Los Angeles ADHD Therapist

What image comes to mind when you hear the word ADHD? Some people might automatically think of a squirmy school-aged child whose energy can’t be controlled. While this is one depiction of ADHD, it’s certainly not the only one. ADHD can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds–and it can affect everyone differently.

As you probably know (either from personal experience or otherwise), people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder often have difficulty regulating their attention and their self-control over their bodies. However, these are just a couple of the many physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that people with ADHD experience.

When left untreated, ADHD can significantly impact your quality of life. Thankfully, with the help of therapy (and in some cases medication), many people with ADHD can learn how to manage their symptoms and feel better about themselves. 

That’s where we can help. As ADHD therapists in Los Angeles, we help people like you learn how to work with your brain–not against it. Therapy provides a safe space for you to process your experience of living with ADHD, as well as learning new tools and coping mechanisms.

Ready to gain a sense of control over your ADHD? Reach out today to meet with one of our ADHD therapists.

Our Approach to ADHD Therapy in Los Angeles

ADHD is constantly studied so we can better understand it. Recent strides in research have meant that diagnosis, treatment, and management of ADHD are more accessible and effective than ever.

We recognize ADHD is a neurological disorder that impacts many areas of a person’s life. This means that folks with ADHD have a brain-based disorder that impairs their ability to perform certain behaviors, such as managing time effectively and using short-term memory.

With all of its symptoms and factors, living with untreated ADHD can be complicated and frustrating. It can be difficult to maintain and navigate interpersonal relationships, and fulfilling social roles can be more difficult for people with ADHD. Standard expectations of home, work and/or academic life can wind up feeling like they are impossible to meet–we understand how that feels.

Beyond the behaviors that make ADHD challenging, we also recognize that people with this disorder can carry a significant amount of shame. Negative self-beliefs, depressed mood, social or generalized anxiety, learned helplessness, and feelings of worthlessness are common as well. It’s hard to navigate a world that isn’t naturally built to support you, and we strive to create a safe space to validate those feelings and embrace your neurodivergence.

Our ADHD therapists in Los Angeles use a variety of approaches in order to best meet your needs. A few of the modalities we use are dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Living with ADHD can be overwhelming, and it’s much more than a deficit of attention. On the bright side, our Los Angeles therapists can help you regain a sense of control.

FAQs about ADHD Therapy in Los Angeles

  • ADHD can present differently in everyone. Only a professional can provide an official diagnosis, as many variables can be dependent on age and circumstance.

    Some of the most common symptoms are impulsivity, rejection sensitive dysphoria (overwhelming emotional reactivity to actual or perceived rejections), difficulty sustaining focused attention (particularly if the task at hand is not immediately rewarding), physical and/or mental restlessness, hyperfixations (compulsive or obsessive hyper-focusing on one or a few special interests), finding yourself overwhelmed more easily or frequently than your peers, and feeling burn-out.

    While ADHD is often regarded as a deficit of attention, it may feel more like too much attention. ADHD can often feel like every passing thought and impulse requires the same degree of undivided attention, followed by anxiety and stress at how overwhelmingly impossible that is to devote. This is why ADHD can often present more accurately as difficulty prioritizing rather than concentrating.

    Hyperactivity (as described as having difficulty sitting still, excessive physical activity, and other issues of restlessness) is a common symptom of ADHD in children. But in adults, hyperactivity may be more accurately described as hypo-mania, and may be inappropriate excitability, excessive fidgeting, trouble practicing patience or waiting your turn to speak, keeping yourself very busy with little rest, or interrupting others before they’ve completed saying or asking something.

  • There is no “right” or “wrong” way to treat your ADHD, nor is there a “right” or “wrong” professional to support you in your journey. There are several different credentials, specialties, and approaches that different mental health professionals have and use.

    An ADHD psychologist typically has a master’s degree or doctoral degree in clinical psychology. An ADHD therapist has a master’s degree as well, though their degree may be in social work, marriage and family therapy, or another related field.

    Both ADHD psychologists and ADHD therapists have to complete a significant amount of education and training, as well as register with the board for their profession. It’s important to verify the credentials of whichever professional you choose to work with, and it’s equally important to find someone that you feel comfortable with. Beyond clinical expertise, a solid therapeutic relationship is the foundation for your work together.

Start your healing journey with the help of an ADHD therapist in Los Angeles

Our compassionate and helpful therapists are here to give you tools to help you manage your symptoms and regain your inner balance. Connect with us today to learn more about how ADHD therapy in Los Angeles can help you.