Couples Therapy for ADHD

When they first met, she admired his spontaneity, wit, and big dreams. Five years and two kids later, she's fed up with those very same qualities. But now she views them as an inability to follow through, inappropriate comments, and lack of attention to detail.

Sound familiar?  Whether one partner or both has it, relationships involving ADHD* can be especially difficult. Not completing requested tasks, forgetting or misplacing things, chronic lateness, acting impulsively, and difficulty staying focused during conversation are just a few of the common problems.  When both partners have ADHD, what seemed like spontaneity at first can feel like total chaos later. When only one partner has it, a parent-child dynamic can develop. 

Some of the areas typically addressed in couples therapy for ADHD include:

• Making sure both partners feel heard and understood
• Helping the non-ADHD partner understand what it's like to have this brain wiring, and why someone with ADHD does the things he/she does
• Helping the partner with ADHD understand how his/her actions affect the other
• Dividing responsibilities fairly and according to relative strengths
• Improving communication
• Creating systems to reduce chaos that result in more streamlined household management
• Learning strategies for managing emotions and staying calm during times of disagreement
• Reducing "demand resistance" and eliminating any parent/child dynamic

While ADHD can adversely affect your relationship, it doesn't have to ruin it. Beth Main has helped many couples improve communication, work together to develop skills and strategies to manage the ADHD, and build on the positives. 

Please see the Payment tab for information on rates and insurance.  

* Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are used interchangeably throughout this site, although ADHD is the current medical term regardless of whether or not hyperactivity is present.