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March 20, 2013Adult ADHD: Getting the Most out of Therapy
Getting treatment for adult ADHD can be effective in helping you understand how ADHD symptoms are affecting your life and learning skills to help manage those symptoms. Most of the time you’ll have to work at therapy for it to be effective for you. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your therapy:
1. Be an active participant.
Your counselor (or therapist) cannot do all the work for you. The more you work at it with them, the more you will get out of the therapy.
2. Remind yourself that change takes time.
If you have ADHD, something can be exciting right away but get boring fast. Keep reminding yourself that change won’t happen right away. Patience is key.
3. Be honest with your counselor.
If you perceive that your counselor is being hard on you or critical, ask them about it. Because of your ADHD, you may have experienced many years of criticism, which can make you more sensitive. Exploring your feelings is an important part of therapy.
Try to be open and direct with them. They don’t know what you’re thinking or feeling unless you speak up.
4. Take notes to bring to session.
Rambling is a common symptom of ADHD, and it can create an unfocused session. You might consider bringing notes with main points you’d like to discuss, and your counselor can help keep you on track. Also, taking notes about situations that come up in between sessions can help you remember the details of how you felt and can be helpful to therapy if you have trouble remembering.
5. Work on your “homework” between sessions.
Often your counselor will assign things for you to work on in between sessions to help you practice your skills. Make sure you know what you should be working on and create reminders for yourself if needed. Practicing skills is an important part of changing lifelong habits that have been a part of your ADHD.
Your counselor is there to work with you and help you develop the skills for being successful, managing your symptoms, and creating healthier relationships. They can’t do it alone; they need your participation, time, and patience.
