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How can ADHD and neurodiversity actually be a superpower? What should parents look out for when it comes to ADHD in their kids? Why are people with ADHD more likely to become entrepreneurs?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks about thriving with ADHD and how to turn neurodiversity into your superpower with Laurie Wilson, LMFT.
Podcast Sponsor: Alma
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Learn more about how Alma could support you in building a thriving private practice at helloalma.com/joe.
Meet Laurie Wilson
Laurie Wilson, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider, and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University. She owns a private practice in Huntington Beach where she treats individuals and couples. In addition, Laurie developed a counseling collective, The Smart Therapist, that supports like-minded therapists in growing their individual private practices. In 2020, Laurie opened a group counseling practice, Rize Counseling Inc, in Fountain Valley, CA. Laurie is passionate about mental health advocacy, education, and treatment.
Visit The Smart Therapist website, and see also Rize Counseling Inc.
Connect with Laurie on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
In This Podcast
- The current literature on ADHD
- What parents should observe
- The superpower of ADHD to become an entrepreneur
- ADHD myths
- Laurie’s advice to private practitioners
The current literature on ADHD
Dr. Russell Barkley’s work on ADHD/ ADD information continues to bring new research to the forefront.
With the term ‘neurodiversity’, what we’re seeing is that ASD and ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, can overlap in some ways. For those who have ASD, they’re 48 to 50% likely to also have some traits or a diagnosis for ADHD, and for those who have ADHD, they’re 25% more likely to have some overlaps with ASD, or the full diagnosis for it. I think that’s important in how we support our clients. (Laurie Wilson)
Since new research has shown the overlaps between ASD and ADHD, understanding this point can help therapists support their clients better.
We want to make sure that we’re honing in on what the needs of our clients are based on the different or specific traits that they’re coming in with. (Laurie Wilson)
What parents should observe
When it comes to noticing ADHD in your children, particularly daughters, Laurie explains to keep an eye out for:
- Academic pressure, switching between doing very well and poorly
- Difficulty with emotional regulation, where it may take them longer to regulate strong emotions
- Dips with depression or anxiety, but an ADHD diagnosis first is crucial if a child has ADHD, because medication to treat depression and anxiety could make the diagnosis worse if doctors aren’t aware
Teenagers are our favorite clientele to work with. I think they’re very misunderstood! … I think that the parent would know, because it’s often the kid that they struggle with a bit more to understand. (Laurie Wilson)
The superpower of ADHD to become an entrepreneur
Having ADHD can be a huge benefit, especially when you’ve come to know yourself and how to work with your ADHD rather than against it.
For example, people with ADHD diagnoses are 300% more likely to become entrepreneurs!
We don’t like [having] bosses, we don’t like to listen! I mean, I don’t know how else to say that! We have to structure the world in a way that we can understand it, so if we go into a space where it’s already structured … We’re not necessarily going to learn or be able to manifest those superpowers in a way that allows them to come out. Sometimes we feel stuck in that box, so being an entrepreneur and making the box yourself can be helpful to people with ADHD. (Laurie Wilson)
ADHD myths
Some of the following commonly held ideas about ADHD are often simply myths and untrue, such as:
- Only young boys have ADHD
- Kids with ADHD are labelled as the “naughty” or “bad” kids
- You don’t need medication to help with managing your ADHD
I would say, depending on the difficulty of executive functioning that the child’s experiencing … 90% of the time [medication] is going to work. If they’re getting in trouble at school or it’s causing difficulty with social relationships, which are big things [in the teenage years], then I think as a parent I would think it’s important [to consider medication]. (Laurie Wilson)
Laurie’s advice to private practitioners
You aren’t alone! There are plenty of resources out there that can help you build your practice as well as support you in your life’s journey.
Sponsors Mentioned in this episode:
- Get your ticket today for the MHM conference in October! Use the discount code JOE to get 10% off any ticket!
- Learn more about how Alma could support you in building a thriving private practice at helloalma.com/joe.
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
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Visit The Smart Therapist website, and see also Rize Counseling Inc.
- Find out more about Dr. Russell Barkley
- Apply to work with us one-one-one!
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Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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