action or thought.
- How therapy helps: Therapists can teach strategies to increase self-awareness and self-regulation. Techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, or practicing delayed gratification can help improve self-control.
2. Working Memory
- What it is: The ability to hold information in mind temporarily and use it to complete tasks (e.g., remembering steps of a process while you’re in the middle of doing it).
- How therapy helps: Therapists may use tools like visual aids, reminders, and structured routines to support memory. Cognitive-behavioral strategies (CBT) can help individuals develop techniques to strengthen working memory by breaking tasks into smaller steps.
3. Cognitive Flexibility
- What it is: The ability to shift thinking and adapt to changing situations or new information. It’s being able to “switch gears” when plans change.
- How therapy helps: Therapists can guide individuals in developing flexibility in their thought processes. For example, using problem-solving techniques, practicing reframing (looking at problems from different perspectives), and working on adapting to new routines or expectations.
4. Planning and Organization
- What it is: The ability to plan ahead, break down tasks into manageable steps, and organize time and materials to accomplish goals.
- How therapy helps: Therapists can help develop tools for time management, prioritizing tasks, and creating structures for both short- and long-term goals. These could include using planners, creating to-do lists, and establishing routines that work for the person’s specific needs.
5. Time Management
- What it is: The ability to accurately estimate how long tasks will take and to allocate time appropriately to complete them.
- How therapy helps: A therapist may work with the individual on strategies for staying on task, breaking tasks into smaller chunks, setting realistic deadlines, and using timers or reminders to track time. They may also explore techniques for avoiding procrastination.
6. Goal Setting
- What it is: The ability to set and track progress toward goals, whether short- or long-term.
- How therapy helps: Therapists can help break goals down into actionable steps, set realistic expectations, and create accountability structures. They can also guide individuals to recognize their progress and adjust goals as needed.
7. Problem-Solving and Decision Making
- What it is: The ability to make decisions, analyze situations, and come up with solutions.
- How therapy helps: Through cognitive behavioral therapy or other therapeutic techniques, individuals can develop problem-solving skills, learn how to weigh options, and reduce the anxiety or perfectionism that may come with decision-making.
8. Emotional Regulation
- What it is: The ability to manage emotional reactions, especially in difficult or frustrating situations.
- How therapy helps: Many therapy approaches, like mindfulness, emotion-focused therapy, or CBT, can help individuals develop a better awareness of their emotional responses and teach strategies to manage them (e.g., through breathing techniques, self-soothing methods, or positive self-talk).
How Therapy Specifically Helps with Executive Function Skills:
Therapists work with individuals to identify areas of difficulty and then provide specific, practical strategies to improve those skills. For example:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help with rethinking unhelpful patterns, improving focus, and setting realistic goals.
- Mindfulness techniques can help individuals improve focus and emotional regulation.
- Behavioral strategies (like reward systems) can encourage building habits that improve organization and time management.
- Coaching or skills training might involve role-playing scenarios to practice planning, problem-solving, and other executive functions in real-life contexts.
Therapy helps individuals who are neurodiverse or diagnosed with ADHD create a plan, implement strategies, and assess their progress. With patience and consistency, therapy can significantly improve executive function skills, empowering individuals to manage their daily lives more effectively and confidently.
