Adult ADHD Treatment

Research increasingly links ADHD and early trauma. Skills training alone often fails because early experiences (related to ADHD and not) haven't been healed. Because of that, Dr. Bike goes beyond talk therapy and strategies. 

Big and little trauma can affect a growing nervous system. Executive functions are often impacted. Unsupportive teachers. Emotionally immature parents. Bullying. The list goes on. Effective therapy takes your whole history into consideration.

Negative self-talk, anxiety, and shame can make managing ADHD even harder. Addressing early experiences can help many who have or suspect ADHD to live the lives they want.

Dr. Bike uses somatic- and compassion-focused methods like Internal Family Systems (IFS). These treatments address root issues that talk therapy and skills training try to bypass.

NOTE: Dr. Bike does NOT specialize in primary depression, bipolar disorder, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, chronic healthy issues, current abuse, eating disorders, or addictions. HOWEVER, other clinicians do. If any of those are part of your experience, continue your therapist search to find a good match for your needs.

For some, untreated trauma interferes with executive functions, mimicking ADHD. For others, trauma-related stress worsens ADHD symptoms.

So, we'll begin with the intake process to find out ways your past experiences intersect with your diagnosis. If there's a fit, we'll proceed to treatment: weekly sessions together. For some patients, work sessions are a fit.

Work Sessions with Dr. Bike

Works sessions are a clinical form of body doubling developed by Dr. Bike. In a 'work session,' you bring in a task you haven't gotten done on your own. For example, paying bills, clearing out emails, making calls, or drafting a white paper. Those are a few ways clients have used work sessions. Accountability and company help adults with ADHD. Dr. Bike adds trauma processing to work sessions.

How Do Work Sessions Work?

Step by step, Dr. Bike assesses your process. She identifies what's interfering. Then you practice approaching work in new ways in session. You'll learn to use emotion regulation and self-talk part of your process. You'll pause together and process early memories.

Over time, as the early experiences and frustrations are healed, you'll find your unique way of getting things done. You'll learn to recognize and meet your needs. You'll begin to compassionately complete tasks on your own. Only at Baltimore Minds.

Does this sound like you (or someone you care about)?

Trouble starting and persisting on daily tasks

Hyperfocusing and losing track of time

Procrastinating big tasks because you don't know where to start and feel overwhelmed

Problems controlling your temper and managing stress

Being distracted by thoughts or outside interruptions

Losing friends because you're late, you flake, or you withdraw

Forgetting appointments and important dates

Difficulty prioritizing multiple projects and to-do’s

ADHD and Executive Functions

Adult ADHD looks and feels different than it did in childhood. Experts now view ADHD as an executive function (EF) disorder. Simply put, EFs are the mental skills that help you get things done. Planning and organizing, for instance. Starting and finishing tasks. Even managing your emotions. These higher order skills help you get through the day independently. As a result, many do not recognize the symptoms until they become adults. 

ADHD is not a problem with knowledge or volition. 

You know what to do. And you want to do it. 

But your brain won't let you take the steps.

Is Adult ADHD real?

People may say, “We all have problems focusing. Get over it. Life is stressful, and everyone gets behind.” This is true, to a point. At our most stressed and over-scheduled, all adults may temporarily fall into these patterns. But, for adults with attention problems, these issues are chronic. Even when the pressure's off, the brain will not cooperate for what seem to be simple tasks. For adults with ADHD, however, tasks requiring executive functions are anything but simple.

View this video by Russell Barkley for more insight about attention problems and executive functions.

Contact Dr. Denise Bike at 443-961-4690.

We'll discuss your questions.

 And you can schedule an appointment.

Payment Policies

Baltimore Minds accepts payment from Aetna and CareFirst insurance.

For self-pay clients, this is a fee-for-service psychotherapy practice. Payment is due the evening of each appointment. (Credit card is kept on file for this purpose.)

ADHD orchid
Out of Network?

For self-pay patients, Dr. Bike uses a service called Mentaya that submits out-of-network (OON) paperwork for you after each session.

You can contact your insurance provider to find out your benefits. Or you can use this tool to check your OON benefits.