Richardson ADHD Therapy
Does it feel like your mind is running a dozen tabs at once, but you can't seem to click on the one you actually need? I help people with ADHD better understand how their brain works so they can stop fighting against it, develop strategies that fit the way they're wired, and build the confidence to navigate life with greater ease.
As a therapist who also has ADHD, I understand these challenges from both a professional and personal perspective. I know what it's like when everyday tasks slip through the cracks, your focus seems to have a mind of its own, or you find yourself wondering why things that appear effortless for others can feel so exhausting.
ADHD isn't a lack of intelligence, motivation, or effort. It's a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain processes information, regulates attention, and manages executive functioning. That means the goal of therapy isn't to force yourself into someone else's system—it's to understand how your brain works.
Together, we'll identify your strengths, make sense of the patterns that have been holding you back, and develop practical tools that work with your brain instead of against it. Rather than focusing on "fixing" who you are, we'll build strategies that help you feel more capable, confident, and in control of your daily life.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The name itself can feel a bit misleading, as it frames ADHD in terms of “deficit” and “disorder”—language that sounds negative and doesn’t fully reflect the lived experience of many individuals.
ADHD isn’t a simple lack of attention. In fact, many people with ADHD are able to focus deeply on topics that interest them, sometimes for long periods of time. This intense focus, often called hyperfocus, can look like spending hours researching a topic or diving deeply into a new interest with great detail and enthusiasm. Instead of thinking of it as a deficit, it’s better to think of it as a difference in how the brain regulates attention, energy, and executive functioning.
Rather than viewing ADHD solely as a disorder, many clinicians and individuals now understand it as a different way of processing and engaging with the world—one that comes with both strengths and challenges. ADHD reflects natural variation in brain development and functioning. From an evolutionary perspective, traits associated with ADHD—such as curiosity, novelty-seeking, and heightened environmental awareness—were likely extremely helpful in earlier human environments where quick scanning and responsiveness were important for survival.
It is often in modern settings, where sustained attention on repetitive or low-stimulation tasks is expected, that these differences become more challenging. This disconnect can lead to frustration, overwhelm, or burnout, but it often reflects a difference in how strengths are best supported—not a lack of intelligence or capability.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
Unfortunately, in today’s world, many tasks require sustained focus on things that may not feel naturally engaging. And in a world full of emails, deadlines, and distractions, ADHD symptoms may show up pretty clearly. For some, it shows up as inattention and difficulty staying organized. For others, it may involve restlessness, impulsivity, or a combination of both. No two experiences are exactly alike, but some common symptoms of ADHD include:
Laser focus on things that interest you, but difficulty paying attention to boring tasks like homework, paperwork, or bills—even when you really care about getting them done.
Big overwhelm with organization or multi-step tasks, especially when there are a lot of moving pieces (or no clear starting point).
Distractibility that feels almost comical at times—a notification, a sound, or even your own thoughts can completely derail your train of thought.
Difficulty restarting tasks after interruption, even brief ones.
A body that doesn’t love sitting still, leading to fidgeting, pacing, doodling, or constantly needing to move.
Even if you can keep your body still, your mind rarely hits “quiet mode”, often bouncing between thoughts, replaying conversations, or jumping ahead to future scenarios.
Impulsivity that shows up in real time, like interrupting, blurting things out, or acting before fully thinking it through (and then immediately thinking, “Why did I do that?”).
Emotions that feel turned up a notch, where frustration, excitement, or other feelings can come on quickly and intensely
The only times that seem real are “now” and “not now.” “Five minutes” and “an hour” can feel suspiciously similar until it’s too late.
You might relate to a few of these—or a lot of them. ADHD is a spectrum, and no two people experience it exactly the same way. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, and understanding your specific pattern of symptoms is an important step toward finding strategies that support your strengths and daily functioning. One way to understand your ADHD is determining which of the three presentations you feel most like.
ADHD Presentations: A Quick Breakdown
ADHD is more common than many people realize. According to the CDC, an estimated 7 million (or 11.4%) U.S. children aged 3–17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point. As awareness has grown and diagnostic criteria have improved, ADHD is now more frequently recognized in teens and adults as well—especially in individuals who may have been overlooked in earlier years.
Predominantly inattentive ADHD
This is the “easily distracted, hard to organize, where did I put that again?” version. About 1 in 3 people with ADHD fall here with little noticeable hyperactivity. However, between predominantly inattentive and combined presentations, over 90% of people with ADHD experience some form of inattention.
Predominantly hyperactive ADHD
This is the “constantly moving, talks fast, does not seem to have a pause button” version. It’s the least common presentation at only about 7% of those diagnosed with ADHD according to one study.
Combined ADHD
This is exactly what it sounds like—a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms—and it’s the most frequently diagnosed overall at a little over 60% of people with ADHD.
ADHD therapy can help
ADHD is a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t have to feel like a constant struggle. With the right support, it can become something you understand and work with rather than fight against every day. In therapy, the focus is often on learning how your brain works and developing practical strategies that fit your unique patterns. This can reduce the frustration, guilt, and self-doubt that often come from feeling like you “should” be able to function “like everyone else.” While medication can be helpful for managing some symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, therapy also addresses the emotional, behavioral, and day-to-day challenges that commonly come with ADHD.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), therapy is especially beneficial when ADHD occurs alongside other concerns such as anxiety or depression. Research from the CDC shows that adults with ADHD are about three times more likely to experience Major Depressive Disorder, and approximately 50% of individuals with ADHD also experience anxiety.
Because these experiences often overlap, my approach focuses on the whole person—not just a single diagnosis. The goal is to support attention, emotional regulation, and self-understanding in a way that feels practical, sustainable, and empowering.
Meet Lindsey Bass, ADHD Specialist in Richardson
I understand that traditional strategies—like planners, rigid systems, or color-coded organization—don’t work for everyone (even if I’ve personally tried my fair share of them). ADHD often requires flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to experiment. In sessions, we focus on identifying what is actually helpful for you and letting go of what isn’t.
One of the strengths I often see in ADHD is creativity, and we use that intentionally in therapy. For example, one client and I found that turning chores into a playful story—like imagining they were running a medieval inn—made everyday tasks like doing dishes feel more engaging and manageable. When something works for your brain, even ordinary tasks can become more doable.
If you’d like to learn more about my background, you can visit my About Me page. More importantly, I’d love to share how working with a therapist who understands ADHD—both professionally and personally—can help you navigate challenges, build confidence, and create a life that feels more manageable and fulfilling.
My approach to therapy for ADHD in Richardson
Oftentimes, people think of ADHD as a deficit, but ADHD isn’t only about challenges. Many people with ADHD are creative problem solvers, quick to recognize patterns, and thrive in fast-paced environments. My approach to therapy is affirming, meaning that I don’t think that ADHD (or any other form of neurodiversity) is a problem to be “fixed.” Many neurodivergent individuals have spent years trying to hide their differences in order to fit in or meet expectations. These strategies (often called masking) may have helped in some ways, but over time they become more and more draining. Masking is especially common among women, girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people who were diagnosed later in life because they may have learned early on that their natural behaviors were criticized or misunderstood. My goal is to help you understand not just your difficulties but also your strengths, provide support to quiet that inner critic, and help you accept and love your authentic self.
Psychoeducation
Many people receive an ADHD diagnosis and… that’s it. Often, the explanation begins and ends with "you may have trouble concentrating" or "you might be fidgety." Sometimes, people are even given inaccurate information based on common misconceptions about ADHD. Unfortunately, this does little to help someone understand how ADHD actually affects their daily life or what steps they can take moving forward.
Psychoeducation is about developing a deeper understanding of how your brain works. Rather than fighting against ADHD-related challenges, we can learn to work with the way your brain is wired. Together, we can identify strategies that support your day-to-day functioning, build on your strengths, and reduce the shame that often develops from years of misunderstanding or self-criticism.
For example, many people with ADHD experience time differently. While some individuals can stay motivated by imagining the future benefits of completing a task, people with ADHD often have difficulty connecting emotionally to future outcomes until they feel immediate or urgent. This difference can contribute to procrastination—not because of laziness or a lack of effort, but because ADHD affects the brain systems involved in motivation, attention, and task initiation. But many people have heard things like “if you just tried harder…” that make difficulty with time management feel like a personal failing. Instead of asking, “Why didn’t I start earlier?” a more helpful question is, “What got in the way of getting started?” By understanding the barriers and challenges involved, we can develop practical strategies to reduce them and make tasks more manageable.
Unmasking and Increasing Self-Esteem
Masking is the process of consciously or unconsciously suppressing, hiding, or compensating for traits that others may not understand or accept. While masking can sometimes help people navigate social situations, it often comes at the cost of increased stress, exhaustion, and self-criticism. Unmasking involves reducing the energy spent hiding differences and giving yourself permission to use the tools, strategies, and supports that genuinely work for your brain.
For example, many people with ADHD try to suppress fidgeting because they worry it may be distracting or socially unacceptable. However, research suggests that movement and fidgeting can actually help individuals with ADHD improve concentration, regulate emotions, and maintain attention. Even though I knew how helpful it could be, I was still nervous about using a pop-it keychain I’ve kept on my car keys for years when I had jury duty because I was concerned about what others might think. By the end of the trial, no one had reacted negatively. In fact, several people commented that it was a great idea and even brought their own fidget tools to help them focus.
Experiences like this can highlight how many of the rules we follow are based on assumptions about how others will respond rather than on evidence. In therapy, we can explore these questions like "If I weren't worried about being judged, would I still be doing this because it works for me or am I only doing it because I think I should?" Together we can challenge the beliefs that contribute to shame and self-criticism, and develop more self-compassionate ways of meeting your needs.
Skill Building
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing ADHD or achieving your goals. The strategies that work well for one person may be completely ineffective for someone else. Many people with ADHD have heard advice like, “Just use a planner,” “Get organized,” or “Try harder” more times than they can count. While these suggestions are often well-intentioned, they are usually too broad to be genuinely helpful.
For example, I love using a planner, but only because I have developed a very specific system that works for me. If that system looked different, I probably wouldn’t use it consistently. The key wasn’t finding the “right” planner—it was finding an approach that was realistic, sustainable, and aligned with how my brain functions.
Therapy is an opportunity to identify the patterns, strengths, and obstacles that are unique to you. Together, we can experiment with strategies, build practical skills, and create systems that support your daily life rather than add more pressure. We can also work to challenge the unhelpful messages many people with ADHD have internalized, such as the belief that they simply need more willpower or need to “try harder.”
The reality is that most people seeking help have already been trying very hard. Often, the problem is not a lack of effort, but a lack of tools, support, or strategies that fit their specific needs. By developing skills that work with your brain rather than against it, we can create a foundation for greater confidence, effectiveness, and long-term success.
Supporting Executive Functioning
Executive functioning refers to a set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, regulate, and manage our behavior in order to achieve goals. These skills influence how we start tasks, prioritize responsibilities, manage time, maintain attention, regulate emotions, and adapt when circumstances change. While executive dysfunction is a common feature of ADHD, it does not look the same for everyone.
For example, some people struggle with planning and organizing the steps needed to complete a task, while others know exactly what needs to be done but have difficulty getting started. Some individuals notice when their attention has drifted and can actively redirect themselves, while others may lose track of their original thought entirely and continue down a different path without realizing it. Others may find it difficult to estimate how long tasks will take, keep track of important information, or switch between activities efficiently.
Because executive functioning challenges can show up in so many different ways, understanding your unique pattern of strengths and difficulties is an important part of the therapeutic process. Together, we can identify the executive functioning skills that come naturally to you, recognize the areas that create obstacles, and develop practical strategies and supports that make daily life more manageable. The goal is not to force yourself to function like someone else, but to build systems that work with your strengths and support the areas where you need additional structure.
Myths and Facts about ADHD
The knowledge that we now have of ADHD has grown and evolved significantly since it was first named Attention-Deficit Disorder in 1980s. A big reason for this change is neuroscience and brain imaging studies which have allowed us to understand the actual biological basis for certain patterns of development, including ADHD. Understanding ADHD can reduce stigma and encourage people to recognize the many strengths that come with ADHD, not just the negatives.
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FACT: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning that there are identifiable patterns in how the brain processes information that are unique to a certain group of people. While symptoms change over time and they may be less noticeable in some adults, it is a lifelong condition and people can have ADHD at any age.
Compared to children, adults may be able to stay in their chairs, but they may fidget with their hands or pens to do so. They may be able to control their impulses more, but they still struggle to manage stress.
Some adults may not have been diagnosed with ADHD when younger because their teachers or family did not recognize the disorder or they managed to compensate for symptoms well until demands increased with adulthood.
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FACT: Even though sex and gender are distinct concepts, ADHD research tends to use these concepts interchangeably. Generally, boys (people assigned male at birth) are 2-3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (people assigned female at birth). The difference in childhood diagnosis rates is not because ADHD affects “boys” more than “girls,” but rather how the symptoms typically present and get recognized. Some people may be better at hiding symptoms or experience them more internally (e.g. daydreaming vs. running around the classroom), making ADHD harder to detect. Low mood, mood swings, or anxiety may be brushed off as common or misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression when they are really symptoms of unmanaged ADHD.
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FACT: Not only does ADHD have three presentations describing how it can look different, even people with the same sybtype can have significant differences. One person may be more likely to run and climb but the person who talks excessively may also be showing signs of hyperactivity.
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FACT: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving differences in brain structure, brain activity, and neurotransmitter functioning. Just because there isn’t a physical sign like a rash or fever doesn’t mean that the impact of ADHD isn’t real. Oftentimes people struggling with ADHD want to do something but feel paralyzed to start, no matter how much they tell themselves they need to. ADHD isn’t a lack of ability, intelligence, or willpower—it’s a difference in how the brain processes information that requires different strategies than simply “pushing through.” While it may work in the short term, forcing productivity tends to result in burnout and poorer performance over time.
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Medication can help many individuals manage symptoms, but it is not the only treatment option. Counseling, school accommodations, parent training, organizational coaching, and play therapy can all be effective parts of treatment. Like with many other mental health concerns, many people benefit most from a combination of approaches rather than medication alone.
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While there are many challenges that come with living with ADHD in today’s society, it is not all bad. Many people with ADHD develop strengths related to the way their brains process information. People with ADHD may be able to see possibilities that others overlook and generate multiple, unique solutions to the same problem. Divergent thinking along with the tendency to take risks may be why up to 35% of entrepreneurs have ADHD.
Your brain isn’t broken—It Just needs the right tools.
Living with ADHD isn’t about being “too much” or “not enough”—it’s about having a brain that moves through the world in its own unique and valid way. ADHD can make life feel a little messy, overwhelming, and unpredictable at times—but it can also come with incredible creativity, curiosity, and strengths. Therapy is a place to better understand how your brain works, learn practical tools that actually fit your life, and spend less energy trying to "keep up" and more energy thriving as yourself. Together, we can focus on reducing overwhelm, strengthening confidence, and creating more ease in daily life without asking you to become someone you’re not. Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, you deserve support that sees and celebrates all of who you are. If you're ready to explore new strategies, embrace your strengths, and create meaningful change, I’d love to help. Reach out through the phone number or email provided below for a free consultation if you're interested in getting started.