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If you have ever googled ADHD help or perhaps how to deal with ADHD, you must have stumbled upon tons of ways of therapy, coaching, apps, and meds.

But if you are looking into how ADHD coaching and therapy are different, you might feel like you are in a tornado of information. You are not alone. When someone is faced with figuring out what is best for them or a loved one and is trying to navigate ADHD, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

At Tehila Healthcare, we offer a holistic approach that combines evidence-based therapy, medication management, and ADHD coaching to create lasting change. Let’s narrow things down, clear the path, and discuss ADHD coaching vs therapy. Of course, we’ll empower you to explore which option is right for you.

What Is ADHD Coaching?

Consider ADHD coaching to be like a personal trainer for your brain. ADHD coaching is all practical, goal-oriented support to help you better manage your life with ADHD. Whether it’s time management, repetitive thoughts, prioritizing tasks, or organizing your space, ADHD coaching gives you strategies, skills, and tools to make your life easier and more manageable every day.

But what makes coaching different? Coaching is distinct from therapy in that you’re unlikely to engage in the deeper emotional processing work or explore your past; instead, coaching focuses primarily on action and the future.

Coaching is about establishing systems and routines and finding ways to increase productivity.

Coaching is a solution-focused process designed to help you navigate daily living with ADHD in a way that works with your brain, rather than against it.

What is Therapy?

For many people with ADHD, therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is a strong ally. The type of therapy is typically more emotionally focused and usually involves exploring your thoughts, feelings, and actions from a psychological perspective.

Therapy assists most individuals with ADHD, especially in dealing with some of the emotional aspects that accompany ADHD, such as anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem.

A therapist will typically work with a client on exploring their trauma, where the source of emotional pain might come from, or they could be working on a comorbid mental health condition, such as anxiety and/or depression. Therapy focuses on processing emotions and experiences, rather than rushing into solutions and taking immediate action.

Key Differences Between ADHD Coaching and Therapy

Below are some of the differences between ADHD coaching vs therapy.

• Emphasis: 

ADHD Coaching emphasizes behavior change, action steps, systems, organization, and productivity, with a focus on implementing these changes in real-world settings. In coaching, you’ll work with your coach to create goals, develop systems tailored to your specific needs, and implement strategies for long-term success. 

Therapy is more focused on processing emotions and promoting healing. Therapy examines why you have thoughts or behaviors and may help address historical issues of trauma, self-worth, and associated conditions like anxiety or depression.

• Techniques: 

ADHD Coaching: It is usually future-focused and solution-focused in nature. The primary goal is to help you enhance your daily functioning by establishing new habits, routines, and systems. 

Therapy is more about looking back and understanding the past, as well as how it relates to the present. Therapy can have a more in-depth analysis of emotions, mental health issues, and help with unpacking personal struggles.

• Strategies and Approaches:

Coaches teach ADHD-specific tools, including time management strategies, organizational systems, and task prioritization. The goal is to develop custom strategies that work for you in your life.

Therapists may use psychological strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness approaches, or talk therapy, to help a client manage emotional and mental health challenges associated with ADHD.

• Frequency of Sessions: 

Coaching is not a simple one-and-done approach to resolving challenges with ADHD; it is a lifelong approach that helps manage lifelong impulsivity and Inattention, as well as achieve goals.  Coaching sessions are generally short-term and action-oriented, helping you build systems and skills to support your ADHD brain.  After you have met one or more of your original goals, your coach can continue to work with you through inevitable life changes.

Which One Is Right for You?

Now that we’ve unpacked the difference, you may be wondering which option is right for me.

The answer is, it depends on your needs. If you are having difficulty functioning day-to-day, feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, or simply need assistance with figuring out systems that work, then ADHD coaching could be a valuable resource. ADHD coaching is an effective way to get your life on track in a practical and actionable manner that works for your unique brain.

However, suppose you are struggling with deeper emotional issues, past trauma, or mental health conditions like anxiety or depression that are holding you back. In that case, therapy may be the best place to start.

Many find that combining therapy and coaching can yield significant results by enhancing connection and capacity through both approaches. In contrast, coaching can help develop a system for successfully managing day-to-day life with ADHD.

Whatever path you choose, for ADHD coaching vs therapy,  keep in mind that you have others traveling with you. ADHD can feel like a never-ending obstacle course, but there is support available to help navigate it. Whether you pursue coaching, therapy, or both, seeking help is a decisive step toward managing ADHD and taking charge of your life in a way that makes sense for you.

Why Choose Tehila Healthcare?

Tehila Healthcare is committed to the delivery of holistic, evidence-based care through blending therapy, medication management, and coaching into a single plan of care that is individualized to your specific life stage and needs. 

With telehealth that is flexible and accessible, clients across the greater Columbia, MD area and beyond, including those in MD and DC, now have the opportunity to initiate their ADHD treatment in a secure, modern, and accessible manner. We offer therapy and coaching sessions right from the comfort of your own home. 

Our team is compassionate and rigorously trained to weave clinical care with cultural responsiveness, so that each unique person can feel seen, supported, and empowered to take the following steps to mental health.

Final Thoughts

Therapy and ADHD coaching are both invaluable options, but these formats play distinct roles in treating ADHD. Therapy fosters emotional resilience, while coaching emphasises the development of daily habits and momentum. At Tehila Healthcare, our objective is to combine both formats under one caring roof, supporting your management of ADHD with confidence and clarity.

We understand that everyone experiences trauma in different ways. Our PTSD treatment in Columbia includes personalized care plans that consider the individual, not just the diagnosis. Our mental health care practitioners have experience treating service-related PTSD and use evidence-based strategies focused on long-lasting recovery

1. Trauma-Focused Therapy

Our main approach to provide PTSD treatment services in Columbia, includes trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies and approaches like:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Aids patients in challenging and modifying unhelpful beliefs about the trauma.
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): Works to decrease avoidance behaviors by gradually processing memories and triggers.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A non-invasive, structured therapy that allows patients to reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge.

Trauma-focused therapies are beneficial, particularly for veterans and first responders with severe, repetitive, traumatic memories combined with negative beliefs about themselves.

2. Medication Management

Therapy may not be enough for some clients, and the use of medications may be required to relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Central Nervous System Drugs or antidepressant medications, such as SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), can be helpful components of a comprehensive treatment plan. Our psychiatrists provide careful and monitored medication management and ensure that medications are appropriate and effective for each client for PTSD treatment in Columbia.

3. Peer and Group Support

Experiencing something together can be healing. A benefit of using Tehila Healthcare, is that we offer group therapy to create groups where veterans and first responders can connect with others who have or are facing similar obstacles. These groups allow for friendship and understanding with one another, and that offers emotional healing with empathy and support.

Peer support is an important aspect of our recovery program. Peer support specialists are experts by experience, bringing their own experience of living with PTSD into the service they provide. They can validate the feelings of those in the early stages of their recovery journey, create trust, and instil hope.

4. Holistic and Lifestyle Integration

We take a holistic view of PTSD treatment in Columbia, looking at wellness strategies that enhance mental and physical health simultaneously, such as:

• Mindfulness and Meditation: alleviated stress and positively altered mood.
• Nutritional Counselling: assisted mental clarity and mood stability.
• Physical Activity Recommendations: Moving is one of the most powerful mood elevators and anxiety reducers.
• Sleep Hygiene Programs: Assisted in the renegotiation of disrupted sleep cycles due to PTSD.

We want to optimize not only the relief of symptoms, but also to restore actual well-being.

DC is home to a sizable and impressive array of mental health professionals to serve individuals, couples, families, and children. Below is a list of some common therapy opportunities available in DC:

1. Outpatient Mental Health Services

Outpatient mental health services are an excellent option for those seeking structured support while still managing their daily duties. Outpatient care typically includes individual counselling, group therapy, and psychiatric support.

Outpatient services can be a perfect option for individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, or relationship issues. Outpatient care allows individuals to be treated for their stressors without abandoning their work, school, or social life. With outpatient mental health services in DC you will have consistent care available throughout your life.

2. Individual Counseling

Individual counseling sessions provide a one-on-one opportunity to delve into your feelings, sort through issues, and implement change. This form of therapy will help you establish rapport with a trained professional who can offer insights, coping tools, and emotional support. This is very effective for a variety of concerns, such as managing anxiety or resolving trauma, and can be adapted to the needs of the individual.

3. Group Therapy

Group therapy allows people to connect with those experiencing similar situations and share their stories in a supportive environment. In group mental health therapy services in DC, you are led by a trained therapist who facilitates engagement, connection, and the process of sharing. Many groups in Washington, D.C., focus on specific issues. Participants attend the group with a targeted situation in mind.

4. Family Therapy

When family relationships experience challenges, therapy can help open and strengthen the lines of communication. Family therapy provides a medium for family members to understand one another better and work cooperatively to resolve and de-escalate family problems. You don’t have to wait until your family relationships are irrevocably damaged. The situation can be exacerbated due to parenting or difficulties between generations. Family therapy and involvement from the entire family can provide some relief to all participants.

5. Psychiatry and Medication Management

If individuals engage with mental health experiences and conditions that can severely impact how they manage day-to-day, psychiatry represents one additional layer of support. The psychiatrist for outpatient mental health services in DC will assess conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression. This doctor will most likely work with individuals to evaluate and determine whether medications, therapy, other supports, and drugs will help an individual struggling with symptoms.

6. Specialized Therapy

Some providers in DC provide therapy for specific conditions or scenarios,

such as the following:

• Trauma-Focused Therapy: Trauma-focused therapy is for people who have experienced significant trauma and offers therapeutic elements to assist in processing the experience so that healing may occur.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT has been widely used to assist individuals in challenging and changing how they think.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This modality may be suitable for people who need help managing emotions and developing interpersonal efficacy.
• Mindfulness-based therapy combines traditional therapeutic modalities with mindfulness, which may assist clients in gaining greater self-awareness and reducing stressors.

These specialized mental health therapy services in DC help people in the big world of mental health therapy services in DC, and there’s no shortage of help available for anyone needing it.

Behavioral therapy is an easygoing, tangible alternative for individuals of all generations with a spectrum of possibilities. It may be beneficial to reach out for therapy if you are experiencing:

• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Depression or mood disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Anger and impulse-control issues
• Stress and burnout
• Substance use and recovery
• Issues with relationships
• Low self-esteem or confidence

If any of these apply to you, contact a behavioral therapy center in Columbia MD, where you can begin the recovery process.