Adolescent & Adult ADHD

Yes, and this is one of the most common stories we hear. Many adults — especially women, high achievers, and people who grew up in structured environments — masked their symptoms well enough that no one caught it. What often surfaces in adulthood is executive-function burnout: you can no longer white-knuckle your way through email, deadlines, and household logistics. If you've always suspected something was off, or if a family member's diagnosis made you wonder about yourself, it's worth exploring.

We offer clinical assessment and can help clarify whether ADHD is the right lens for what you're experiencing. For formal neuropsychological testing (extensive computerized measures used for accommodations or medication decisions in some settings), we refer to trusted local psychologists. Many of our clients find that a thorough clinical evaluation is enough to move forward with therapy and, if desired, a medication consultation.

Both can help, and the best combination is personal. Stimulant medication is highly effective for many people and can create the mental bandwidth needed to actually use therapy skills. Therapy alone can also help significantly — especially with the emotional layers of ADHD, the shame and self-criticism that pile up over years, and the practical scaffolding (systems, routines, self-compassion) that make daily life work. Many clients do both.

Less traditional talk, more collaborative problem-solving. We look at your specific patterns — where things fall apart, what triggers overwhelm, how your emotions and executive function interact — and build systems and skills together. We also address the emotional weight most adults with ADHD carry: years of being called lazy or disorganized, comparison to neurotypical peers, and internalized shame. That deeper work is often where the biggest shifts happen.

Yes. ADHD in women tends to look less like hyperactivity and more like internal restlessness, chronic overwhelm, emotional dysregulation, and perfectionism as a coping strategy. Many women get labeled as anxious or 'sensitive' when the underlying issue is ADHD. Hormonal shifts (postpartum, perimenopause) can also dramatically change symptoms. We approach ADHD in women with an understanding of these patterns and how gender has shaped both the presentation and the years of being missed.