Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with therapist and adhd

Who can help me with my mental issues?

SNWidget — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:07:31 -0800

Looking for someone to help me with practical aspects of my ADHD - life coach, psychiatrist, therapist? What am I looking for? In contrast to previous years, I'm sticking to one new year's resolution, but it's a big one. I'd like to get my time management under control. I'm fighting this on a number of fronts (including medication from my primary care physician), one of which I've decided should be some form of therapy or coaching to help me address ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I think addressing some of the ADHD issues related to time management could lessen the effects of the anxiety and depression, which tend to be at their worst when deadlines are looming or I haven't allotted enough time to give a task my best.

Last summer I consulted a therapist at my university. While it was somewhat helpful, it didn't provide me with practical insights or tools that would help me address ADHD and time management. I'd like to see someone who specializes in ADHD (and secondarily depression and anxiety) that can help me with some of the practical tools.

I'm interested in hearing from those who have gone down this road. From whom should I be seeking help? A clinical psychologist? Other type of therapist? Some sort of life coach? (If a life coach is the way to go - how do I find one? I live in the Dallas area.)

Any other thoughts and tips are welcome and appreciated.

WANTED: Chicagoland therapist specializing in ADD assistance

princesspathos — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:54:43 -0800

I am a woman in her early 30's who has been diagnosed with ADHD (or ADD, I don't remember what behavioral health folks call it now) by four different pdocs. I am looking for a therapist in either the NW Suburbs or North Shore suburbs (preferrably those accessible via 294) of Chicago who specializes in dealing with people in my situation. I have been on a lot of medication to offset my diagnosis (Wellbutrin, Ritalin, Vyanse, Strattera, and Adderall,) but I have not found an effective therapist to help me form habits and routines. I did CBT with a graduate student at the Family Institute for two years, but I was unprepared to do the work, had a lot going on, and ultimately felt we were not a good match.

I am not adverse to doing CBT again, but when I get into a therapeutic situation, I have a lot of issues which bubble up to the surface and feel like they must be addressed now. I'd like someone who can be nuturing, keep me on task, and give me good homework to help me rebuild myself.

It would also be very helpful if said therapist took Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. Thank you for your recommendations!

Looking for a professional to help me manage my ADHD

lunasol — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:43:40 -0800

I'd like to see professional who can help me develop tools/strategies to cope with ADHD. Should I see an ADHD coach? A cognitive behavioral therapist? How do I go about finding someone? I've been taking ADHD meds for over a year and the effect has been nothing short of life-changing. But I've hit a plateau and I'd like to start seeing a professional to develop strategies for some of the more intractable issues, like my inability to stick with long-range plans or develop productive habits/routines.

I've looked at lists of local ADHD coaches, but none of them seem to take insurance. I've looked at the list of in-network psychologists on my health insurance provider's website and that's just sort of overwhelming to sort through.

The person needs to be a licensed therapist/counselor/psychologist and they need to take my (widely accepted) health insurance.

Meditation for a high-need kid

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:36:00 -0800

I'm looking for a very specific kind of therapy/mindfulness training for my kid. I'm in the SF Bay Area. My kid has an ADHD diagnosis but her behavior issues are more extreme than your typical "ADD" diagnosed kid. She is fine for a few weeks, then has a week or two of complete lack of impulse control, tantrums, crying, basically crazy behavior. This is very sad for her and very hard for everyone else to be around. She does take ADD meds but I find them to be a sort of trade off of one set of troubling behaviors for severe sleep problems and more emotional tantrums in the afternoons. Anyway, not looking for meds advice.

I think she would benefit from doing some kind of kid-appropriate mindfulness work like meditation or yoga geared toward a high-need kid. A big part of what is hard for her and hard for others when dealing with her is she just gets triggered and freaks out. I think meditation/mindfulness could be a tool to help her slow down instead of just flying off. I've tried to teach her some basic breathing stuff, but she's not having it from me. In general she is quite disruptive in group settings so right now I am looking at one-on-one options. She has done some one-on-one drama-based talk therapy before and she enjoyed it, which is great, but it didn't improve the behavior issues. She's also done small group therapy/socialization work. And we've tried martial arts! Ugh.

Anyway, my fantasy right now is I'll find a therapist who does mindfulness training too and who also works with kids. Since I'm fantasizing, sliding scale and East Bay would be ideal. But any leads or suggestions including classes would be great. Oh, she's almost 9. Thank you!

What questions should I ask prospective therapists over the phone to vet them before making an appointment?

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:38:09 -0800

What questions should I ask prospective therapists over the phone to vet them before making an appointment? I've never sought out a therapist on my own before, nor do I have any real experience in therapy. I finally feel ready to give it a try, but I also feel overwhelmed staring at lists of names of in-network providers. My main issues are anxiety and what I suspect is undiagnosed ADHD.

What questions should I ask prospective shrinks over the phone so I can gather enough information about them to tell if it's worth bothering to take the time to come in for an initial consultation? I understand that it's hard to tell if someone will be a good fit for me without going in and spending an hour with them, but surely I can at least weed out the obviously inappropriate ones without wasting that much time!

I've had terrible luck with physical doctors in the past, and get very frustrated with doctors who talk down to me or, alternatively, just listen rather than being interactive and giving me suggestions and information.

I want to figure out what the most efficient set of questions is to determine over the phone whether someone's method, style, and personality might work well for me. Well, that and whether they know their shit when it comes to problems with anxiety and inability to focus on getting anything done ever. (Efficient, because I don't want them to get fed up with me before I even walk in their front door.)

What questions should I ask?

For extra credit, should I ask over the phone whether they're kink friendly, or wait to bring that up in person? I will end up talking about BDSM in the context of discussing my problems with focus, so it is relevant and important.

Los Angeles ADD therapist needed

klangklangston — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:59:41 -0800

I need to find an ADD therapist in Los Angeles. Some details inside. So, after trying a friend's medication and realizing the immense difference in made in my life, I've come to realize that I need help dealing with my ADD.

In order to get that help, the best path seems to be finding a therapist and dealing with the ADD through a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.

I live in Los Feliz, so doctors on the west side aren't convenient for me, and I've had ADD long enough to realize that the more inconvenient a thing is, the less likely it is to get done.

I have no insurance (unemployed/freelancin'), so I'd prefer a sliding-scale therapist. Obviously, they also have to be taking new patients.

I've googled around for this, both looking for further search strategies and specific people near me, and have become frustrated. Hence, this question.

Much thanks in advance for either specific recommendations or additional help.

sad mefite is sad. i can has CBT?

lolichka — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:49:03 -0800

NYC-filter: recommendations for a therapist who does CBT or something similar. I'm in Queens and have access to the E,F,V,G,R trains. Someone in Manhattan in Midtown or the UES would be good, though I'm willing to travel all the way to south Brooklyn if necessary :)

I have (long-standing) depression and (recently discovered) ADHD. A female therapist is preferable, but if you know a good male one recommend him anyway.

My insurance is United Health (if you happen to know what insurances your therapist accepts).

Thanks everybody for helping!

Recommend therapists and/or ADD evaluators in DC

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:44:57 -0800

Recommended therapists and/or ADD evaluations in the Washington DC area? I'm looking to a) be evaluated for ADD (inattentive type) and b) begin therapy soon, to work on the ADD (or ADD-like) symptoms [improve focus, follow-through, procrastination, etc] as well as some self-esteem and relatively low-level social anxiety issues that may or may not be related. It would be convenient for me to do both with the same person/center, but I'm also definitely willing to do it separately if that gets me the best treatment. Please recommend great therapists you (or people you know) have worked with, even if you don't know whether they have experience with ADD (although that is certainly a plus).

Also, big bonus points if they take my health insurance (Cigna PPO). I have heard good things about the Women's Center, but they don't take Cigna, nor do the names mentioned in previous threads.

I only recently moved to DC, so I don't have a primary care physician or many local friends I can ask directly about this. And yes, I know about the various search engines online, but I am looking for personal recommendations from satisfied clients (or people who know satisfied clients).

I'm female, in my mid-20s, and prone to excessive self-analysis that doesn't really get me anywhere I need to go. E-mail address is anotheranonymous9@gmail.com if needed.