9 COMMENTS!

Finding A Doctor or Therapist Who Works For You

Helpful criteria for choosing a doctor, therapist, counselor or other ADD professional.

ADDitude Magazine

Trust and comfort are crucial if therapy is to be a success.

9 Comments:

• Posted by cath - Feb 28 2009 @ 12:14 AM
  adult ADHD
  've been treating w a New Jersey psych., who comes highly recommended, for more than a year. The dr. simply writes out my monthly Rx and ends our session. My Rx does not get me through the day especially while in class. I'm hopeful that there is some other resource physician out there who can help me;where do I turn.
• Posted by grandma lise - Feb 12 2009 @ 9:44 PM
  Screening Questions for ADHD Adults Seeking Medical Treatment
  As an advocate for ADHD adults who began her journey in the early days of diagnosis and treatment, I'd first ask the following: How many ADHD adults have you treated? Do you regularly prescribe stimulants for ADHD? How long will I need to wait for my first appointment? Do you accept my insurance? The first and second questions are REALLY important. Find a doctor who believes in the validity of ADHD and who has attained adequate training and experience specific to ADHD. Avoid doctors who regularly prescribe to ADHD adults the more expensive and less effective anti-depressants or the newer ADHD medications (that are more convenient, but often more expensive and sometimes have greater side effect or risk profiles) because the doctor is "uncomfortable" prescribing the tried and true short acting stimulants. Find a doctor who will prescribe the medication best suited for your medical history, diagnoses, and financial circumstances, particularly if you are prone to periodically losing your healthcare insurance. That said, while short acting stimulants often work well and are less expensive, they don't work for everyone. Sometimes non-stimulant medications work best.
• Posted by dykstra200 - Jan 19 2009 @ 8:53 AM
  Finding a doctor
  I have ADD and two of my kids do also. My oldest is 24 and the younger one that also has it is 11. So I've been dealing with this for a long time. Some small things to keep in mind are issues like, your personal value system. My older son ran into an issue w/ a new friend he had made shortly after moving into town (he was then in 7th grade), this child went to a convience store and stole something, my son witnessed it and when pulled asside, he told the truth to the store manager. He cried and felt sooo terrible. We were on our way that afternoon to see the counslor when the phone range and his new friend told my son not to tell me about this insodent, but it was too late. The counslor advised I drop this and if I want him to have friends I should stay out of this and it will work it's self out. I slept on that advice after discossing it with my husband and we both agreeded if it were our child we would want to know about this. I dropped that counslor and called the mother of this child and life went on. These two boys went there seperate ways and I think the other kid is now in jail, my son is in the Air Force working high security and signals intel.
• Posted by lettie - Oct 20 2008 @ 3:50 PM
  finding a doctor
  My sister took her six year old son to a psychiatrist in child developemental. One of the diagnosis is ADHD, However, it has been almost impossible to find a doctor here in EL PASO,Texas that will take her insurance or is no longer taking patients.
• Posted by heidy vasquez - Oct 12 2008 @ 10:05 PM
  doctors in NYC
  I want to know the name of doctors in NYC that can diagnosis ADD. Please
• Posted by kazul9 - Jun 6 2008 @ 10:11 PM
  Finding A Doctor
  Thanks for the information on how to find a good doctor or therapist. We recently wrote an article (http://brainblogger.com/2008/06/03/patient-manifesto-communication-accessibility/) on finding a good doctor on Brain Blogger <(http://brainblogger.com/). When it comes down to finding a doctor, is communication and accessibility important to you? Does it matter whether your doctor is foreign and has as thick accent or the fact that you can't talk to your doctor through the phone directly, but through a nurse or receptionist? We would like to read your comments on our article. Thank you. Sincerely, Kelly
• Posted by issa - Jan 23 2008 @ 5:21 PM
  i have a counselor that i like already
  but she does not specialize in add. i like her because she is a Christian. i can just help her by sharing with her stuff i have learned or a book on therapy there are a couple on cbt and one on integrative treatment that im wanting to check out myself.
• Posted by JJ - Jan 18 2008 @ 9:02 AM
  Questions for the Doctor
  An open ended question list to interview potential psychiatrists/psychologists would be helpful. EX: How much do you charge? What are your hours? What are your policies in case of emergency? What is your training in ADHD and or learning disabilities? Do you work with children and parents? What is your confidentiality policy (will you tell me what my child says to you)... etc. Thanks!
• Posted by susan heger - Sep 20 2007 @ 12:56 AM
  finding a doctor
  Do you recommend a site where I can find a doctor in my area?