ADHD — Assessment & Treatment

Does This Sound Like You?

You have a demanding job, a full course load, or a life packed with responsibilities — and every intention of staying on top of things. Yet you constantly feel behind. Tasks pile up. Deadlines slip. You start projects with energy and abandon them half-finished. You forget important things, struggle to prioritize, and feel like your brain works against you no matter how hard you try.

If this resonates, you may be dealing with ADHD. And you are not alone — adult ADHD is more common than people realize, and it is highly treatable.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, self-regulation, executive functioning, and daily functioning. While it is often described as simply an attention problem, ADHD meaningfully impacts planning, organization, time management, task initiation, follow-through, and emotional regulation — which can interfere with work, academics, relationships, and overall quality of life.

ADHD frequently persists into adulthood and often looks different than it did in childhood. Many adults with ADHD were never diagnosed as children, particularly women. Instead, they may have spent years being told they are lazy, disorganized, immature, or not living up to their potential.

Why Accurate Diagnosis Matters

ADHD is one of the most misdiagnosed conditions in clinical psychology. Many other conditions can produce symptoms that closely resemble ADHD — including anxiety disorders, depression, clinical perfectionism, OCD, trauma, and sleep disorders. In addition, some medical problems may include symptoms that look like ADHD. Accurately distinguishing ADHD from these conditions — or identifying when they co-occur — is essential for effective treatment.

I have specific expertise in diagnosing and differentiating ADHD from conditions that can look similar. This includes extensive published research on the overlap between ADHD and OCD, anxiety disorders, and perfectionism — conditions I treat in my own practice and have studied in depth for nearly two decades.

A careful diagnostic evaluation includes a clinical interview, validated rating scales, and, when indicated, a full neuropsychological assessment to clarify the nature and extent of cognitive difficulties and determine whether the primary problem is ADHD alone, another condition, or both.

My Expertise in ADHD

I have nearly two decades of clinical, diagnostic, and research expertise in adult ADHD. I have published extensively on ADHD — including research on computerized neuropsychological assessment of adult ADHD, how ADHD interacts with and is misdiagnosed for other conditions, and how to accurately distinguish genuine ADHD from conditions that look similar.

I am recognized by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) as an official Subject Matter Expert on ADHD and ADHD-OCD comorbidity — a complex and frequently misdiagnosed presentation. My research in this area includes the development of the Executive Overload Model of OCD, which explains why individuals with OCD often appear to have ADHD — and why getting the diagnosis right matters enormously for treatment outcomes. You can read my article on this topic on the IOCDF website: OCD and ADHD: Dual Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis, and the Cognitive 'Cost' of Obsessions.

This depth of expertise means that when I evaluate someone for ADHD, I am not simply checking boxes on a rating scale. I am bringing research-level understanding of how ADHD presents, how it overlaps with anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, and depression, and what it takes to arrive at an accurate diagnosis that leads to genuinely effective treatment.

I offer compassionate, straightforward, no-nonsense CBT therapy that respects your time, stays focused on meaningful change, and avoids passive sessions that don't move treatment forward.

Assessment

A thorough assessment is the foundation of effective treatment. Many adults seeking help for ADHD have previously been misdiagnosed, overdiagnosed, or dismissed.

My evaluation includes:

A comprehensive clinical interview examining developmental history, current symptoms, and functional impact across work, relationships, and daily life.
Validated ADHD rating scales and structured clinical interviews to assess symptom severity and patterns.
Neuropsychological testing, when indicated, to assess attention, executive functioning, working memory, and processing speed — and to clarify whether cognitive difficulties are due to ADHD, another condition, or both.
A clear diagnostic formulation and personalized, evidence-based treatment recommendations.

Treatment

With accurate diagnosis and the right treatment approach, adults with ADHD can make meaningful and lasting improvements in functioning, productivity, and quality of life.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the most empirically supported psychological treatment for adult ADHD. CBT for ADHD is structured, goal-focused, and targets real-life functional challenges, including work performance, academic functioning, relationships, and home management.

Treatment focuses on:

Understanding how ADHD specifically affects your functioning and identifying your unique pattern of strengths and challenges.
Building practical skills for time management, organization, planning, and follow-through.
Addressing executive functioning difficulties, including task initiation, prioritization, and emotional regulation.
Identifying and challenging self-defeating thinking patterns that maintain avoidance and underperformance.
Reducing emotional distress, including frustration, shame, and low self-esteem, that frequently accompany ADHD.

Who Is This For?

This service is appropriate for adults and older teens (16+) who:

Struggle with attention, organization, time management, or follow-through despite genuine effort.
Have been previously diagnosed with ADHD and are seeking evidence-based treatment.
Are unsure whether their difficulties are due to ADHD or another condition.
Have been told they have ADHD, but feel the diagnosis doesn't fully capture what they are experiencing.
Want a research-informed, no-nonsense approach focused on real-world results.

In-Person & Telehealth Services

I offer ADHD assessment and treatment in person in Austin, TX, as well as via secure telehealth throughout Texas and Florida. Both formats are equally effective, and telehealth makes high-quality, specialized ADHD care accessible regardless of your location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ADHD be diagnosed without neuropsychological testing? Yes — ADHD can be diagnosed based on a clinical interview and rating scales alone. However, a neuropsychological assessment provides a much more detailed picture of cognitive functioning and is highly recommended when there is diagnostic uncertainty, co-occurring conditions, or when understanding the specific nature of cognitive difficulties is important for treatment planning.

Is ADHD in adults different from ADHD in children? Yes — adult ADHD often presents differently. Hyperactivity may be less obvious, while inattention, disorganization, 'time blindness', and emotional dysregulation tend to be more prominent.

How is ADHD different from anxiety or perfectionism? This is one of the most clinically important questions in adult ADHD diagnosis. Anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, and depression can all produce symptoms that closely resemble ADHD — including procrastination, difficulty concentrating, disorganization, and trouble following through. A careful evaluation needs to consider three distinct possibilities. First, the symptoms may be due to ADHD alone. Second, they may be due to another condition — such as anxiety or perfectionism — that is mimicking ADHD without ADHD actually being present. Third, and perhaps more common than not, both ADHD and another condition, such as perfectionism or anxiety, may be genuinely present at the same time. Each scenario requires a meaningfully different treatment approach, which is why accurate diagnosis before beginning treatment is essential.

Do you accept insurance? I do not accept insurance at this time. As an out-of-network provider, I can provide a detailed statement you can submit for potential partial or full reimbursement depending on your plan.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are struggling with ADHD and are looking for specialized, research-informed assessment and treatment in Austin, TX — or via telehealth anywhere in Texas or Florida — I would be glad to hear from you.

Contact Me