Online Therapy for ADHD
Challenges
Shirley Porter and Associates Psychotherapy offers online psychotherapy for adults (17+) across Ontario who live with ADHD (sometimes still called ADD) and the emotional challenges that often come with it, including overwhelm, shame, anxiety, emotional ups and downs, and strain in relationships. Sessions are available in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
More Than Attention
ADHD is often described in terms of focus and organization. For many adults, though, the hardest parts are emotional.
You may recognize some of these experiences:
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Feeling overwhelmed by tasks that seem easy for others
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Strong emotions that arrive quickly and are hard to settle
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Deep sensitivity to criticism or the possibility of rejection
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Years of being called lazy, careless, or "not living up to your potential"
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Shame about unfinished tasks, missed deadlines, or forgotten commitments
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Anxiety, low mood, or burnout from working twice as hard to keep up
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Tension in relationships around chores, time, money, or communication
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These experiences are real and understandable. They are not a reflection of your character or your worth.
Diagnosed Later in Life
Many adults, particularly women and people from cultures where ADHD was rarely discussed, learn they have ADHD in their twenties, thirties, or later.
A diagnosis can bring relief and a new understanding of your history. It can also bring grief for earlier struggles, frustration that no one noticed, and questions about who you are. Therapy can provide space to make sense of all of this.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy for ADHD-related emotional challenges focuses on understanding how ADHD affects you and on building ways of responding that work with your brain, not against it.
Depending on your needs and your therapist's training, therapy may include:
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CBT for adult ADHD to address unhelpful patterns such as procrastination and all-or-nothing thinking, and to build practical strategies
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DBT skills for understanding intense emotions and riding them out more effectively
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to act on your values even when motivation is low
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Mindfulness and nervous-system regulation to notice overwhelm earlier and return to steadiness
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Self-compassion and parts work to heal the shame and harsh self-criticism that many adults with ADHD carry
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Trauma-informed care, because ADHD and difficult life experiences often overlap
What We Do and Don't Offer
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not assess or diagnose ADHD, and we do not prescribe medication.
You don't need a formal diagnosis to work with us. If you suspect you have ADHD, we can support you with the emotional challenges you are facing and help you think through options for assessment with a physician or psychologist.
If you are already diagnosed, therapy can complement care from your doctor, psychiatrist, or ADHD coach.
A Mind–Body–Spirit Approach
Living with ADHD affects more than thoughts and behaviours. It can shape your nervous system, your relationships, your sense of identity, and your sense of what is possible for you.
Our therapists work with the whole person, including your strengths, creativity, values, and what gives your life meaning.
For clients who wish, spiritual beliefs or practices can be part of the conversation. They are never assumed or imposed.
Getting Started
All sessions take place online through a secure virtual platform, so you can attend from anywhere in Ontario, with no commute to plan around. In addition to English, sessions are available in Hindi and Gujarati through Hiral Shah.
We offer a free 20-minute consultation to help you decide whether we are a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you diagnose ADHD?
No. In Ontario, diagnosing ADHD is done by physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and psychologists. Our therapists support the emotional and practical challenges that come with ADHD, whether or not you have a diagnosis.
Is ADD different from ADHD?
"ADD" is an older term. Today, both are included under ADHD, which has inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined presentations.
Does online therapy work if I have trouble focusing?
Many adults with ADHD find online sessions easier, with no travel and a familiar setting. Your therapist can work with you to make sessions as engaging and practical as possible.
Can therapy help if I'm already taking ADHD medication?
Yes. Medication can help with attention and focus, while therapy addresses emotions, self-esteem, relationships, and habits. Many people benefit from both.
Do you work with adults diagnosed later in life?
Yes. Making sense of a late diagnosis, including the grief and relief it can bring, is an important part of the work for many of our clients.
We're here for you when you're ready
We offer a free 20-minute video consultation so you can meet a therapist, ask questions, and see if we're the right fit — no obligation, no pressure.
Online sessions are available anywhere in Ontario.
You can trust that if our therapists do not have the competencies to provide the care you are requesting, they will tell you. Our first priority is acting in your best interest.