Christian Counseling for ADHD in Davie, Florida
October is ADHD Awareness Month. While it may seem that ADHD has oversaturated mainstream media, misconceptions abound! I was recently at a church social event, and someone shared with me some side effects her son was having from taking a stimulant medication. Rather than making efforts to mitigate these common side effects, she impulsively decided to pull him off the medication altogether, stating, “He’ll just outgrow it anyway, like we all do.” The irony was that it was quite apparent that this mom was also ADHD and had clearly not outgrown it herself. Hence, the impulsive decision to discontinue the medication without talking to the prescriber about how to mitigate the side effects while maintaining the effectiveness of the medication. Always discuss medication decisions with the prescriber, including the decision to stop medication.
You Don’t Outgrow ADHD
It is not that adults outgrow ADHD- like a pair of shoes- but rather they find ways to accommodate it and adapt to it. The truth is that ADHD is a lifelong diagnosis that can range from mild to moderate to severe. If a child is diagnosed in childhood with mild to moderate symptoms of ADHD and, as an adult, learns strategies to adapt to it, then it can appear as though they “outgrew” it, as the symptoms do not impact them the same way they did as a child. Hyperactive children grow up to become restless adults- that is still an ADHD symptom. In my work with adolescents and adults, I often see how ADHD can shift at different stages of life. Consequently, the treatment shifts as well.
The Hidden Shame of ADHD
Here lies the internal conflict with Adults who struggle with ADHD- “Why can’t I just get it together?” People with ADHD tend to grow up thinking that they are lazy, unmotivated, dumb, slobs, irresponsible, and absent-minded. This leads to shame about who they are and what they can never seem to accomplish. Their good intentions often fall flat. This can also play out in their walk with God. They can’t seem to stay consistent in reading the bible or get so distracted when they pray that they think it’s hopeless. They believe they are letting God down.
“I can’t” vs ”I won’t”
Let’s look at what ADHD really affects: Motivation, follow-through, attention, organization, memory, and impulse control. These are our executive functions that everyone struggles with at times, but for individuals with ADHD, it is so prevalent that it impairs numerous areas of their everyday life. These repeated struggles create negative thought patterns. This is where shame sets in, and for the Christian, they often interpret them as a lack of faith and spiritual discipline, setting up even more negative thought loops.
There is a big difference between “I can’t” and “I won’t.” This is why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is so helpful for people with ADHD to combat the negative thoughts that develop around it. The NIMH has helpful and accurate information on adult ADHD
Having ADHD isn’t a moral or spiritual failing. The worst part of experiencing shame is that it tends to pull us away from God, hide from God and that is exactly when the enemy comes in, when we are at our weakest.
I teach you how to apply CBT techniques to identify unhelpful, negative thoughts such as:
- “I’m lazy.”
- “Everyone else can do this.”
- “God must be disappointed in me.”
- “I’ve always been this way. I’ll never change.”
Separate Worth from Performance
This is the negative thought spiral the enemy uses to distract and deceive us from our true identity. Ask yourself, “Is this the language that Jesus used toward us?” If the answer is no, then you know your thoughts are not aligned with his thoughts. Once you are aware of these damaging thoughts, you can actively work to change them and get on to the work of correcting how ADHD symptoms are getting in the way of reaching your goals.
While it’s a worthwhile pursuit to manage and even overcome ADHD, your worth and identity is already sealed by what Christ has done for you. The struggles of life, ADHD or not, are not a barometer of your worth in Christ.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Living with ADHD is not about trying harder, but about applying the right strategies. It’s about understanding how ADHD affects motivation, focus, and organization and learning how to address those specific strategies. CBT helps replace repeated struggles with more rational and productive ways of thinking.
Separating ADHD from character judgment can often be a huge turning point for those with ADHD. When ADHD and Christian counseling are paired together, focusing on what God’s truth says about us- which is never focused on our behaviors. Instead of asking shame-inducing thoughts like, “Why can’t I just do this?” you learn to ask and answer the question, “What is getting in the way, and what strategy can I use to address it?”
Your worth and identity are not determined by how productive you are, how organized you are, or how consistently you manage every symptom. Christian Counseling is unique in that it centers on God’s grace, mercy, truth, and wisdom.
Christian Counseling for ADHD in Davie, FL
As a Licensed mental Health Counselor in Davie, FL, I work with adolescents and adults who are newly diagnosed and just learning about how their numerous struggles are attributed to ADHD symptoms they didn’t even realize they had. Gospel principles and CBT combined are a comprehensive, holistic approach to overcoming ADHD and shame. You are more than your ADHD.
- “Why Can’t I Just Get It Together?” ADHD, Shame, and the Christian Life - October 12, 2026
- What Does the Bible Say About Negative Thinking? A Christian CBT Approach - September 28, 2026
- Health Anxiety vs. Healthy Choices: Finding Balance in a Fearful World - March 24, 2026