ADHD is often associated primarily with distractibility or hyperactivity, but ADHD frequently affects a much broader set of executive functioning skills.

People with ADHD may struggle with:

• task initiation

• organization

• time management

• working memory

• sustained effort

• planning and prioritization

• emotional regulation

• maintaining consistency across settings

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), insomnia, stress-related difficulties, and many other mental health concerns.

CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical reactions are interconnected. Over time, certain patterns of thinking and behavior can unintentionally reinforce distress and keep people feeling stuck.

Treatment focuses on identifying and changing the patterns that may be maintaining emotional difficulties over time.

Parents sometimes wonder whether a child will simply “grow out of” academic struggles or whether difficulties with reading, writing, attention, organization, or school performance warrant a more comprehensive evaluation.

In many cases, students with learning difficulties are intelligent, motivated, and working very hard. Some compensate successfully for years before academic demands increase beyond what their coping strategies can support.

As a result, struggles are sometimes recognized later than expected.

When people have been struggling with insomnia for weeks, months, or years, sleep medication can understandably feel appealing. Many people are exhausted, frustrated, anxious about sleep, and desperate for relief.

Sleep medications can sometimes be helpful, particularly in the short term. Some people find that medication temporarily reduces nighttime anxiety or helps them fall asleep more quickly.

However, chronic insomnia is often maintained by more than the absence of sleep itself.

Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is no walk in the park. As a clinical psychologist based in Arlington, Virginia, I specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for OCD that helps people reclaim their lives from endless cycles of obsessions and...

For many individuals, anxiety gradually begins shaping daily decisions, behaviors, relationships, and routines. People may start organizing life around trying to prevent distress, avoid uncertainty, or feel completely “safe” before taking action.

Although these strategies often provide temporary relief, they can unintentionally keep anxiety going long-term.

Many people think anxiety therapy is primarily about learning how to “calm down” or eliminate anxious thoughts completely. In reality, anxiety treatment often focuses less on getting rid of anxiety altogether and more on changing the patterns that keep anxiety going over time. Anxiety is not simply a feeling. It also affects behavior, attention, decision-making, habits, and the way people respond to uncertainty and discomfort. Over time, anxiety can gradually begin organizing a person’s life around avoiding distress.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , men die by suicide more than three times as often as women. In fact, white males accounted for 69.67% of suicide deaths in 2018. Therapy for Suicidal Thoughts Should you or someone you know be experiencing...

Many people associate OCD primarily with cleanliness, organization, or being very detail-oriented. While those symptoms can occur, OCD is often much more complex and distressing than the stereotypes people commonly see portrayed online or in popular culture.

Misunderstandings about OCD can sometimes delay treatment, increase shame, or make it harder for people to recognize what they are experiencing.

Many adults with ADHD are intelligent, capable, hardworking, and outwardly successful. Some were never identified in childhood because they performed well academically, developed strong compensatory strategies, or internalized their difficulties rather than acting out behaviorally.

As a result, many adults do not recognize ADHD until years later, often after increasing work, academic, parenting, or organizational demands begin overwhelming the systems they previously relied on.

For many parents, it’s difficult to imagine how to tell their child that she is about to begin seeing a child psychologist. While every family is different, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when planning this conversation: · Be honest It’s crucial...

Many people wonder whether difficulties with focus, organization, restlessness, procrastination, or overwhelm are caused by ADHD, anxiety, or both.

The confusion is understandable because ADHD and anxiety can look surprisingly similar on the surface. Both can affect:

• concentration

• memory

• task completion

• sleep

• emotional regulation

• productivity

• school or work performance

Searching for a therapist can feel confusing, especially when different professionals use overlapping titles. People often wonder:

• What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

• Can social workers provide therapy?

• Are counselors licensed?

• Who can diagnose mental health conditions?

• Who prescribes medication?