Manage Your ADHD: The right strategies and the right tools to be the best you.

How many times today did you kick yourself for forgetting the things you forgot? How much energy went to brooding and ruminating on your failures or wishing you could re-do an encounter with someone so you could get it right next time? I understand all too well.

As a person with managed ADHD myself, I can appreciate the pain that it causes us. We can even lose connection with ourselves deep down.

Thankfully, there’s great hope for those of us with ADHD! We can learn to slow ourselves down by practicing mindful awareness. We can reconnect with ourselves and take back control over our schedules and our productivity.

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You’re a Ferrari with bicycle brakes. I’m a brake specialist. It’s time for an upgrade.

 

In the book ADHD 2.0 and others, Dr. Ed Hallowell famously described ADHD as having a brain that is like “a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes”. ADHD’ers are like drag cars, custom-designed to go faster and straighter than any other car toward the finish line. But, the problem is that daily life has more twists and turns, starts and stops, and road hazards than a drag strip.

The ADHD’er will face criticism and high scrutiny with little support every time they run off the track or miss a stop sign. There’s not much grace at work for missing or late work, and the repercussions can be extreme!

Likewise, most families don’t understand why a brilliant, creative, talented person can’t see what needs to be done around the house or pay bills on time. But there’s an answer. It’s ADHD.

Imagine being able to get things done.

Once you and your family understand ADHD, you can know how to address it. Most people think of it as just a lack of attention, so they can’t understand why a person with ADHD can focus on one interesting task for multiple hours on end. The truth is that ADHD is full of contradictions and paradoxes like this. That’s why it’s so important to understand ADHD before judging those with it. ADHD isn’t just a cop-out or excuse to shirk responsibility — it’s a significant limitation, especially when it’s not managed. Furthermore, today’s constant stimulation from electronics exacerbates ADHD symptoms, leaving us overstimulated and under-focused.

Thankfully, we can learn to mitigate ADHD symptoms by employing some personal rules. Understanding what we’re losing to ADHD motivates us to start using “hard stops”, “time-blocking” and other types of routines that make sure we’re getting things done. Likewise, learning to slow ourselves down at a few key moments each day (i.e. difficult conversations, emotional surges, or during daydreams) can give us back the control we need.

After treatment, clients say they are now getting things done and feeling more confident. They’ve learned ways to slow their minds down during those moments when listening, attention and emotional regulation are crucial. They’ve also set healthy boundaries and learned to say “no” when necessary to prevent ADHD burnout and overwhelm. Moreover, they’ve learned to handle difficult feelings so their emotions aren’t overwhelming them anymore. They’ve taken back control.

ADHD Counseling FAQs

What is ADHD Counseling?
ADHD Counseling is simply counseling for any person with ADHD. As humans, our problems don’t happen in a bubble of isolation. ADHD is just one of many factors a client may be dealing with, and we can talk about ANYTHING that feels important to you during your session.
How does ADHD Counseling work?
I usually start with getting the client’s story. I want to know the details of the situations that have led the person to seek help. I want to know who the person is, not just what diagnosis they may or may not have. Next, if applicable, we’ll work on managing emotions and attention using self-slowing and self-stimulating techniques. I’ll teach a little along the way to help you understand ADHD from a holistic perspective.
When is ADHD Counseling needed?
Therapy for ADHD is needed when a person realizes that distraction, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are negatively impacting their life. Maybe their grades are slipping, they’ve gotten a bad performance review, or their relationship is in jeopardy and they’re ready for help. OR, maybe they want to be proactive about improving their performance in these areas before they get into a difficult situation.
How much does ADHD Counseling cost?
Sessions for all therapy services I provide are $140 per 55-minute session.
How long does the ADHD Counseling process take?
Everyone is different, but most people attend 6-12 sessions weekly before stepping down to every other week or once a month. You’re in the driver’s seat, though, and you get to determine the duration that works best for you.
How do I know if ADHD Counseling is right for me?
ADHD Counseling is right for you if you feel that you need to work on improving your productivity, managing your emotions, reducing your impulsivity, and/or deepening your relationships.
How often should I have a session for ADHD Counseling?
Sessions usually occur weekly, but you get to determine what frequency will work best for you. I recommend weekly sessions at first with a step-down in frequency later. I will only govern the frequency of sessions in more severe situations, such as when a safety risk is present.

Get Started With ADHD Counseling in Atlanta

The process of learning to take back control over ADHD symptoms starts with scheduling a free, 15-minute consultation. This will be a short, simple conversation in which you can ask questions and we can both evaluate whether or not I can help you. If I can help, then we’ll schedule an appointment, usually within 2 weeks of the call. If I can’t help, I’ll refer you to someone who can.

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