YOU'RE NOT LAZY
ADHD in adults is often misunderstood
ADHD in adults is often misunderstood, including by the people living with it. You might be capable, motivated, and genuinely trying, and still find yourself missing deadlines, losing track of conversations, or running out of steam after a burst of focus.
At OP Counselling, we offer ADHD therapy for adults in Vancouver and across British Columbia, both in person and virtually. Our approach is trauma-informed and judgment-free, and we build it around how your brain actually works.
What ADHD can look like in adults
ADHD doesn’t always look like the hyperactive kid who can’t sit still. In adults, and especially in women and people who got a late diagnosis, it often shows up as:
Starting things with energy but struggling to follow through
Difficulty managing time, transitions, or unexpected changes
Emotional sensitivity or reactions that feel bigger than the situation
Putting things off, especially tasks that feel boring or overwhelming
A persistent feeling of underachieving relative to your own potential
Relationship problems tied to forgetfulness, distraction, or impulsivity
Burnout from the effort of keeping it together throughout the day
Looking for an ADHD assessment or diagnosis?
Many adults spend years being told they're not trying hard enough before anyone looks deeper. If you're still seeking a formal assessment and diagnosis, Michael at ADHD Insight offers comprehensive ADHD assessments and can help you get clarity on what you're working with. From there, our team at OP Counselling is here to help you figure out what to do with that information.
OFTEN MISSED
ADHD in women & late diagnosis
ADHD research has historically focused on boys, which means the way it shows up in women is still widely missed, including by doctors. Women with ADHD are more likely to internalise their struggles, build elaborate workarounds, and carry a lot of shame before anyone takes their difficulties seriously.
Getting a late diagnosis can bring relief and grief at the same time. Relief that there’s finally an explanation. Grief for the years spent thinking you were lazy or disorganised when you were actually working much harder than anyone realised. Therapy can help you hold both of those things, and start building a life that works with your brain rather than against it.
UNDERSTANDING THE OVERLAP
ADHD & addiction
ADHD and substance use problems often go together, and there’s a reason for that. Many people with ADHD find, sometimes without realizing it, that alcohol, cannabis, or stimulants help quiet the noise, sharpen focus, or provide the kind of relief their brain has been looking for. What starts as coping can quietly become a problem of its own.
At OP Counselling, we work with clients who are dealing with both. We don’t treat them as separate issues to tackle one at a time. Instead, we look at the whole picture: what role substances are playing, what needs they’re meeting, and how to build real alternatives that support you long-term.
OUR APPROACH
How ADHD therapy works at OP Counselling
All four of our therapists work with adult ADHD, and all bring a trauma-informed approach to the work. We know ADHD rarely shows up on its own. Many of our clients are also dealing with anxiety, depression, past trauma, or substance use, and our work is designed to hold that complexity.
Depending on what’s most useful for you, we draw on:
CBT
Practical tools for focus and organization, and help with the thought patterns that make ADHD harder
EMDR
Useful when trauma and ADHD are intertwined, and when emotional reactivity is a big part of what’s getting in the way
Mindfulness
Building a pause between impulse and action, and easing the shame that often follows ADHD mistakes
Knowing your brain
Understanding your own patterns so you can stop blaming yourself and start working with your neurology instead of against it
GETTING STARTED
What to expect in ADHD therapy
01
Assessment & understanding
The first sessions are focused on understanding how ADHD shows up specifically for you — not just a symptom checklist, but the real impact on your work, relationships, daily functioning, and sense of self.
02
Building strategies
From there, your therapist will work with you to develop individualized approaches to the patterns and situations that keep getting in the way. These aren't generic productivity tips — they're built around how your brain actually works.
03
Troubleshooting & adjusting
ADHD management rarely works linearly, and therapy should reflect that. Ongoing sessions create space to look at what's working, what isn't, and why — then adjust accordingly.
04
Sustaining change
The goal isn't just short-term improvement. This phase focuses on building the consistency, self-awareness, and confidence that make gains stick beyond the therapy room.
FAQ
Your questions, answered
No. Many of our clients come to us with questions, not a diagnosis. If ADHD feels like it might explain your experience, that’s enough to start a conversation. Therapy can be useful whether or not you’ve had a formal assessment. If you are interested in an ADHD assessment we recommend our colleagues at ADHD Insight
Yes. We offer virtual sessions for adults anywhere in British Columbia, as well as in-person sessions in Vancouver. Many clients find virtual therapy easier to attend consistently, which matters a lot when ADHD is part of the picture.
Many extended health plans in BC cover registered clinical counselling. We recommend checking with your provider before booking. We provide direct billing to most extended health providers in BC and we’re happy to provide receipts for insurance purposes otherwise.
Yes. Medication and therapy address different things. Medication can help with focus and impulse control, but it doesn’t build skills, address shame, or work through any trauma or emotional patterns underneath. Many clients find the combination most effective.
This is very common. ADHD often shows up alongside anxiety, depression, and trauma, and the symptoms can overlap in ways that make it hard to tell what’s driving what. Our therapists are used to working with these combinations and won’t try to separate them artificially.
This is very common. ADHD often shows up alongside anxiety, depression, and trauma, and the symptoms can overlap in ways that make it hard to tell what’s driving what. Our therapists are used to working with these combinations and won’t try to separate them artificially.
get in touch
Reach out when you're ready
Send us a note and our team will get back to you within one business day. We offer sessions in person in East Vancouver and online across BC. Everything you share stays confidential.