Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr. Suess
Therapy for Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Milwaukee
Has ADHD made it impossible to stay on top of everything? Is ADHD impacting your ability to get stuff done and enjoy life? Has it caused issues with self-esteem and made you feel like you’re not good enough? Do you wish you could be on top of your s*** like everyone else?
Maybe you continually procrastinate and turn in projects at the last minute. Perhaps you can’t focus in school or at work and it’s affecting your performance. You might feel forgetful, high-strung, and overwhelmed. Each day brings a new list of demands that feel impossible to keep up with—your house has to be cleaned, the fridge has to be stocked, and all the bills have to be paid. Just thinking about it all probably makes you exhausted.
We can help you “flip this script” and look at your ADHD as a strength, not a weakness.
ADHD is not a personal problem, weakness, or evidence of an individual failure. However, because ADHD impacts how you think, focus and act, it can impact you in all facets of your life, and many people attribute those negative impacts to themselves and feel ashamed or frustrated. You should not feel ashamed of the symptoms of ADHD. A therapist at Hillary Counseling can help you understand how your symptoms are impacting you and what you can do to cope with them.
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The core symptoms of ADHD include:
- Difficulty getting started and/or completing tasks
- Being easily distracted
- Impulsiveness: saying or doing things without thinking
- Excessive and chronic procrastination
- Experiencing restlessness or excessive activity
- Frequently losing things
- Forgetfulness
- Poor organizaiton, time management skills
- Marital Discord
Not every person with ADHD displays all of the symptoms, nor does every person with ADHD experience the symptoms of ADHD to the same level of severity or impairment. Some people have mild ADHD, while others have severe ADHD resulting in significant impairments.
Therapy Can Give You A Toolbox Of Skills For Managing ADHD
Trying to overcome ADHD by yourself can feel like climbing a mountain—only to find another mountain on the other side. Just when you think you’ve completed everything you have to do, another set of tasks comes along to overwhelm you again and hurt your self-esteem.
At Hillary Counseling, we know how exhausting it is to live this way. ADHD therapy with us is not about adding more to your plate, but helping you find ways to make life easier. The goal is to help you increase your confidence and give you evidence-based approaches for tackling the hardest parts of life with ADHD.
Treatment Approaches for ADHD:
ADHD looks different from person to person. This is why it’s so important to create a treatment plan that works with your unique symptoms. Working together, we’ll explore the way ADHD affects you.
We work with individuals who have not yet had a formal assessment in addition to those who have received a diagnosis in the past. For those that wish to explore medication, your therapist will refer you directly to a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner for further evaluation. For clients that have not received a diagnosis but wish to do so, your therapist will refer you to a psychologist for additional testing and assessment.
Our therapists use evidence-based treatments to help you specifically with the challenges you are experiencing, so you can begin to live a meaningful and fulfilled life.
Evidence-based treatment for ADHD include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal skills: improving self-esteem and social interaction
- Marriage Counseling: helps your partner understand and cope
- Time Management and Organizational Skills training
Once you recognize all the parts of your life that ADHD has affected, it becomes easier to figure out how to change your relationship to those parts. No matter how hopeless you feel, we are confident that we can help you focus better, improve your relationships, and learn to love yourself on a deeper level.
You Don’t Have To Navigate ADHD Alone
You deserve someone who recognizes the gifts of ADHD, helps you build on the strengths, and improves the obstacles it’s created for you.
What are the potential benefits of ADHD therapy?
ADHD therapy can help you develop effective strategies for managing symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Through therapy, you can learn better organization, time management, and emotional regulation skills.
Therapy also offers a supportive space to improve self-esteem, build coping strategies for daily hallenges, and enhance overall functioning in work, school, and relationships.
Do I need a formal ADHD diagnosis before beginning therapy?
No, you do not need a formal ADHD diagnosis to begin therapy. Many people start therapy to explore symptoms they suspect might be related to ADHD, and therapy can help assess and address those concerns.
If a diagnosis is needed, your therapist can help guide you through the process of seeking an evaluation. Therapy can still be beneficial in managing symptoms, improving coping strategies, and building skills, even without a formal diagnosis.
Do you offer assessments for ADHD?
We do not offer formal ADHD assessments. However, our therapists can help you explore ADHD symptoms, provide guidance, and refer you to trusted professionals for a full evaluation, if needed.
Therapy can still be incredibly helpful in managing ADHD symptoms, developing coping strategies, and improving daily functioning, regardless of whether you have a formal diagnosis.
Do you prescribe medications for ADHD?
We do not prescribe medications for ADHD. However, our therapists can work with you to develop coping strategies and skills to manage ADHD symptoms.
If medication is needed, we can refer you to a trusted medical professional, psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, who can assess your needs and discuss medication options.
How many therapy sessions do I have to attend?
We don’t have a requirement for a specific number of therapy sessions that you have to attend. The length of therapy varies based on individual needs, goals, and the issues being addressed.
We recommend that you plan to engage in weekly therapy sessions for about 12 to 16 weeks. This consistent approach helps build a strong foundation for exploring your history, understanding the origins of your ADHD, gaining insight into yourself, and developing a personalized plan with effective coping strategies.
After that initial period, depending on your progress and the severity of your symptoms, the frequency of sessions may be adjusted.
Some clients may reduce to bi-weekly sessions, while others may continue with weekly sessions, if needed. Your therapist will work with you to tailor the treatment plan based on your needs and goals.
