ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. ADHD is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity or restlessness, disruptive behavior, and poor impulse control. Children with ADHD have an inability to focus and are easily distracted. They also tend to be very physically active and have trouble sitting still. Without treatment, ADHD can affect a child's social development and school performance. With treatment, most children with ADHD improve. Seeing a mental health professional can provide children with ADHD critical help in handling frustrations and building self-esteem. Parents of children suffering from ADHD can also benefit from therapy to help them develop healthy and supportive ways of coping.
Local Experts in ADHD
Extensive experience in assessment and management across multiple settings
Mental health services include: evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning medication management / psychopharmacology
Buried in clutter? Lost your keys (again)? Tired of being perpetually late? ADHD is not just for kids. The impairments associated with this disorder can create serious obstacles for adults. Together we will explore the many facets of the disorder. I will provide you with tools to make behavioral changes and help you heal the toxic shame that often comes with growing up with ADHD.
I have ADHD, which gives me a first hand understanding of it and I have worked with many others with ADHD. I have also had training on working with ADHD clients.
Neurofeedback can help the brain learn to shift gears more easily, helping the client to transition from distraction to focus.
I have focused on the treatment of ADHD in adults, adolescents, and children in both my academic studies and my professional work.
Adults with ADHD often experience issues with time management, mental organization, inhibition, self-motivation, and concentration significantly more often than the general population. I offer counseling and coaching for adults with ADHD to trouble-shoot work-related, relationship, and other life issues, identify and address the obstacles, and move towards more rewarding outcomes.
I work with both minors and adults as they learn how to work with their brain to navigate the demands placed on them by their environment and the emotional effects that result.
I have collaborated in school settings with students diagnosed with ADHD and other learning issues that require differentiated approaches to teaching and learning. I interned as a clinical interviewer with the ADHD Research Laboratory at OHSU. I have worked clinically with individuals of varying ages who struggle with being misunderstood in conjunction with direct challenges presented by ADHD.
An educator and therapist, I have worked for over thirty years with ADHD clients and their families.
Individual and group options
Do you have concerns regarding your response, or your child’s response, to home, classroom, or work environments? Do you believe that you, or your child, demonstrates the symptoms of ADHD? We will need more than one visit in order to determine the best course of action. Once an evaluation has been completed you will receive a suggested treatment options list with recommended resources. \n
Attention Deficit Disorder can strike at any time of life, and often compensation techniques that worked well earlier in life can break down when the challenges of career and family place ever increasing demands on your time, energy, and focus. Society often labels people with attention issues as \'lazy\' or \'unreliable\', making it feel even harder to feel valued and capable. I understand your needs
Stephen Arterburn, M.Ed., and Timothy Smith, M.Ed., wrote a book \'Understanding and Loving a Person with Attention Deficit Disorder.\' They see ADD/ADHD as \'not a malady, but as a unique way of thinking...\' and I agree. Having a son with severe ADHD, and having treated many clients with ADD/ADHD has given me quite a bit of experience in this area.
I have worked with children for over three decades in schools and have worked individually and ran groups for children with a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD.
ADHD remains greatly misunderstood and untreated in adult populations. I work with those struggling with ADHD, their partners, and their relationships in office and through virtual education and support groups.
As a fully credentialed learning specialist (mild to moderate learning disabilities) with over 20 years of experience working with this population, I offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to help young folks and adults learn to live their best life while also dealing with ADHD or any other learning disability. I am also a National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist, all ages.
Testing and Assessment
Through my work on a college campus, I have extensive experience working with young adults who are learning to manage their ADHD symptoms independently. Together we work to create a safe space, without judgement, where they can explore their limitations and create strategies to attain their personal/educational/career goals in spite of these difficulties.