A Message for Teens With ADHD

 

Hey There

 

I’m Greg, and I’ve been ADHD my whole life (though I only figured that out five years ago). I work with teens who feel like square pegs trying to fit into round holes. If that’s you, I get it.

 

Here’s some of what I’ve learned.

 

Your brain isn’t broken. School might make you feel that way, but school was designed for one type of brain, and yours is a different model.One that’s good at a lot of things, but not so good at some the things that school and parents expect out of you.

 

You know how you can focus on things you care about for hours? How your mind makes connections others miss? How you might feel everything more intensely than your friends? As they say, “That’s not a bug - it’s a feature”. I help folks work with their strengths and how to get help with what is boring or too hard.

 

Feeding the hungry brain.

 

ADHD brains need stimulation. Sometimes we reach for quick fixes - hours of gaming, doom scrolling, substances, whatever gives that dopamine hit. For example, I I became fairly obsessed with Elden Ring when it came out and did neglected other things in my life that needed my attention. I should say here, that I usually  work with families when a member of the family is struggling (or the whole family is struggling which is often the case). I invite you to check out the Family Therapy page for more info. In therapy we can explore what you’re really craving (excitement? escape? connection?) and find ways to get it that don’t leave you feeling empty or ashamed afterward. This might mean discovering new interests and activities, finding and connecting with people who share your interests, or learning when your brain needs intensity versus when it needs rest. 

 

In therapy, we figure out:

 

- Why your brain works the way it does and how to best get it to work for you.

- Practical strategies that actually stick (not the ones that work for other people)

- How to deal with the emotional intensity that often comes with ADHD

- Ways to explain yourself to parents and teachers who don’t get it

- How to find environments where you naturally thrive

- We help the rest of your family understand all of the above and how they can support you

 

Along with some other approaches, I use something called Internal Family Systems, which basically means we get curious about all the different parts of you - the part that procrastinates, the creative part, the anxious part. They’re all trying to help, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

 

The way I see ADHD.

 

Some of the most creative, innovative, interesting people in the world have ADHD brains (entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, first responders, trades professionals, people in high intensity, highly stimulating jobs, scholars, etc.) What makes school hard now might be exactly what makes you extraordinary later. So, I celebrate your neurodiversity. If you and your family are interested in co-creating more support and understanding in your family for each other, and a place where neurodiversity is an asset, I invite you to contact me.

 

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Thanks for checking out my site. If you’re interested in finding out more, your parents can call to set up an initial conversation.