I am looking for a therapist who treats ADHD

[Cloee]

Where do we go for treatment? I live on Long Island and am not sure how to proceed with my diagnosis.

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the community Cloee !

There are at least a few ways to find a therapist to treat ADHD. Since you are in or near a more populated area, it is more likely that there is help nearby for you.

Here are some ways that I can think of off the top of my head:

• Word of mouth - ask anyone who you personally know who has ADHD who they go to for therapy, and what the experiences like with that therapist.

• Referral from your healthcare provider - sometimes doctors know who at least some of the therapists in their area, and might know which ones have experience treating ADHD.

• Referral from your health insurance company - this is likely to be for finding a psychiatrist or perhaps a psychologist who treats ADHD.

• An online directory - I know that chadd.org , attitudemag.com , and psychologytoday.com I'll have directories; the first two specifically for ADHD, the third for various disciplines which you would have to search through for mentions of ADHD.

• If you are a student who has not yet graduated from high school, then your school district might be able to arrange for assessment and academic focused treatment, but a parent would have to be on board.

• if you are a college student, check with the college counseling program (if they have one), academic assistance program, testing center, or disability support services office to find out if they can refer you to a therapist for diagnosis and or treatment. When in doubt about where to go to make those inquiries, check with the Dean of Students office. [I worked at a public university for 10 years, which is how I found out about all these options... but I did not know much about them when I was a student at the same school.]

• Many employers these days will have either a health insurance benefit or an Employee Assistance Program which will have some therapy coverage as an option. ...[In my last year working at that University, I found out that the EAP would cover eight therapy sessions per year... I did not find out until I was leaving there that it was a sessions per issue, per year. At the employers I've had since then, it was five sessions, and then three sessions per issue, per year. Three sessions are barely enough to scratch the surface, and my current health coverage only covers medical or psychiatric care, not mental health therapy.]

If I can think of anything else, I will reply with more.

[GregorysMom in reply to STEM_Dad]

Thank you STEM_Dad. Great advice for someone starting out with ADHD.

Do you have any for someone at the other end of the spectrum, who has been in "therapy" most of their adult life, started antidepresents at around 40 when prozac came out, found out by accident at 59 she probably had adhd, and then for the next 10 years was told NOT "to go there" by both long time counselor, and psychiatrist? I found the first decent psychiatrist at 69 soon after I moved to FL. But alas now at 74 , counselors that know anything about anything no longer exist , at least in my world because of the huge shortfall of counselors since the pandemic. In my case the standard for counselors has been profoundly lowered (not that it was great before) and my current psychiatrist , the best I've ever met) can alot me 20 min every 3 months to update my meds. I think it may be 15 min once/mo back in NJ where I came from.

And BTW, RSD from which I've suffered profoundly most of my life, must be addressed out of pocket, at least with my insurance (A____), and probably most provided through employment. I've been trying to get even DBT for years to no avail. Now they call it "coaching" which it probably is for the most part, BUT you have to get it on the market; you know, where you pick a shingle in a window on the street? According to Dr. Dodson, there is no serious research on RSD. My guess is that is because so far there is no way to quantify research methods and outcomes for the almighty market. If they can't sell you a pill, be prepared to shell out some big cash. So far I just try , albeit rather unsuccessfully, mindfulness meditation, Amen brain health advice, etc. But RSD is no small matter and I see more and more posts about it on this site. Lives are destroyed by it. I don't know what's worse RSD packaged in ADHD, or the state of MH care in the US.

Anyway, I suppose "our time is up." Thanks for listening.

[STEM_Dad in reply to GregorysMom]

I try to share helpful information, but I try not to give advice. I have a lot less experience with mental health care than you do.

I totally agree that mental health care in the US (and probably most of the world) definitely needs improvement.

I can remember when I was a teenager and my mom went to a psychiatrist, and there was at least some time spent in psychoanalysis, not just "how are your meds working for you?"

Changing psychiatrists to one who acknowledges your ADHD was probably the best move you could make. A doctor who will not treat a chronic condition is not a helpful doctor.

I get prescribed my ADHD medication by my personal care physician. One doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, but the psychiatrist didn't have any openings (booked up for several months at a time during the height of the pandemic).

I've needed therapy for anxiety and depression, and to help me get through some difficult circumstances. Since I've had to rely on limited work benefits, I haven't been able to keep a therapist, meeting with each for a short time. (Most were through teletherapy. Only the one who initially diagnosed my ADHD met with me in person.)

I wish I had better information to share than what I already have.

As an "information junkie", I come across new information all the time, so if I come across anything worth sharing, I will definitely post it here on the forum.

[Cloee in reply to STEM_Dad]

Wow, thank you for all of the advice. I'll look into some of the avenues you suggested.

[Tigger4me]

Hi Cloee, STEM_Dad's suggestions are great. Depending on where you live, work etc., if it is near a Medical School you might want to check to see if there are any clinics that might be appropriate.

An ADHD Coach also might work for you, depending on your therapy goals.

Best of luck.

[Cloee in reply to Tigger4me]

Thank you!

[GregorysMom]

Thank you so much STEM_Dad.........that was a helpful and honest "counsel." And thank you for your offer on info. Same here. If there is anything I can help you with in resolving your issues, let me know. I am not a psychologist, and I don't even play one on tv. But after all these years people often ask me, "Are you a psychologist?," or "when do you have time to do lunch?" or "I love talking to you. Can we hang out?" I can only laugh. I'm not offering to "talk" to you outside of this forum, but I do have some info and experience under my belt. My parents immigrated with me from war torn Europe in 1951, both receiving no support, assistance, acknowledgement of ptsd, bi polar conditions, etc etc. My sister is actually worse off than I am. So "I feel you." Thanks again, best of luck to YOU.