ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often understood as someone who has trouble paying attention, but for many adults and adolescents, it can affect nearly every part of daily life, including motivation, organization, time management, emotional regulation, follow- through, and the ability to consistently manage responsibilities. Many people with ADHD describe feeling overwhelmed by tasks that seem “simple” for others —they struggle to start or finish projects, procrastinate despite good intentions, forget important details, lose track of time, or feel mentally exhausted from constantly trying to keep up. Others may have spent years feeling misunderstood, labeled as lazy, careless, unmotivated, or “not living up to their potential, ”while internally working incredibly hard just to stay afloat.
ADHD involves difficulties with executive functioning and self-regulation —the brain’s ability to manage attention, emotions, impulses, planning, organization, and future-oriented behavior. This means many people with ADHD know what they need to do, but struggle with consistently carrying it out in the moment. They may feel as if their attention and motivation are not in their control, derailed by thoughts and prioritizing things that just seem more interesting to them. Over time, these repeated struggles can affect confidence, relationships, school or work performance, and overall emotional well-being.
Testing and assessment can help someone determine if they have ADHD. For those who have or suspect they have ADHD, therapy focused on ADHD can help individuals better understand how ADHD uniquely affects their life, reduce shame and self-blame, and support individuals in developing more effective ways of working with their brain rather than constantly fighting against it. Through increased self-understanding, practical support, and compassionate exploration of long-standing patterns, people often begin to feel more capable, grounded, and hopeful in navigating daily life.
Anxiety
For many high-functioning people, anxiety can look like constantly staying busy, overthinking decisions, difficulty relaxing, feeling overly responsible for others, or pushing yourself to keep going even when you are mentally and physically exhausted. You may appear calm, capable, and “put together” on the outside while internally feeling stuck in a constant state of pressure, tension, or worry. Anxiety often shows up through people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, fear of disappointing others, or feeling like you always have to get things “right.” Over time, living in this constant state of stress can begin to affect the body as well, contributing to headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension, poor sleep, fatigue, racing thoughts, jaw clenching, or feeling unable to fully slow down or feel present.
Often, anxiety is not simply about “thinking too much,” but about patterns our nervous system learned over time to stay safe, accepted, or in control. Many people unknowingly learned early on that mistakes were not okay, emotions should be pushed aside, or that their worth was tied to achievement, productivity, or taking care of others. Therapy can help you better understand the deeper emotional experiences and patterns contributing to anxiety, rather than only managing symptoms at the surface. Through a supportive and collaborative process, people often begin to develop a different relationship with themselves, one that allows for more self-compassion, emotional awareness, healthier boundaries, and a greater ability to feel connected and at ease in their daily lives.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Many people think of trauma as life-changing, painful experiences that involve abuse, assault, violence, accidents, or major loss. These can indeed impact someone’s life and are often referred to as “Big T” traumas. But trauma can also come from the quieter, ongoing experiences that taught us something painful about ourselves, relationships, or the world. Those are often referred to as “little t” trauma and can include emotional neglect, feeling unseen or unsupported as a child, growing up walking on eggshells, having your feelings minimized, criticized, or ignored, or learning that your needs were “too much.” Over time, these experiences can shape how we relate to ourselves and others, leading to anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, difficulty trusting, or feeling constantly overwhelmed and exhausted without fully understanding why.
Often, it is not only what happened to us that leaves a lasting impact, but also the support, protection, or understanding we did not receive. When painful experiences are faced alone, our nervous system adapts in ways meant to protect us (examples include overworking to avoid something else, keeping others at arm’s length, ignoring our needs) even if those patterns no longer serve us today. Therapy can help you make sense of your experiences and understand the lasting effects trauma may still be having on your emotions, relationships, body, and daily life. In a supportive and compassionate space like therapy, people are often able to revisit experiences that once felt confusing or painful, and this time experience understanding and emotional support. Through this process, old emotional learnings such as “I’m alone,” “my feelings don’t matter,” or “I have to handle everything myself” can begin to soften and update, creating space for greater self-understanding, connection, and healing.
You may have tried to think your way through your struggles. You’ve read the books, talked things through with friends, and maybe even told yourself to “just let it go.” Yet the same patterns keep showing up: anxiety, self-doubt, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, or feeling stuck despite your best efforts. If this sounds familiar, there’s a reason. Many of the patterns that shape our lives, like anxiety and emotional overwhelm, aren’t driven by logic. They often develop as ways to protect us from feeling disappointment, rejection, or loss.
In therapy, we move beyond simply talking about problems. Together, we create space to gently explore the deeper emotional experiences, beliefs, and protective strategies that may be operating beneath the surface, in our subconscious. As therapy unfolds, many clients begin to understand themselves in a new way. They discover that their anxiety, self-criticism, or overworking are not signs that something is wrong with them. Rather, they are responses that were developed for a reason. When these deeper patterns are fully understood and emotionally processed, meaningful change becomes possible.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and experiential. Sessions are not about being analyzed or told what to do. Instead, they are an opportunity to slow down, listen inwardly, and connect with yourself in a deeper way. Over time, many clients experience greater emotional freedom, self-trust, confidence, and a renewed sense of connection—to themselves, their relationships, and the life they want to create.
A Bariatric Psychological Assessment is a vital step in your weight-loss surgery journey, helping to ensure you're ready for this exciting lifestyle change. This thorough assessment allows you to discover your unique strengths and identify any challenges you might encounter along the way. By diving into your motivations, habits, and feelings, you can create personalized coping strategies that will support you during this transformative phase. We'll also communicate directly with your surgeon after the assessment to provide all the necessary information needed for your surgery preparation.
A Bariatric Psychological Assessment is a vital step in your weight-loss surgery journey, helping to ensure you're ready for this exciting lifestyle change. This thorough assessment allows you to discover your unique strengths and identify any challenges you might encounter along the way. By diving into your motivations, habits, and feelings, you can create personalized coping strategies that will support you during this transformative phase. We'll also communicate directly with your surgeon after the assessment to provide all the necessary information needed for your surgery preparation.
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