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ADHD

Counseling for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children, teens and adults: focus, organization, impulsivity, emotional regulation and the shame that often comes with it.

Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000

Take the ADHD self-check

ADHD is a difference in how the brain manages attention, activity level and impulse control. It isn't laziness, poor parenting or a lack of willpower, and it doesn't go away at 18: most children with ADHD carry some of it into adulthood, where it looks less like bouncing off walls and more like missed deadlines, lost keys, unfinished projects, and a running internal commentary about failing.

Medication helps many people with ADHD, and it's rarely the whole answer. Therapy addresses the parts a pill doesn't: skills for organization and follow-through, the emotional intensity that often comes with ADHD, relationship and parenting strain, and the anxiety, depression and low self-worth that build up after years of feeling behind.

What we treat

ADHD is a DSM-5-TR neurodevelopmental disorder. Diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation of symptoms across settings and over time; our clinicians can evaluate ADHD and will refer for psychological testing when a fuller assessment is needed.

ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation
Mainly problems with attention, organization and follow-through, without much hyperactivity. Often missed in girls and in adults, who may be labeled dreamy, scattered or underachieving.
ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
Mainly restlessness, excessive activity and impulsivity. More common in young children; hyperactivity often settles into inner restlessness with age.
ADHD, combined presentation
Significant symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The most common presentation in children referred for care.
ADHD in adults
Symptoms must have been present before age 12, but many adults are diagnosed for the first time well into their 30s, 40s or later, often after a child is diagnosed. Adult ADHD frequently comes with anxiety, depression and a long history of self-blame.
Conditions that travel with ADHD
Oppositional defiant disorder in children, learning differences, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and emotional dysregulation are common alongside ADHD and are treated together.

For children and teens

For children under about 12, the treatment with the strongest evidence is behavioral parent training: working with parents on structure, clear expectations, consistent consequences and catching the good. We also work with children directly on self-regulation and social skills, and can coordinate with schools on 504 plans and IEP accommodations. For teens, treatment shifts toward organization and study skills, motivation and independence.

More about therapy for children and teens

How we treat it

For adults, cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for ADHD has solid evidence: practical systems for planning, prioritizing and starting tasks, paired with work on the beliefs ("I always mess this up") that keep people stuck. Mindfulness training helps with attention and emotional reactivity. If you're taking or considering medication, we coordinate with your prescriber; we don't prescribe. Many people also need treatment for the anxiety or depression that has built up around ADHD, and we address those at the same time.

When to reach out

  • Your child's teacher has raised concerns about attention or behavior
  • Homework, mornings and bedtimes are a daily battle
  • You're an adult who has always struggled with organization and suspects there's a reason
  • Medication helped but the rest of life still isn't working
  • ADHD is straining your marriage or your job
Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000

Common questions

Can you diagnose ADHD?

Our licensed clinicians can evaluate for ADHD as part of a diagnostic assessment, using interviews, rating scales and history across settings. When a more comprehensive evaluation is needed, for example to rule out learning disorders or for certain school or workplace accommodations, we refer for psychological testing.

Do you prescribe ADHD medication?

No. We're a counseling practice. We're glad to coordinate with your pediatrician, primary care doctor or psychiatric prescriber, and many of our clients use medication and therapy together.

Is therapy useful for ADHD if medication already works?

Often, yes. Medication improves attention; it doesn't teach organization, time management or how to repair the self-esteem and relationship damage of years of untreated ADHD. Therapy covers that ground.

Can you help with school accommodations?

Yes. We can provide documentation of a diagnosis, communicate with your child's school with your permission, and help you understand 504 plans and IEPs.

Where to get help for ADHD

Available at every Oceanic® office and through our telehealth team.

Grand Strand

Midlands

  • West Columbia
    121 Executive Center Dr, Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29210
  • Forest Acres
    1800 Saint Julian Place, Suite 401, Columbia, SC 29204
  • Irmo
    7520 Irmo Dr, Columbia, SC 29212

Upstate

  • Greenville
    37 Villa Rd, Suite 508, Greenville, SC 29615
  • Anderson
    132 Broadbent Way, Anderson, SC 29625

Lowcountry

Anywhere in South Carolina

  • Online
    Secure video sessions, statewide

Diagnostic descriptions on this page are summarized in plain language from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR, 2022). This page is educational. It is not a substitute for evaluation by a licensed clinician, and only a licensed clinician can make a diagnosis.

Ready when you are.

Call us or submit a short intake form. A Patient Account Representative will match you with a therapist, and most new clients have their first appointment within a few business days.

Schedule an appointmentCall (843) 894-0000