ADHD Therapist in San Diego CA
ADHD Counseling San Diego
Of utmost importance to us at Thrive is supporting ADHDers in understanding themselves and helping them improve their lives while also reducing feelings of shame, depression, anxiety, and loneliness that often accompany ADHD. We use a strengths based, affirming approach towards these goals.
The facets of ADHD include:
Inattention: In addition to struggles with sustained focus, following intricate instructions, and task completion, individuals with ADHD may also experience:
- Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
- Frequently losing or misplacing items necessary for tasks
- Being easily distracted by external stimuli
- Forgetfulness in daily activities and responsibilities
Hyperactivity: Alongside heightened energy levels, restless behavior, and difficulty in remaining still, individuals with ADHD may also exhibit:
- Talking excessively or impulsively interrupting others
- Engaging in fidgeting or squirming behaviors
- Feeling constantly “on the go”
- Difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly
Impulsivity: In addition to acting spontaneously without considering consequences and facing challenges in social interactions, individuals with ADHD may also display:
- Difficulty waiting their turn in conversations or activities
- Blurting out answers before questions are completed
- Making hasty decisions without fully evaluating options
- Engaging in risky or thrill-seeking behaviors without assessing potential dangers
ADHD encompasses a nuanced interplay of attention and focus regulation, highlighting the importance of embracing diverse perspectives to address its multifaceted impacts on individuals’ lives.
ADHD Psychologist in San Diego CA
- Embrace Neurodiversity: Recognize ADHD as a natural variation and celebrate individual strengths.
- Individualized Support: Tailor interventions to each person’s needs and preferences.
- Strengths-Based Approach: Focus on nurturing talents and positive attributes.
- Holistic Support: Address physical, emotional, social, and environmental needs.
- Promote Self-Acceptance: Foster self-compassion and embrace neurodiversity.
- Education and Awareness: Provide education to reduce stigma and increase understanding.
- Skill Development: Teach practical coping strategies and life skills.
- Strengths-Based Feedback: Offer constructive feedback while highlighting achievements.
- Collaborative Goal Setting: Involve individuals in setting and monitoring goals.
- Family Education and Support: Equipping families with knowledge and strategies to effectively support their loved ones navigating ADHD.
- Group Therapy: Nurturing social competence in both pre-teens and teens, fostering meaningful connections and emotional well-being.
- Parent Consultation: Providing parents of ADHDer kids/teens/young adults with parenting recommendations tailored for their individual situations.
Here are some traits and experiences to look out for and seek professional help if they are present in your or a loved one’s life:
Children: ADHDers identified in the elementary years are often identified through hyperactivity and behavioral struggles in educational settings. However, it is also important to notice when children appear to be struggling with organization, emotional regulation (meltdowns and outbursts), and retaining information when compared with their peers. All of these can be early signs of ADHD, though not always indicative of symptoms that will warrant a diagnosis.
Teens: Teens and Pre-Teens are often identified as ADHDers due to significant struggles with organization impacting academic performance despite their clear ability to achieve at high levels. Once the demands of middle school and high school outweighs their ability to cope and accommodate their struggles internally, they often feel overwhelmed, might lose hope and act as though they do not care, and can become masters of saying “I can catch up” despite all signs pointing to it not being possible.
Adults: Adults are often identified either due to their partners noticing that they are struggling to manage the busyness of adult life, particularly if they are a dual working parent household, or due to a child getting a diagnosis in their family. Signs of ADHD in adults are often: depressive symptoms, feeling unfulfilled in career development, struggling with relationships, anxiety, and feelings of chronic overwhelm and wondering “why is everything so much harder for me than everyone else.”
Contact us at (858) 342-1304 to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Let us support you in navigating the complexities of ADHD and moving towards a more focused and balanced life.
- Children and Adults with ADHD – CHADD – Nationally recognized authority on ADHD
- ADDiTude Magazine – an excellent resources for all types of discussions related to ADHD. They have tons of information on their website and offer podcasts and newsletters.
- National Institute of Mental Health – an overview of ADHD symptoms, causes, treatments, etc.
- PsychCentral has compiled a fantastic list of resources for adults with ADHD – view it here.
- Coping Tips for ADHD (Adults)
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