Who should I see for my Adult ADHD?
I was recently asked if it was overkill to have a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a coach.
While this could seem excessive, the best approach to managing ADHD is through a support team with the various team members having very different functions.
The most important consideration is to utilise each team member in the most efficient way – this will save you time and money and will achieve the best results!
A psychiatrist (or paediatrician) is a trained medical doctor who can diagnose ADHD (and any other mental health disorders) and prescribe medication. They may, or may not, assist with “talk therapy”.
A psychologist has the professional training and clinical skills to help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems (like behavioural problems, learning difficulties, depression, anxiety and anger). They focus on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering in patients using talk therapy, most often psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy.
ADHD coaches do not have medical or counselling qualifications – they work with you to help you reach your own personal, specific goals. They focus on practical skills – time management, organisation, motivation, procrastination and other executive function issues. They work with you to improve lifestyle skills and to incorporate non-medical solutions to manage your ADHD symptoms. By applying an individually tailored approach, that considers both your strengths and the areas requiring development, they support you to reduce stress, find the best strategies to achieve success in your life and actively assist you to achieve your desired results.
All the members of your ADHD support team should be aware of the support that you are receiving so that they can offer suggestions for the involvement of the other team members. For example, your psychologist may suggest practical areas that you could work with together with your coach, or your coach might uncover an issue that your psychologist could explore with you.
Managing ADHD may seem overwhelming, especially if you are finding it difficult coping with the day-to-day struggles of life. Having the right people working with you on your team will ensure you have all the information and tools that you need to succeed!
Jennifer Blunden, the author of this article, is an ADHD Coach and founder of ADD Value Coaching. To find out more about her and her work visit her website