How Can a Psychotherapist help with ADHD?

How can a psychotherapist help with ADHD?

I'm a psychotherapist who specializes in supporting clients with ADHD and the question I get most often is "how does that work?". Usually followed by a perplexed look. I think the underlying assumption from this question is that because ADHD is treated with medication, there's no need for therapy. A review of ADHD research found that a combination of medications and psychotherapy lead to the best results, but why is that?

My short answer - Pills don't equal skills.

Medication impacts one's ability to pay attention, slow down, and have more self-control. However, medications can't teach important life skills. If you're someone who received a diagnosis later in life, you may find psychotherapy especially helpful.

Here are just a few ways that a psychotherapist can help with ADHD:

1. Developing Coping Strategies

One of the main benefits of psychotherapy for ADHD is developing coping strategies to manage symptoms. ADHD can impact executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, planning, and prioritization, making daily life challenging. Students may need help learning study skills. Through therapy, individuals with ADHD can work with their therapist to identify their unique challenges and develop practical strategies to improve their daily functioning.

Develop coping strategies; organization, time management, planning, and prioritization

2. Addressing Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

ADHD is often accompanied by other mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Therapy can help individuals with ADHD address these conditions, build resilience, and develop coping mechanisms to manage the symptoms. ADHD is a neurodivergent difference in a person's brain development. It is not a disorder. The difficulties a person with ADHD may experience as a result of living in a world made for neurotypical individuals can often result in co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or substance abuse.

Improve Relationships: build social skills, emotion regulation skills, and communication techniques .

3. Improving Relationships

ADHD can impact social functioning, making it difficult to connect with others and navigate social situations. A psychotherapist can help individuals with ADHD to learn social skills, emotion regulation, and communication techniques to build and maintain relationships.

Explore Identity

4. Exploring Identity, Developing Self-awareness, and Self-Esteem

Individuals with ADHD often experience feelings of shame, self-blame, and negative self-talk. A psychotherapist can provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment where individuals with ADHD can explore their feelings and experiences, challenge negative beliefs, and build self-awareness and self-esteem. A newly acquired ADHD diagnosis may prompt some individuals to explore their identity, as many parts of their self-concept may be explained by their diagnosis. This may bring up difficult feelings, "why didn't anyone notice?". A therapist can help guide clients through this experience and help clients learn to embrace their unique neurodivergent self.

Support with medication side effects.

5. Supporting Medication Management

A psychotherapist with additional training in ADHD help support clients in medication management, including addressing any side effects or concerns as you titrate. Your therapist can also help you track the symptoms that your medication is supposed to target and help you organize this information so you can take it to your doctor.

Are you or someone you care about struggling with ADHD? Seeing an ADHD Therapist can help.

Hi! I'm Amy.

I'm a Registered Psychotherapist and ADHD Therapist in Guelph, Ontario.

I offer virtual therapy so you can get help wherever you're comfortable!

Click here to book your 30 min free consultation today.

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