ADHD & Executive Functioning Therapy in Chicago & Northbrook IL

ADHD is also a condition that is frequently diagnosed late, particularly in women and in people from underrepresented backgrounds. Many adults who receive an ADHD diagnosis later in life describe a complicated mixture of relief and grief: relief that there is an explanation, and grief for the years spent believing they were simply undisciplined or not trying hard enough.

ADHD is not a deficit of attention overall. People with ADHD often have the capacity for deep, sustained focus on things that interest them. The difficulty is with voluntary, directed attention and the executive functions that support planning, organization, and self-regulation.

• Understanding how ADHD specifically shows up in your life
• Building personalized organizational and planning systems
• Managing time, deadlines, and prioritization
• Emotional regulation and impulsivity
• ADHD in relationships: communication, reliability, and repair
• Shame, self-criticism, and the emotional history of ADHD
• Co-occurring anxiety and depression
• Navigating work and career with ADHD

Can therapy help with ADHD without medication?
Yes. Behavioral and skills-based therapy, particularly CBT adapted for ADHD, is effective for many adults, either as a standalone approach or combined with medication. Therapy addresses the behavioral, emotional, and relational dimensions that medication alone does not fully resolve.

What is the difference between ADHD coaching and ADHD therapy?
ADHD coaching focuses on practical skill-building, accountability, and goal achievement. ADHD therapy addresses those dimensions plus the emotional, relational, and psychological aspects of ADHD, including shame, anxiety, depression, and the impact on identity. Therapy is appropriate when mental health concerns are part of the picture.

What does ADHD in adults look like?
Adult ADHD commonly involves difficulty sustaining attention on low-interest tasks, chronic disorganization, poor time management, impulsive decision-making, emotional dysregulation, and relationship difficulties. Hyperactivity in adults often presents as internal restlessness rather than visible physical activity.

Can ADHD be diagnosed in adults?
Yes. Many adults receive their first ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, sometimes decades after symptoms began. Diagnosis in adulthood is valid and meaningful. Midwest Counseling offers psychological testing for ADHD when a formal evaluation is needed.

Is ADHD therapy available via telehealth?
Yes. ADHD therapy and executive functioning support are well-suited to telehealth delivery. Midwest Counseling offers ADHD-informed therapy via telehealth across Illinois and many other states.