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Does your brain feel like a browser with 50 open tabs?
And music is playing from one of them, but you can’t find which one?
Living with ADHD often feels like living in a state of constant, exhausting negotiation with your own mind.
You might be incredibly smart, creative, and capable, yet struggle with tasks that seem easy to everyone else.
Our therapists understand that ADHD isn't a lack of willpower. It's a difference in wiring. You might know:
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the feeling of Waiting Mode where an appointment at 3PM paralyzes your entire day,
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the sensation of having a motor without brakes, where your body or thoughts just won't settle down, or
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the cycle of procrastination, panic, and burnout that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a shame spiral.
Maybe you are exhausted from masking—holding it all together at work or with friends, only to crash the moment you get home.
We are here to help you understand your unique brain, regulate your nervous system, and build a life that works with your flow, not against it.
Your Guide to ADHD Therapy
Jump to:
What is ADHD, really?
ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
We believe it is a variation in brain development and activity.
ADHD is often misunderstood. It isn't just about not paying attention or being hyperactive.
Your brain's executive functions handle organizing, starting tasks, regulating emotions, and remembering details.
While some brains are motivated by importance (I should do this), an ADHD brain is powered by interest, challenge, novelty, or urgency.
You work brilliantly when you are passionate or under pressure, but struggle with tasks that feel repetitive or uninteresting.
ADHD can make it incredibly hard to:
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Initiate: Start a task, even one you want to do
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Regulate: Manage big emotions or impulses
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Filter: Tune out distractions or thoughts
The ADHD brain often also has lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, impacting motivation and reward.
Therapy helps you work better with your brain.
Are you experiencing these signs of ADHD?
ADHD can show up in your mind, emotions, and body.
Executive Dysfunction (The "Doing" Struggle):
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ADHD Paralysis: Getting stuck on the couch, unable to start tasks due to being overwhelmed or fearing failure.
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Time Blindness: Under-estimating how long tasks take, losing hours to hyperfocus.
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Doom Piles: Stacking items, papers, or laundry left undone due to difficulty organizing or initiating the complex task.
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Starting vs. Finishing: Having many projects initiated, but losing interest or struggling with follow-through on the final steps.
Emotional Regulation (The "Feeling" Struggle):
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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): Experiencing intense emotional pain or rage in response to perceived rejection, criticism, or failure.
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Overwhelm: Suddenly sensing it's too much, leading to shutdowns, tears, irritability.
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Impulsivity: Interrupting, oversharing, or making rash decisions to find immediate stimulation.
Physical Sensations (The Body Struggle):
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Restlessness: An internal need to move, pace, or fidget, even if your body is outwardly still.
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Masking Fatigue: Chronic exhaustion from the daily effort of suppressing symptoms to fit into neurotypical environments.
ADHD looks different for everyone, especially in adults and women, who are often late-diagnosed because they internalized their struggles as anxiety or laziness.
What causes ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental diversity, meaning it relates to how your brain grew and developed.
ADHD is not the result of too much screen time or bad habits.
Your brain is simply wired for a different operating system. It's like being wired for Android instead of iOS.
Some common contributing factors include:
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Genetics: ADHD is highly heritable and often runs in families.
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Brain Structure: Differences in brain areas that control attention, impulse, and regulation.
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Neurochemistry: ADHD brains often have lower levels of dopamine (the reward chemical) and norepinephrine (the focus chemical).
Therapy is not about changing you or your brain. Our job is not to install Windows on a Mac—it's to help you master the system you have.
Do I need a diagnosis to seek therapy for ADHD?
You don't need a diagnosis to come to therapy.
We honor the human, not the label.
We know many Albertans are stuck on waitlists for assessments or cannot access or afford private testing right away.
If you are struggling with focus, overwhelm, or shame, you deserve support now—not in two years.
It might be a good time to consider therapy for ADHD if:
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You are Treading Water: You feel like you are working twice as hard as everyone else just to keep your head above water.
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You are Powered by Panic: You rely on high stress, last-minute deadlines, or adrenaline spikes just to get things done.
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Relationships are Strained: Forgetfulness, impulsivity, or zoning out is creating friction or hurt feelings with people you love.
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You are in Sensory Overload: You see your own overstimulation affecting your family (snapping, shutting down) and you want to learn how to regulate before you crash.
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Shame is Heavy: You have internalized the belief that you are lazy, broken, or too much, despite trying your hardest to keep up.
Whether you are diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or just wondering, our doors are open.
How can therapy help you with ADHD?
Medication can help turn down the noise, but therapy gives you the skills to navigate the world.
We focus on Neurodivergent-Affirming Care.
A good therapist helps you work with your ADHD.
This means we stop forcing you into a neurotypical box and start building systems that work for your brain.
Therapy can help you:
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Regulate Your Nervous System: Learn somatic tools to calm the motor and move out of paralysis.
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Navigate Relationships: Improve communication and manage the impact of impulsivity and emotional dysregulation on loved ones.
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Externalize Executive Function: Build visual and physical systems (e.g., Body Doubling) so your brain doesn't have to hold it all.
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Heal the Shame: Unpack the Wall of Awful and years of negative self-talk.
At Therapy Alberta, we will learn your story to understand your individual perspectives and needs.
What therapy approaches work best for ADHD?
We don't use a cookie-cutter approach.
We blend practical strategy with deep emotional support.
ADHD therapy can address specific ADHD symptoms, and also help with your emotions, relationships, and other affected areas of your life.
Our therapists are trained in multiple, evidence-based models:
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: ACT teaches emotional regulation and helps you stop fighting your ADHD brain to unhook from negative self-concepts (I'm lazy). You learn to accept your unique wiring and take action based on your values, even if motivation is low.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT for ADHD helps target executive function directly, overcoming planning, organizing, and time management difficulties. We challenge the all-or-nothing perfectionism that fuels procrastination and build dopamine-friendly systems.
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EMDR Therapy: A major aspect of ADHD is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)—intense pain from perceived rejection. EMDR is used to reprocess the micro-traumas of a lifetime of criticism and shame to reduce the emotional intensity of triggers and rebuild self-worth.
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Somatic Therapy: ADHD often manifests physically as restlessness, intense emotional reactions, or the freeze response. Somatic therapy works bottom-up to calm the nervous system dysregulation that fuels anxiety and overwhelm. We help you safely release stuck tension.
Our therapists build a plan with you that is as unique as you are.
If you are looking for a specific modality, visit our Approaches to Therapy page to see what our therapists offer.
What happens in ADHD therapy?
In the first session, we start with a non-judgmental conversation.
We'll talk about what your life looks like now—the struggles, the burnout, and the challenges you've faced.
Then we look at the life you want.
We create a safe space where you can take off the mask and clarify your goals without pressure.
Early on, we build your toolkit. We focus on quick wins to lower your stress. This might look like implementing:
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The 2-Minute Rule for easier task initiation
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Body Doubling techniques for accountability on impossible tasks
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Mindfulness and movement breaks to reset a restless nervous system
Going deeper is an option. Once you have stability, we can explore the emotional wreckage: processing grief over a late diagnosis, healing past traumas from criticism, and redesigning your relationships to support your neurotype.
Whether you join us in-person in Calgary or online across Alberta, the goal is always the same: to create a space where you feel safe enough to heal.
Meet our featured ADHD Therapists
Our team includes therapists who specialize in neurodiversity-affirming care.
REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
I help neurodiverse teens and adults who feel like they are treading water using tools from ACT and CBT. If you feel misunderstood or overwhelmed by the expectations of the world, I provide an affirming space to take off the mask, figure out your own path, and find your climb without the shame.
Exclusively Online
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
I view ADHD through a holistic lens. If you struggle to manage your emotions or feel like your internal motor won't stop, I use EMDR and Somatic Therapy to help you work with your wiring instead of against it. We'll focus on regulating your nervous system so you can access your internal power.
Exclusively Online
REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER
I help individuals stuck in patterns of impulsive decisions, addiction, or emotional reactivity. Using CBT and Mindfulness, we can identify the underlying patterns, develop skills, and build practical, self-compassionate strategies to help you regain control and move toward greater ease.
Online & In-Person
Why does life feel so hard right now?
Living with ADHD in Alberta comes with unique pressures.
The Hustle Culture:
Calgary often has a high-performance hustle culture. The pressure to be constantly productive and organized can lead to severe burnout, which is particularly exhausting for the ADHD brain.
Winter Brain & SAD:
Alberta's long, dark winters can exacerbate motivation and energy issues, as lack of sunlight impacts neurotransmitters. We understand this seasonal shift and provide coping strategies to manage executive dysfunction when the weather makes everything feel heavier.
Navigating the Alberta Health System:
We know the AHS Complex ADHD Treatment Team primarily serves children and adolescents. Private adult assessments can be expensive (ranging from $1,560 to $3,000) and wait times vary greatly. We can provide immediate, practical support while you navigate the public or private diagnostic process.
We understand these pressures because we live here, too. We can help you navigate these demands without sacrificing your health.
What's the first step to starting ADHD therapy?
You don't have to manage ADHD alone.
You have spent enough time feeling like you are too much or not enough.
You deserve a space where you don't have to mask.
Let's help you close some of those tabs.
The next step is simple. You can book a free, 15-minute consultation to meet a therapist and see if it feels like a good fit.
No pressure, no commitment, just a conversation.
Our therapists offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments to fit your lifestyle.
Common Questions About ADHD & Therapy
What is executive dysfunction in ADHD?
Executive dysfunction is a disruption in the brain's management system that handles planning, prioritizing, and starting tasks. It often manifests as task paralysis—the frustrating sensation of knowing what you need to do but feeling unable to begin. This is a neurological difference, not laziness or lack of willpower.
What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)?
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense, emotional pain triggered by the perception of being rejected, criticized, or falling short. For the ADHD brain, this isn’t just being sensitive—it is a nervous system reaction that can feel like a physical wound. This often drives behaviors to protect yourself from that pain.
What is Body Doubling and how does it help me focus?
Body doubling is a productivity strategy where you complete a challenging task with another person (in-person or online). Their presence acts as an external anchor, improving focus and accountability.
How is ADHD paralysis different from simple procrastination?
Procrastination is often based on low motivation. ADHD paralysis is a feeling of being frozen or shut down due to being emotionally overwhelmed or overloaded with information, a response outside of your control.
How is ADHD in women and girls different?
ADHD in females often flies under the radar because it presents less as physical hyperactivity and more as internal restlessness, daydreaming, or emotional overwhelm. Many women become experts at masking—appearing organized and perfect to hide internal chaos. This effort to hold it all together often results in high-functioning anxiety and eventual burnout, leading many to be diagnosed ADHD only in adulthood.
How do I get an official ADHD diagnosis as an adult in Alberta?
Diagnosing adult ADHD typically starts with your family doctor, who can refer you to a psychiatrist (covered by AHS, though wait times can be long). Alternatively, you can pay privately for a psychoeducational assessment with a specialized psychologist. While we do not provide formal diagnostic testing at Therapy Alberta, we can support you through the process and help you manage symptoms immediately.
My partner has ADHD and it's affecting our relationship. Can you help?
Yes. ADHD often leads to misunderstandings, where symptoms like distraction or forgetfulness are mistaken for a lack of care. Therapy can help the partner understand ADHD and help the couple build new communication strategies. We can help you move past blame to strengthen your connection.
Is this therapy covered by AHS or Insurance?
Private therapy is not covered by Alberta Health Services (AHS), but private therapy sessions are typically covered by workplace benefits (e.g., Blue Cross, Manulife, SunLife). We offer direct billing to simplify the process. If we cannot direct bill your specific plan, we will provide you with a receipt to submit for reimbursement. Learn more on our Insurance for Therapy in Calgary & Alberta page.
How much does therapy cost?
Our fees follow the Psychologists' Association of Alberta Recommended Fee Schedule. Rates vary depending on the therapist's credentials (e.g., Registered Psychologist, Social Worker, or Certified Canadian Counsellor). You can see the rates for each therapist on our Fees & Payment Policies page.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No, you do not need a referral to see a private therapist at Therapy Alberta. However, some insurance plans may require a doctor's note for reimbursement, so it's a good idea to check your benefit plan details.
Can you prescribe medication for ADHD?
No, therapists do not prescribe medication. We can work collaboratively with your family doctor as medication can be a helpful tool to manage ADHD. We support whatever path feels right for you.
Can therapy help if I'm not on ADHD medication?
Yes. While medication is an effective tool for some folks with ADHD, therapy provides the crucial skills and practical strategies (like time management and emotional regulation) that medication cannot teach.
Do you offer online ADHD therapy?
Yes, we offer secure video therapy to anyone in Alberta. Online therapy is convenient and effective for ADHD. It allows you to do the work from the safety and comfort of your own space.
If you have more questions about therapy or the process, visit our FAQ page or contact us.
