Empower Your Mind!

Dr. Victoria works to dispel stigma associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by compassionately encouraging clients to realize that they are talented individuals with exceptional brains that simply function differently from their neurotypical peers. Her integrative approach to psychotherapy places an emphasis on psychoeducation of ADHD, providing clients with knowledge regarding the cause, course, dietary implications, brain functioning, mood dysregulation, nature of self-regulation, and executive functioning deficits, as well as available treatment options.       

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity interfering with functioning and emotional regulation. There are three main types of ADHD: predominantly inattentive presentation, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation, and combined presentation. 

When left untreated, ADHD can contribute to low self-esteem, oppositional behavior, risk-taking behavior, family conflict, anxiety, and/or depression. ADHD begins in childhood, but can be diagnosed at any age. When considering a diagnosis, it is important that symptoms persist over a period of at least six months and are present across multiple settings (such as work, school, and home). 

There is no single test that is capable of diagnosing ADHD, therefore a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment can be extremely useful in clarifying a diagnosis of ADHD and providing the appropriate resources to a client. Dr. Victoria offers comprehensive psychological testing for children, adolescents, and adults in order to organize proper accommodations at school, home, and in the workplace. Working with elementary, middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate college students, Dr. Victoria adapts to the individual needs of each client to ensure they possess the resources necessary to empower their minds and reach their full potential.  

Dr. Victoria works with children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD to improve emotional and behavioral functioning.  In children and early adolescents with ADHD, Dr. Victoria works closely with both the caregiver and the child/adolescent. Parent involvement is key as the child/adolescent learns to navigate and understand their brain functioning, learn a routine, and hone executive planning and control. In mid-late teens and adults with ADHD, Dr. Victoria’s role is to facilitate learning and acceptance with an individualized treatment plan and adaptive resources.

Working alongside Dr. Victoria, clients will learn to improve their self-esteem, and executive functioning skills in order to learn how to organize, plan, prioritize, manage time, maintain focus, monitor their work, self-regulate, and self-motivate. The goal of therapy is to understand how a client's brain functions, teaching them to manage their challenges and enhance their strengths to achieve greatness. 

 To diagnose ADHD, a few different psychometric testing measures are employed in order to capture symptoms in a variety of settings (such as home, work, and school). An accurate diagnosis of ADHD is a crucial step towards obtaining the appropriate treatment, ruling out other conditions, and receiving the proper accommodations at school or in the workplace. Once diagnosed, a course of treatment can be designed to make life more manageable.  

Holistic techniques - such as evidence-based Neurofeedback therapy - have demonstrated promising results in clients with ADHD. However, ADHD treatment generally constitutes a combination of psychotherapy and medication.