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Psychotherapy
Adult Therapy
Adult Therapy at the Chesapeake Center: Practical Solutions, Supportive Guidance
We know life with ADHD presents a unique set of challenges. Our adult therapy focuses on practical strategies for managing daily life, relationships, and career concerns, while also providing a supportive space to process the emotions that come with it.
Partnership for Progress
To best support you, we sometimes encourage partners to participate in therapy sessions. This promotes collaborative problem-solving, gives us valuable insight into how ADHD impacts your home and family dynamic, and offers an opportunity for your partner to gain a deeper understanding.
Neuro-cognitive Psychotherapy: A Balanced Approach
Our therapy prioritizes building practical skills for managing the daily impact of ADHD and any co-existing conditions. We work alongside you to create a personalized plan for decision-making that leads to greater fulfillment and success, while also offering support for the emotional journey. Our clinical director, Dr. Nadeau, has developed a unique approach that blends psychological insights with practical strategies and has shared this expertise with our Adult Team.
Areas of Focus
- Building self-concept and confidence
- Managing stress
- Improving time management and organizational skills
- Strengthening relationships
- Addressing workplace challenges
- Supporting parents in managing family dynamics related to ADHD
Let's discuss how our approach can help you find the right tools for managing ADHD.
CBT Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Tools for Managing Daily Life
CBT aims to help you develop powerful tools and strategies for managing the challenges faced with ADHD. This can include minimizing those moments of feeling overwhelmed or overly sensitive to stress. Our CBT psychotherapy provides techniques to promote calmness, manage reactions, and challenge any negative thinking patterns that might hold you back.
CBT: A Proven Approach for ADHD
Originally designed for depression, a growing body of research shows the benefits of CBT extend to both teens and adults with ADHD. Expect benefits like improved self-esteem, confidence, productivity, and overall well-being.
How CBT Works
CBT helps individuals identify and change self-defeating thought patterns called "cognitive distortions" that can perpetuate problem behaviors. Years of living with ADHD, feeling overwhelmed, and making mistakes can understandably take a toll on self-esteem. CBT helps turn this pattern around.
Our Approach
At Chesapeake, we've tailored our CBT program to address the unique challenges of living with ADHD and anxiety. Our focus extends to improving attention, organization, and focus – crucial for overcoming the negative thoughts and behaviors stemming from underachievement and executive functioning difficulties.
Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
- Promotes a shift from pessimism to realistic optimism, fostering a sense of control and effectiveness.
- Helps replace self-defeating behaviors with more constructive habits.
- Includes practical "homework" to reinforce new behaviors, such as reducing procrastination or improving sleep.
- Complements medication for even greater improvement in daily living.
- Can be offered in individual or group settings, offering the unique benefit of peer support when desired.
How Long Does CBT Take?
CBT is designed as a short-term, goal-oriented approach to help clients feel better about themselves and their future. Research shows that as few as a dozen group or individual sessions can lead to significant, positive changes in daily life.
Teen Therapy
Navigating the Teen Years with ADHD, Anxiety, and Transitions
We understand the unique challenges teens face as they manage ADHD, anxiety, and big life transitions. Our therapeutic approach balances individual support for teens with guidance and collaboration for the whole family.
How We Work With Teens
Teens are often ready to engage in individual therapy, and we believe parental involvement is key for a well-rounded approach. Our therapists may alternate between individual sessions with your teen and sessions that include the whole family to address home and school concerns.
Our individual work with teens often focuses on:
- Building self-esteem and confidence
- Managing social anxiety
- Developing tools for managing strong reactions within family dynamics
- Using DBT-informed techniques to promote emotional regulation and stress management
Practical Help and Strategies for Teens:
- Solution-focused counseling to develop self-understanding, build on strengths, and manage ADHD challenges
- Self-advocacy skills to empower teens to identify and request the support they need at school
- Developing essential life skills for greater independence
- Coaching & Mentoring for improved study habits, time management, and organization
- College Guidance to make informed college choices, assess readiness, and find a supportive learning environment
- Transition to College support, including remote therapy as needed, navigating on-campus resources, and providing ongoing care during breaks
Help for Parents and Families of Teens:
- Family counseling to build positive and constructive relationships between teens and their parents
- Parent guidance to provide effective structure, support, and encourage greater teen independence
Family & Couples
Building a Supportive Environment with ADHD: Couples and Families
We understand that ADHD can impact the whole family, including couples' relationships. Our approach aims to increase understanding and communication for everyone involved.
We work with couples and families to:
- Develop Empathy: Increase understanding of ADHD and its effects on all relationships within the family.
- Foster Collaboration: Create a plan together to address challenges and leverage strengths, both within the couple and the wider family unit.
- Empower Healthy Habits: Develop strategies for managing ADHD symptoms, promoting positive interactions, and fostering open communication.
Shifting Focus:
We guide individuals with ADHD towards self-management tools and strategies they can use to minimize impulsive reactions. This fosters a more supportive environment and healthier relationship dynamics for everyone.
Reduced Conflict, Increased Harmony
By working together as a couple and as a family, we can help reduce conflict and create a more harmonious home life where everyone feels supported.
Child Therapy
Helping Children with ADHD Thrive: A Collaborative Approach
We know children with ADHD face unique challenges, especially when other conditions are also present. Our approach prioritizes collaboration between parents, children, and therapists to create a supportive and effective plan that addresses everyone's needs.
Understanding Your Child's Needs
Every child is different. We provide traditional child therapy for issues like loss, divorce, or social anxiety. However, for challenges primarily related to ADHD, we find the most success comes from working directly with the whole family.
Family as a Team
We work with parents and children together to foster a deeper understanding of ADHD and its effects. Together, we develop strategies for problem-solving, positive communication, and creating an environment where your child can thrive.
Parent Support and Empowerment
Parents are crucial partners in helping children with ADHD succeed. We provide individual guidance, family therapy, and parenting groups to equip you with effective techniques for managing challenges and fostering cooperation at home.
Adolescents Too
Even with teens, we believe a family-focused approach offers the best chance for success. We build strong relationships with teens while encouraging open communication and collaborative problem-solving with their parents.
The Role of Co-Existing Conditions
ADHD can often be accompanied by other conditions, including:
- Learning disorders
- Anxiety
- Sensory processing challenges
- Speech and language difficulties
- Oppositional behaviors
- Motor control difficulties
We'll work together to address the whole picture, supporting your child's overall well-being.
Group Therapy
The Power of Group Therapy: Support, Growth, and Affordable Care
Group therapy offers a unique and powerful environment for healing and growth. Here's why it's a cost-effective and research-proven approach to improving mental health:
- Community and Connection: In group therapy, you'll connect with others who understand your struggles. This shared experience creates a sense of belonging and reduces feelings of isolation.
- Diverse Perspectives: Group members offer insights and support you might not gain on your own. Hearing others' stories can help you see your own experiences in a new light.
- Skill Development: Group therapy provides a safe space to practice essential skills like communication, conflict resolution, and boundary-setting – skills that are transferable to many areas of life.
- A Holistic Approach: Group therapy works hand-in-hand with individual therapy and other methods to provide a comprehensive approach to mental wellness, offering support from multiple perspectives.
Let's Talk Possibilities
If you're interested in exploring group therapy, let's discuss how the group experience might complement your current treatment plan.