Risk Factors for ADHD
Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing ADHD:
- Genetics: Family history plays a significant role.
- Biochemistry: Chemical imbalances in the brain may contribute.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Head injuries can be linked to ADHD.
- Environmental Toxins: Early exposure to harmful substances like lead can raise the risk.
- Substance Exposure in Utero: Drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can affect development.
- Premature Birth: Being born prematurely can also increase the likelihood.
If you or a loved one are concerned about ADHD, Claire Russell Therapy offers tailored support and guidance, helping you understand and manage symptoms effectively.
Types of ADHD
ADHD symptoms manifest in three primary ways:
- Predominantly Inattentive Type: Individuals often struggle to pay attention, have difficulty following through, and are easily distracted.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: These individuals may exhibit restlessness, fidgeting, interrupting others, and impulsivity.
- Combined Presentation: A mixture of symptoms from both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive types.
If you’re unsure about which type of ADHD you or someone close to you may have, Claire Russell Therapy can help you identify and understand these symptoms, guiding you toward a suitable treatment plan.
ADD vs. ADHD
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was an outdated term referring to the Predominantly Inattentive Type of ADHD. Today, ADHD is used to describe all types of attention-related disorders, regardless of the specific symptoms.
At Claire Russell Therapy, we can help clarify any confusion between ADD and ADHD and offer tailored therapy to address the specific symptoms affecting you.
ADHD Symptoms
People with the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD may:
Inattentive Type ADHD Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty paying attention to detail or making careless mistakes
- Trouble staying focused or completing tasks
- Appearing not to listen even when directly addressed
- Becoming easily distracted or disorganised
- Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort
- Frequently losing or forgetting things
People with the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD may:
Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD Symptoms include:
- Fidgeting or constant movement
- Trouble remaining seated
- Difficulty waiting or showing impatience
- Talking excessively or interrupting others
- Speaking without thinking first
If you’re experiencing symptoms, Claire Russell Therapy can provide targeted support through CBT or behavioural therapy, offering practical strategies to manage symptoms effectively and improve day-to-day life.
ADHD in Adults
ADHD in adults can manifest differently from childhood symptoms. Adults may experience:
- Missing deadlines or being disorganised at work
- Difficulty focusing during meetings
- Starting tasks but struggling to complete them
- Hyperfocus on a single task while neglecting others
- Frequently losing or misplacing items
- Impulsively taking over conversations
- Engaging in risky or impulsive behaviour
If you recognise these patterns in your own life, Claire Russell Therapy can help you manage and overcome adult ADHD. Through individual therapy and CBT, you can develop skills to improve focus, organisation, and impulse control.
To be diagnosed, kids must have at least six symptoms (and people over 17 must have at least five symptoms) from one of the two types for at least six months.
To be diagnosed with a combined presentation of ADHD, you must have at least six months of symptoms from both types (six of each for children; five of each for adults).
ADHD in Children
While many children experience restlessness or distraction, these behaviours are not always indicative of ADHD. ADHD in children can sometimes overlap with other developmental disorders, so an accurate diagnosis is essential. A comprehensive evaluation is needed to differentiate ADHD from other conditions.
At Claire Russell Therapy, we work closely with children and their families to ensure a thorough assessment and provide strategies for managing ADHD symptoms. We offer support for both children and their parents, helping everyone understand the condition and work together to create effective coping strategies.
Some research suggests that ADHD is underdiagnosed in adults and especially among women and girls, who often have inattentive symptoms and may have learned to hide them more successfully.
Co-occurring Disorders
It’s common for children and adults with ADHD to have co-occurring disorders such as learning disabilities. An accurate diagnosis is key to understanding the full picture.
If your child or you are managing ADHD alongside other challenges, Claire Russell Therapy can provide comprehensive therapy options. From behavioural therapy to CBT, we can support you in addressing multiple concerns simultaneously, ensuring a holistic approach to mental health.
Treatment Options for ADHD
Effective treatment for ADHD often involves a combination of therapy, self-care strategies, and medication.
At Claire Russell Therapy, we offer therapy tailored to your specific needs, helping you manage symptoms and thrive. We incorporate self-care strategies and support groups to help you build resilience and enhance your overall well-being.
ADHD Therapy Services We Offer
Behavioural Therapy, DBT with Counselling and Psychotherapy:
This therapy focuses on reinforcing positive behaviours and reducing unwanted behaviours, helping individuals with ADHD develop healthier habits and routines.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Counselling and Psychotherapy:
CBT helps individuals with ADHD address unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that may be holding them back. This therapy provides practical tools to manage impulsivity, improve focus, and build better coping mechanisms.
If you’re seeking therapy for ADHD, Claire Russell Therapy is here to help you achieve lasting change. Whether you’re looking for one-on-one therapy or need family support, we have the tools and expertise to guide you through every step of the process.
Additional ADHD & ADD Services at Claire Russell Therapy
In addition to ADHD-specific therapies, Claire Russell Therapy offers a range of services designed to improve overall well-being and help you manage a variety of conditions.
Counselling & Psychotherapy:
At Claire Russell Therapy, we offer counselling and psychotherapy to help individuals address emotional challenges, trauma, and mental health issues. Through talking therapies, we help you explore and process your thoughts and feelings, enabling you to gain clarity and move forward in life with confidence.
Registered Nutritionist:
Proper nutrition plays an important role in mental health, especially for those managing ADHD. A Registered Nutritionist at Claire Russell Therapy can help you develop a tailored eating plan that supports brain function, emotional well-being, and overall health, ensuring you’re nourishing your body in ways that benefit both your mind and body.
Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy:
Clinical Hypnotherapy can be a highly effective tool for managing ADHD. By using deep relaxation techniques and positive suggestion, hypnotherapy can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and control impulsivity, providing a calm, focused approach to daily challenges.
Mind Coaching:
Mind coaching at Claire Russell Therapy helps you unlock your potential by changing unhelpful thought patterns and creating a mindset that supports success and growth. Through coaching, you’ll develop skills to manage stress, boost focus, and cultivate a positive mental outlook.
Kidz Matters:
At Claire Russell Therapy, we offer Kidz Matters, a service designed to help children manage ADHD, anxiety, and emotional difficulties. Through fun and interactive activities, children learn coping mechanisms, improve their focus, and build confidence in a supportive environment.
Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT):
RTT is an advanced therapeutic method combining elements of hypnotherapy, CBT, and coaching. It’s a powerful tool for clearing limiting beliefs and deep-seated emotional blocks, helping you break free from past patterns and move forward with newfound clarity and confidence. RTT is particularly effective in addressing the emotional and behavioural patterns often associated with ADHD.
Hypnopsychotherapy and Hypnoanalysis:
Hypnopsychotherapy (also known as hypnoanalysis) is a cutting‐edge therapeutic approach that integrates the benefits of hypnosis with proven psychotherapy, and integrative psychotherapy methods. Using hypnosis and mental imagery, help you access the subconscious mind— of repressed memories, unresolved trauma, and habitual unwanted or negative behavioural patterns. Helping lasting emotional, mental and physical wellbeing
Medications for ADHD
Stimulant medications such as Adderall and Ritalin are commonly prescribed to manage ADHD. These medications are used to help individuals with ADHD focus and regulate their behaviour. Stimulants come in different formulations, including short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting options with varying effectiveness.
While medication can be an important part of treatment for some individuals, therapy remains a vital aspect of managing ADHD and life effectively. Claire Russell Therapy offers therapy for those without medication, or alongside medication, to ensure you have a comprehensive approach to treatment.
Seeking Help for ADHD or ADD
The first step towards managing ADHD or ADD is consulting with your primary care physicianor therapist. Claire Russell Therapy is ready to help you explore therapy and other solutions and options, tailored to your unique needs.
If you’ve been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD but have not yet explored therapy, now is the time. At Claire Russell Therapy, we offer individualised treatment plans, focusing on improving your quality of life and helping you manage your life, relationships, work, school and college life with ADD or ADHD symptoms more effectively.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re ready to seek support for ADD or ADHD or any other mental health concern, Claire Russell Therapy is here for you. Whether for a child, adolescent, or adult, we offer compassionate and expert therapy and experience to help you manage ADD or ADHD symptoms and improve your daily life.
Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation and take the first step toward managing ADHD, improving your mental health, and living a more fulfilling life.
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