I am an ADHD – Clinical Certified Support Professional (ADHD-CCSP) and provide support to individuals and families. I wanted to share how I approach therapy working with all age groups! And hopefully, this blog can help you make the decision to work with me or not.
ADHD can be very simple or complex to understand and manage. “Manage” is a big word used in literature for helping individuals and families process ADHD and learn to thrive with it. When learning to manage ADHD or any other complex diagnosis, it feels like swimming in a large ocean of thoughts, techniques, and possibilities. I try and make it simple for each family and meet them where they are at. I want those I work with to be proud of the work they do.
Grade School
Some therapists will work alone with children. I prefer to engage parents and normalize discussing how the family operates. I value being on team parents for this because you live with your kids and are their biggest ally. Any work will begin with coordinating with teachers and doctors for details on how ADHD shows up in different settings. It’s “we” as a team family. We will be about finding the right motivation for you all to make small changes towards big goals of thriving.
Adolescent
Teens can start having their own time to process what it means to have ADHD in individual therapy. Parent meetings are encouraged depending on what is co-occurring with ADHD. The family is there to walk with their child for all their life, and I am just “A” part of the story. Each person that has ADHD is very unique and their story is unique and that is explored in therapy.
Young Adult
Who doesn’t love therapy in college? I wish more college students had therapists!
This is mostly individual work unless there are issues the other family members need to be part of. Most young people want to find a place to explore their identity, career, anxiety, romance, rejection fears and social anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and balancing day to day living. Young adults are learning about what it means to exist in this world and sometimes are facing an existential crisis. ADHD has a way of showing up in college even when things went well in grade school.
Entering the Work Force
ADHD can be intense when starting a job. There are many details, deadlines, and distractions. Work and balancing life can be overstimulating and possibly lead to burnout. Many with ADHD are still struggling with some examples of substance use issues, highly emotional experiences with romantic partners, career changes, anxiety, and confusion. I offer lots of compassion and grace to those I work with.
Career Building
Usually people with ADHD take a lot of turns and twists, and may (not always) have several existential crises in their life. It takes time to learn oneself if not already learned, and relearn oneself and mode of operation in new career environments. ADHD is still learning about self esteem and self acceptance in work environments without self hate. Careers usually develop on the slower clock for people with ADHD and it takes time to find oneself and one’s sense of purpose. I love helping my clients see their potential and have confidence.
Family Planning
This is a big place for a lot of people with ADHD, to learn how to manage and what to do. I discuss a lot with my clients and their families on what are realistic goals and expectations. Therapy can be with couples or whole families. I am always honored to work with those wanting to learn more about ADHD and how to thrive with their family. ADHD people can also have higher experiences of trauma, divorce rates, substance use, and health issues that therapy is a really good place to talk about.
Retirement
ADHD is a lifetime experience and some people find out later they are diagnosed or need to process. Anyone at any age can get diagnosed, as there is a lot we are learning as a mental health field on the diagnosis. Just like all people of this world, retirement is not always an easy peasy transition. It brings up a lot of memories and hurt and struggles. For women, ADHD and menopause can present a lot of new experiences with mood swings and adjustments to the new normal.
ADHD is a very broad and diverse experience. It can also mean some people with ADHD have other concerns like anxiety, depression, and moodiness, trauma, ethnicity, gender dysphoria, and diverse sexual orientations. Overall, a lot of conversations about learning to live with ADHD are simply getting the balls going on self discovery that is founded in compassion and kindness towards the self, free of shame and bias.
