Therapy for ADHD in DC, VA & TN
Are you seeing all of the social media posts & wondering if you’re an ADHDer?
Are you wanting to learn more about ADHD and how it affects your life?
Do you feel like you’re too much?
Do you find yourself asking, “what’s wrong with me, why can’t I just do these things like everyone else?”
Do you feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster sometimes?
You may struggle to complete tasks sometimes, you might get stuck in decision paralysis, or run on anxiety and shame. You feel like you’re fully capable on one hand, but on the other, feel like you’re no where near reaching your potential. Maybe even people in your life say that, “you have such potential”.
As a fellow ADHDer and parent of an ADHDer, I get it. Not everyone with ADHD is the same, but because of my lived experience, I can likely relate better.
Relationships can be difficult as an ADHDer. Maybe it shows up as difficulty focusing on the conversation, or daydreaming, difficulty not interrupting others, or maybe you’re really loud sometimes. ADHDers often struggle with emotion regulation. Do you have times when you feel you’re impacted by rejection, criticism, or FOMO to a degree that feels completely consuming? Sometimes, you get so overwhelmed or overstimulated you feel like you’re going to lose your mind and explode?
Maybe you’ve got a way of operating in life that works for you, but others in your life are judgemental or shaming you for it. Many times it can feel like you’re on a weird island all alone and wondering how to just join the rest of the world. You might not even know how being an ADHDer impacts you. We can explore together.
Life as an ADHDer without an understanding of what it is, how it shows up for you and without a clear path forward can be really tiring and sometimes hopeless. Let’s change that.
ADHD is not a bad thing. Let’s learn more about your brain’s strengths & how to harness your skills to get you more aligned with the life you want.
Together we will…
Create a safe space to explore what ADHD is
Explore how ADHD impacts your life & relationships
Learn how to identify your personal strength & limitations
Build & strengthen coping skills so you will have ways to fight against the anxiety and stress
Learn ways to regulate emotions in ways that work best for you
Challenge your brain to work for you, not against you
I have a secret for you my fellow ADHD friend,
you are enough, just the way you are.
FAQs
There’s so much going on, what if I don’t know where to start when I get to the appointment?
First just know, this is OK! This is totally normal and it can feel a little intimidating if you’re new to counseling, or even just new to me! I’m going to review your intake paperwork with you briefly and through this, we will begin a conversation about what’s going on for you that you’d like help with. Most often, once we start reviewing this, it feels more comfortable. I will do my best to help guide you so you feel more at ease.
I feel like I’m all over the place when I talk…can you keep up?
I’m a pro at keeping up! Part of the reason you likely are seeking therapy is because your mind feels all over the place. I’m not here to judge, I’m here to help. I will follow you throughout your discussions and you’ll find that I will pause the conversation at some points as we discover things that I need clarification on, or for us to work to untangle. I will help pace you as time goes on, but especially at the beginning, it’s common for things to just come flooding out!
I’m worried I’m overwhelming at times….what if I overwhelm you?
I understand why you might be worried about this. I want you to know that one thing we’ll work on together is taking responsibility for our own emotions, thoughts and behavior. With this said, it is my job to take care of me, not your job. We are all human and have moments of overwhelm…this is normal! When or if you experience worry that you’re overwhelming me, we will talk about this and work through it together.
I don’t know if I would call this anxiety…I’ve had some bad things happen in my life that I’ve struggled with…can you help with that?
Sometimes there are situational things in life that lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression or other problems. If we discover trauma(s) in your life that you’d like to work through, I am here for you. I bring expertise in trauma specific treatment to help. If you’re interested in this, please talk to me at any time. In order to best serve you, I may bring this up as well if clinically appropriate.
How long will therapy take?
The short answer is, it depends. You can expect therapy to be like an onion. There are layers, it’s potent and sometimes makes you tear up, but in the end it’s worth it because it adds life to our plate. We will develop a specific plan for you and your needs. I’m always here to answer questions along the way.