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Flower Shadow

Adult ADHD Services

An estimated one in 20 New Zealanders have ADHD, yet is poorly understood and frequently remains  un-diagnosed, causing distress in family, work and social situations.

ADHD/ADD/ASD Private Pathways

  • ​​Initial consult with Caroline to discuss the process and set up appointments/follow up through the process and provide personalized support on this often confronting journey.

  • Screen with psychologist Anton Ashcroft to determine if full diagnosis is the best fit for you.

  • Anton & I then create referral letters & Anton will include his recommendation report to provide to a Psychiatrist of your choice to look at medication/prescription

  • Ongoing sessions then with either myself or Anton Ashcroft to support you developing strategies and unpacking any historic issues to ensure you get full support in living the life you want. We support you with not only the diagnosis but also with any co-morbid issues. Undiagnosed ADHD/ADD/ASD often has accompanying issues such as substance issues, relationship obstacles, trauma/PTSD, anxiety and social anxiety.

More on ADHD/ADD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (with ADD being the inattentive sub set diagnosis)

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​​There are three main subgroups of ADHD, so not everyone with ADHD will present with the same behaviours.

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Inattentive
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  • Easily distracted

  • Short attention span

  • Day dreams

  • Makes silly mistakes

  • Often late​

  • Dis-organised

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​Hyperactive
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  • Always moving

  • Restless

  • Fidgets

  • Can't sit still

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Impulsive
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  • ​Acts without thinking

  • Interrupts people

  • Accident prone

  • Blurts out answers/ secrets

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Predominantly inattentive ADHD
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​Inattention is the main characteristic. This subtype is more passive than the others, consisting of ‘daydreaming’. Impulsivity and hyperactivity are sometimes present but to a lesser degree.

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Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD
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Hyperactive and impulsive behaviours are present. Inattentiveness may be present as well, though generally not as obvious.
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​Combined ADHD
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​All three ADHD behaviours – hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity – are present in fairly equal measures.

Here’s what you need to know

​Adults with ADHD often have co current issues such as addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. Often the ADHD component is over looked and people struggle to find solutions through mental health struggles.

 

By including ADHD in the counselling plan people can find a way through these issues more readily.

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  • Each person will vary in the type, number, frequency and severity of their symptoms and to determine the best treatment, a medical and educational assessment is recommended

  • ADHD occurs in all ethnic and socio-economic groups and often runs in families.
    It was originally thought males were more likely to have ADHD than females but it is now believed the gender ratio is actually 1:1. Girls often present inattentive characteristics with puberty being a hormonal trigger and therefore are more likely to be overlooked when young.

  • Medication alone is not the solution as adults have often developed significant self esteem issues,

  • ADHD people are usually energetic, enthusiastic, creative, intuitive, sensitive and highly intelligent. Parents, teachers, youth leaders and others interacting or managing those with ADHD, who can capture and enhance these attributes will make positive impact.

  • Children with ADHD generally do what all children do except those with ADHD are louder, can do it for longer, more often and with greater impact. In addition, acquiring basic skills can take longer as having ADHD impacts the rate of maturity.

  • Children often take ADHD with them into adulthood and need to find support structures to help them adapt to their different situations and life stages.

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