Alexis
Pagomenos
Psychology
Therapy for ADHD
in Brisbane
Do You Feel Like You're Constantly Trying to Keep Up With Everything?
Do you find yourself struggling to stay organised, manage your time or follow through with things, even when you're genuinely trying your best?
Perhaps you feel like everyday tasks take more effort than they seem to for other people, or you're constantly frustrated with yourself for not being able to get things done.
You might recognise some of these experiences:
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Struggling to get started on tasks, even when you know they're important, or find yourself putting things off until the last minute.
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Frequently losing track of time, forgetting appointments, misplacing things or struggling to keep on top of everyday responsibilities.
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Difficulty concentrating, staying focused or following through with things, particularly when they feel boring or overwhelming.
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Feeling mentally restless, easily distracted or like you have too many thoughts competing for your attention at once.
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Getting frustrated with yourself for being disorganised, inconsistent or feeling like you're not living up to your potential.
Perhaps you've spent years feeling like you're trying harder than everyone else just to keep up. You might have developed ways of compensating for these difficulties, but find that they leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or constantly behind.
Or perhaps you've recently received an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis and are trying to make sense of what it means for you, your strengths, your challenges and what might help.
What Does Living with ADHD Feel Like?
ADHD can affect many different areas of everyday life. You might start the day with good intentions, but find yourself getting distracted, struggling to prioritise tasks or becoming overwhelmed by everything you need to do.
Simple responsibilities like replying to emails, paying bills, keeping your house organised or completing work can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult.
You might experience periods of intense focus when something captures your interest, followed by difficulty concentrating on tasks that feel less engaging. You may also find yourself acting impulsively, struggling with emotional regulation or feeling frustrated when things don't go to plan.
Over time, these difficulties can affect your confidence and how you see yourself. You might become increasingly self-critical, feel like you're constantly letting yourself or others down, or wonder why things that seem straightforward for other people require so much effort from you.
You're Not Alone in This
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity levels and impulse control (we call these executive functioning skills).
It can present differently from person to person, and the challenges people experience can vary depending on their individual strengths, difficulties and circumstances.
Many people with ADHD spend years feeling frustrated with themselves, particularly when they struggle to understand why certain things seem harder for them than they do for others.
Whether you've recently received an ADHD diagnosis, are wondering whether ADHD might explain some of your experiences, or have been living with ADHD for years, support is available.
You don't have to keep trying to figure everything out on your own.
Finding Ways to Work with Your ADHD Is Possible
When you've spent a long time struggling with organisation, concentration, motivation or follow-through, it's easy to start thinking that you're lazy, unmotivated or simply not trying hard enough.
You might have tried using planners, setting reminders, creating routines or making promises to yourself to be more organised. Sometimes these strategies work for a little while, but maintaining them can become difficult, particularly when life gets busy or something unexpected happens.
The problem isn't that you're not trying hard enough. Sometimes the strategies you're using simply aren't suited to the way your brain works, but you also have to remember that you're living in a world not made for the way your brain works best.
At my practice, I help young adults in their 20's and 30's better understand their ADHD-related difficulties, develop practical strategies for managing everyday challenges and build on their individual strengths.
Therapy can help you understand how ADHD affects you personally, identify patterns that aren't working and develop approaches that make everyday life feel more manageable.
The goal isn't to change who you are or expect yourself to function like everyone else. It's to understand how your brain works, to find ways to work with it, rather than constantly feeling like you're working against it, and to build a whole lot of self-compassion and self-acceptance.
What Will ADHD Therapy Look Like?
Whether you're wondering if you might have ADHD or have recently received a diagnosis, therapy can provide a space to better understand your experiences and explore what might help.
If you're wondering whether you might have ADHD, we can explore the difficulties you're experiencing and how they affect your everyday life. I can use ADHD screening questionnaires to help identify whether your experiences are consistent with ADHD and whether a formal ADHD assessment may be warranted (from a Psychiatrist or trained General Practitioner).
It's important to understand that screening questionnaires are not diagnostic assessments. I don't provide formal ADHD assessments or diagnoses, but I can help you understand your screening results and discuss whether seeking a formal assessment would be a useful next step.
If you've recently received an ADHD diagnosis, we can explore what ADHD means for you personally. This includes understanding your individual strengths and difficulties, how ADHD affects different areas of your life and why you might respond to certain situations in particular ways.
Rather than focusing only on the difficulties, we'll also explore your strengths and the ways you can use them to your advantage.
We'll work together to identify practical strategies that help you manage the everyday challenges associated with ADHD. This might include:
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Improving organisation, planning and time management.
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Developing strategies for getting started on tasks and following through.
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Managing distractions and improving concentration.
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Breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
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Understanding and managing emotional responses and frustration.
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Developing routines and systems that work with your individual needs.
The focus is on finding strategies that are realistic and sustainable, rather than creating another long list of things you feel like you should be doing. It is important to understand that ADHD symptoms reflect real neurological differences in executive functioning skills, and strategies can be used to scaffold some of those difficulties, but no strategy can fully change these symptoms. Our aim is to find strategies that minimise the negative impact of these symptoms on your life so that you can achieve your goals and live the life you want sustainably.
Understanding ADHD Medication
If you've recently received an ADHD diagnosis, you might be wondering whether medication is something you should consider.
We can explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of trialling ADHD medication, including what medication might help with, possible side effects and any concerns you have.
I can help you think through the decision and prepare questions to discuss with your Psychiatrist or GP.
Medication decisions, prescriptions and monitoring need to be managed by your treating Psychiatrist or GP. My role is to help you better understand your options so you can make an informed decision in collaboration with your medical practitioner.
You May Have Some Concerns. That's Okay.
Do I need a formal ADHD diagnosis before starting therapy?
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis to explore the difficulties you're experiencing or learn strategies for managing them. We can discuss your experiences and, if appropriate, use screening questionnaires to help determine whether a formal ADHD assessment might be worthwhile.
Can you diagnose ADHD?
I can provide ADHD screening questionnaires to help identify whether your experiences are consistent with ADHD and whether a formal assessment may be warranted. However, I don't provide formal ADHD assessments or diagnoses (other psychologists are able to do this but I don't offer this service). If a formal diagnosis is appropriate, I can discuss the next steps and help you understand your options for seeking an assessment.
What if I've already been diagnosed with ADHD?
That's absolutely fine. You don't need to be newly diagnosed to benefit from therapy. Perhaps you've had a diagnosis for years but still struggle with everyday challenges, or you've recently been diagnosed and want to understand yourself better. We can work on developing practical strategies, building on your strengths and finding ways to manage the difficulties you're experiencing.
Do I have to take medication for ADHD?
Not at all. Medication is one option for managing ADHD symptoms, but it's not the only approach. Therapy can help you test and develop practical strategies and better understand your individual needs. If you're considering medication, we can explore the potential benefits and drawbacks and discuss any questions you might want to raise with your GP or Psychiatrist. The decision about whether to trial medication is yours to make in consultation with your medical practitioner.
Do I have to commit to ongoing therapy after reaching out?
Not at all! There's absolutely no pressure to book a session afterwards. Reaching out to our reception team is simply an opportunity for you to see whether we might be a good fit, and for you to understand how therapy could help.
How do I take the next step?
If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed, struggling to stay organised or constantly frustrated with yourself for not getting things done, therapy could be a helpful next step.
You don't need to wait until things become overwhelming to reach out. I'd love to hear about what you've been experiencing and talk with you about what working together might look like.
Contact us today. There's no pressure or obligation to book a therapy session afterwards.
Get In Touch
Ready to take the next step? I am ready when you are.
Contact Information
I work as part of the team at My Psych Clinic, in Eight Mile Plains.
Get in touch with our friendly reception team to book a session or answer any questions.
Level 1 Building 10/107 Miles Platting Rd, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113
Please note that I am unable to respond to emergency or crisis situations. If you, or someone else, requires immediate emergency support, please contact emergency services on 000, Lifeline (24 hr service) on 13 11 14, Mental Health Access Line (24 hr service) on 1300 64 22 55, 13YARN - 13 92 76, or visit your nearest hospital emergency department.
