ADHD
ADHD Counselling
When focus, follow-through, and self-control keep slipping (at four, at fourteen, at forty), there are strategies that work with how your brain actually runs.
When focus, attention, and self-control feel out of reach
What ADHD can look like
ADHD shows up as an inability to focus, concentrate, sustain attention, or maintain self-control, often paired with being constantly on the go or fidgeting, especially in low-stimulation settings like a classroom. In children ages 4–12, it often surfaces as difficulty learning, focusing, and following through at home and school, with tantrums or emotional outbursts. In teens, the same struggle with attention and self-control is frequently mislabelled as “bad behaviour” rather than recognized as a symptom. In adults, unaddressed ADHD tends to affect careers, education, and relationships, with the same core symptoms complicated by adult responsibilities. Sleep disruption is also common across ages: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking rested.
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How ADHD assessment and treatment work together
ADHD has a real neurological basis, and while the causes are a mix of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms rather than finding a single cause. A comprehensive psycho-educational assessment is the clearest way to understand what’s actually happening for a struggling child, and it opens the door to school accommodations and a tailored plan. Therapy works on building brain connectivity and behavioural strategies together: training how the brain responds to stimulation while also building structure, routines, and family communication skills at home. ADD is no longer diagnosed separately; it’s now understood as the predominantly inattentive subtype of ADHD, and treatment approaches account for whichever subtype (inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, or combined) fits.
ADHD doesn’t go away, but it does get more manageable
You don’t need to have this figured out before reaching out. Many parents come to us after a teacher or doctor first raised the question. Children do not grow out of ADHD, but they can learn to manage it, and getting support sooner rather than later tends to lead to better outcomes at school, at home, and into adulthood.
You might recognize some of this
You can start where you are.
- Trouble focusing, concentrating, or sustaining attention
- Difficulty with sustained self-control, always on the go, fidgeting, or squirming
- Struggling more in low-stimulation environments like the classroom
- Emotional outbursts, meltdowns, or tantrums tied to frustration
- Disturbed sleep: trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking rested
- Being labelled the "bad kid" for behaviour that is actually a symptom
- Difficulty at work, in school, or in relationships as an adult
This is a description of experiences, not a self-diagnosis checklist.
It may be time to talk to someone
You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support.
Consider reaching out if:
- A teacher or doctor has raised concerns about focus or attention
- Behaviour at home is hard to regulate despite consistent effort
- Grades, work performance, or relationships are being affected
- Sleep is consistently disrupted
- Emotional or behavioural outbursts are increasing in frequency or intensity
- You are unsure whether what you are seeing is ADHD or something else
You don't need a diagnosis in hand before it's worth asking someone to help you figure out what's going on.
Approaches a therapist may draw on
We match the approach to you, not the other way around. Your therapist may draw on one or several, depending on what fits.
Build strategies that make day-to-day self-regulation easier.
Helps build behavioural strategies and brain connectivity training that reduce ADHD symptoms and improve day-to-day self-regulation.
Therapists who work this way: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Put routines in place that make each day more manageable.
Builds structured routines and reinforcement strategies that make day-to-day self-regulation more manageable.
Therapists who work this way: Behavioral TherapyCoaching for parents, in the moment, to lower conflict at home.
Coaches parents in real time on responding to a child's ADHD behaviours in ways that reduce household conflict.
Therapists who work this way: Parent-Child Interaction TherapyA therapist who fits your situation
Our registered therapists have real experience helping people through what you are facing.
Dr. Cathryn Harris
Registered Psychologist
PhD, C.Psych.
Couples, Families, Individuals
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Cathy Penny
Registered Social Worker
BA, BSW, MSW, RRP, RSW
Couples, Families, Individuals
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Rev. Chad Tomlinson
Registered Psychotherapist
MTS, MEd, MA, OCT, RP
Couples, Families, Individuals
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Dan Watterworth
Registered Psychotherapist
BTh, MDiv, RP
Couples, Families, Individuals
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Gretchen Savery
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
MA, BA, RP (Qualifying)
Families, Individuals
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Hanah Dimitrijevic
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
MA, RP (Qualifying)
Individuals, Families
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Veesta Mavandadi
Registered Psychological Associate
MA, BSc, C.Psych.Assoc.
Individuals, Families
View profileCommon questions
ADHD is an inability to focus, concentrate effectively, sustain attention, or maintain self-control, often showing up as being constantly on the go or fidgeting. It tends to be more challenging in low-stimulation settings such as a classroom. The label matters less than recognizing the symptom pattern.
There is no single cause. It is generally a combination of genetic, developmental, neurological, physical, and environmental influences. Regardless of cause, the focus in treatment is managing and improving the symptoms.
A comprehensive psycho-educational assessment is the standard way to understand a child's needs. Trained professionals use a range of tests to assess how a child learns, understands, and processes their environment.
Yes, but it also relates directly to how the brain is wired, not only to emotions and behaviour. Effective treatment addresses both the neurological and behavioural sides.
Therapy can help build stronger connections in the brain through strategic training, similar to building more roads so information moves more freely. Training how the brain responds to stimulation helps reduce symptoms over time.
A diagnosis clarifies what is actually going on, often brings relief once a child understands they are not lazy or flawed, and opens the door to school accommodations like extra time on exams. Waiting does not make ADHD easier to manage.
Yes. ADHD affects children, teens, and adults differently: for adults it often shows up in career, education, and relationship difficulties that trace back to the same underlying symptoms seen in childhood.
Care you can lean on
Sessions with our registered therapists are covered by most extended health and workplace benefit plans. Not sure what yours includes? We're happy to help you check before you book.
Sessions typically start at $150 and vary by therapist. Not sure where to begin? Our Intake Specialists can talk through fees, coverage, and which therapist fits what you are facing. Call (905) 319-1488 during business hours.
Ready when you are. We're here to listen.
Browse our registered therapists and reach out when you're ready. We'll usually reply within one business day.