Many of us struggle to focus and stay on task in a busy and distracted world. Perhaps you have considered ADHD (Attention-deficiency/hyperactive disorder) as a possible reason for your symptoms and behavior or those of a loved one.  It’s important to have the right information about ADHD, its symptoms, and what help is available because ADHD can impact our academic and professional pursuits, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning.  

Please fill out our inquiry form and select ADHD assessment as the type of service you are interested in to schedule a phone call with our intake coordinator, who can share more detailed information and provide assistance in scheduling an ADHD assessment for you or your child. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is ADHD? 

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or be overly active. 

It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends. 

Some signs of ADHD include unexplained under-achievement, wandering mind, trouble organizing and planning, high degree of creativity and imagination, trouble with time management and a tendency to procrastinate, strong will, stubbornness, refusal of help, restlessness, impulsiveness and impatience, high energy, and distorted negative self-image. 

ADHD in Adults 

Adult symptoms of ADHD may not be as clear as symptoms in children. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggle with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue.  

Many adults with ADHD aren’t aware that they have it—they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of behavior.  

How is ADHD Treated? 

Advocate Russell Barkley says that ADHD is “the most treatable disorder in psychiatry bar none.”  In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. For preschool-aged children (4-5 years) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment.  

For many people, ADHD medications reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, work, and learn. Sometimes several different medications or dosages must be tried before finding the right one that works for a particular person. Anyone taking medications must be monitored closely by their prescribing doctor. 

In addition to behavioral therapy and medication, having a healthy lifestyle can make it easier to deal with ADHD symptoms including developing healthy eating habits, participating in physical activity, limiting daily screen time, and getting good sleep. 

What is an ADHD Assessment? 

An ADHD assessment will determine if you or your child qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. An ADHD diagnosis helps people better understand themselves, which includes gaining perspective on the reasons for their struggles. It can bring relief at finally understanding certain struggles and symptoms that have been overlooked for a long time. An ADHD diagnosis can also serve to provide a more thorough treatment plan for symptoms, behavior strategies, and other comorbidities such as anxiety and depression.  

How do I receive an ADHD Assessment? 

It can be difficult to watch your child or loved one struggle with their behaviors, emotions, and relationships. Please contact us to schedule a consultation to consider resources to gain perspective and find healing and hope. The Barnabas Center offers ADHD Assessments as well as child and adolescent counseling, play therapy, and parent coaching. Please fill out our inquiry form for more information about ADHD Assessments, including assessment information, scheduling, cost, sessions required, and other pertinent information.  

Please fill out our inquiry form and select EMDR Therapy as the type of service you are interested in to schedule a phone call with our intake coordinator, who can share more detailed information and provide assistance in scheduling a first EMDR session.   

What is EMDR Therapy? 

EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing” therapy. The simple act of moving one’s eyes from left to right (bilateral stimulation) while thinking about upsetting information has a healing effect. This therapeutic technique was discovered 30 years ago when Dr. Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR, happened to start moving her eyes left-to-right while she was thinking about an upsetting event in her life. Since its inception, EMDR has undergone rigorous scientific investigation and its effectiveness as a therapeutic technique is endorsed by: 

• The American Psychiatric Association 
• The American Psychological Association 
• The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
• The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) 
• The World Health Organization (WHO) 

Using the Adaptive Information Processing model, EMDR desensitizes upsetting material/ memories, integrates the material with more adaptive memories, and allows for healthier responses to stressful (triggering) situations. EMDR does not “erase” memories; rather, EMDR strips the automatic and physiological reactions (anxiety, fear, anger, racing heart, flashbacks, difficulty speaking, “punch in the gut,” etc.) that accompany triggering events or traumatic memories.  

EMDR is significantly different from talk therapy. In EMDR, you don’t have to talk about traumatic memories—you just need to think about the memories while the therapist guides you through the bilateral stimulation (eye movements). This approach has obvious advantages for those who feel re-traumatized when asked to recount details of a traumatic event.  

Is EMDR an empirically validated treatment? 

EMDR is empirically validated, and you can find the most recent research here: 

https://archive.nytimes.com/consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/the-evidence-on-e-m-d-r/ 

Or a comprehensive bibliography, organized by subject matter, here: 

https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/emdr-and-ptsd/ 

Is EMDR like hypnosis?  

EMDR is not hypnosis. The client is conscious during the session. Hypnosis seeks to place a participant into a trance-like state, while EMDR has an activating effect on the neural pathways involved in emotional regulation and memory consolidation.  

Does EMDR work if I haven’t had a significant traumatic event in my life? 

Trauma can include a broad range of experiences. Any event having lasting negative effect is by nature “traumatic.” Memories are physically stored in the brain and can pop up outside of our control. Memories are “unprocessed” when negative reactions and behavior in the present can be tracked back to earlier memories. They are stored in the brain in a way that still holds emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs experienced earlier in life. It is not necessarily about the intensity of the event that is the most important factor but how it is stored in the brain.  

Trauma can include significant life events such as an accident, severe weather event, abuse, or sudden death. Trauma can also include adverse life experiences like a humiliating event in childhood, chronic illness, or relationship ending. Childhood experiences can leave lasting negative effects. And these experiences can affect our sense of self, self-esteem, and self-definition that impact us in adulthood. 

EMDR is an effective tool for any traumatic experience, including adverse childhood experiences, because it targets the unprocessed memories that contain the negative emotions, sensations, and beliefs associated with that event. By activating the brain’s information processing system through bi-lateral stimulation in eye movements, the old memories will be “digested.” Memories are then stored in a way that is no longer damaging. 

Does EMDR replace talk therapy? 

EMDR is used in conjunction with talk therapy. 

Is EMDR a “New Age” therapy? 

EMDR is a relatively new technique—Dr. Shapiro first noticed the benefits of eye movements in 1985. The body of research supporting the efficacy of EMDR has grown exponentially over the past decade, as evidenced by its acceptance by the APA, VA, DoD, WHO, etc. In 2017, the American Psychological Association released new guidelines for treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and EMDR is a recommended treatment modality.  

Because EMDR is a specialized technique, EMDR training is beyond the scope of a graduate school program. To be officially trained in EMDR, one must complete three stages of training taught by the EMDR Institute and their certified consultants. This training is costly and time-sensitive, so many mental health practitioners simply do not add this tool to their therapeutic tool kit. Therefore, many therapy clients are not offered or educated about this technique. 

Where can I get more information on EMDR? 

Visit these websites below to learn more about EMDR: 

www.emdr.com 

www.emdira.org