ADHD symptoms show up differently for everyone. One common impact of ADHD includes disorganization. 

Due to differences in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for organizing and managing, the ability to keep things organized may be strained. ADHDers can find themselves living in messier spaces with clutter and everything out of place. ADHDers who were once messy but now stay organized likely developed systems to overcome this deficit. Some ADHDers will even be mid-project and force themselves to stop and tidy their space so they feel they can move forward on the original task. 

People with ADHD or general executive dysfunction may purchase planners, calendar apps, journals, and various types of stationery in an attempt to get organized. The initial rush of excitement may boost compliance for a period of time, but it is easy to get derailed from the process. The location where the item is stored and how many steps it takes to enter information may impede follow-through. Others may lose the excitement and discontinue the practice as it quickly seems boring. Others enter and document meticulously, but if the journal/notebook/calendar is one day misplaced, the ADHDer may stop due to the common impairment of out of sight, out of mind. 

The inability to follow through with the newfound stationery contributes to feelings of guilt and shame. For some, working with an ADHD therapist can help identify a system that works, along with ways to keep the new system running. Sometimes that means sticking with the same routine, where others may need to update the routine every few months to re-inspire follow-through. 

Although disorganization and ADHD can be stressful and frustrating, finding and sticking with a system that works can feel like a big win.

Are you thinking about getting started with therapy for ADHD?

The process can seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to make it easier:

1. Decide if you are using insurance or would prefer to pay out of pocket. 

2. Access directories through your insurance provider, for example, BCBS MN will provide guides to therapists that are in-network on Headway, Grow Therapy and Rula. Therapists listed on Headway will have the most autonomy over their caseload and policies.

3. Read through the therapist's bio and watch any intro videos they upload. Clients report it is reassuring to hear a potential therapist's voice and get a feel for them before making the first contact.

4. Look for a therapist who is in-network with your insurance and specializes in your primary concern. 

Directories such as Rula, Headway, Alma, Mental Health Match, and Grow Therapy require therapists to be fully and independently licensed. Psychology Today will list therapists who are in training and not yet fully and independently licensed. These therapists have the words "Pre-licensed Professional" under their names.

5. Schedule a consultation call. The therapist will reach out to you to ask questions about what you are looking for, and you can ask questions that you feel will help you make an informed decision. 

6. Set up your first appointment! The therapist will send you intake forms and insurance benefits will be verified. Any expected co-pay estimates will be provided to you before your first session.

7. If you feel you may not have the best fit with your therapist, bring it up in session. Therapists meet with hundreds of people each year and use their clinical skill and intution to provide individualized care. If you want to be challenged more or have homework between sessions, just ask. If this isn't possible and it still doesn't seem like a good fit, you can ask the current therapist for a referral, or start back at the top.