My T suspected ADHD and felt that medication might be of possible use so wanted me to see someone who could prescribe but was also experienced in diagnosing this condition. Since I would have to see someone who could prescribe anyway, if I wanted meds, it was kind of like killing 2 birds with one stone. That way he didn't have to spend his time doing a diagnosis. (I don't think he does the same kind of diagnosis as the PNP, who used vetted instruments, such as the CARS. He's really not into diagnoses. I think they can be harmful and I can work on problems in therapy without having to give them medical names. My T didn't give me a diagnosis for over a year and a half--he never offered one and I didn't ask, then it slipped out one day--PTSD. Whoops. I guess I knew that since we did a lot of trauma work, but it was strange to hear him say it--ascribe a mental condition/pathology to me. See, I consider myself pretty "normal" and I also consider the range of "normalcy" in the population to be huge. ) Anyway, that's why he sent me to the PNP. He called her up and talked to her in my presence with her on speaker phone so I could get a sense of her and what she could offer. They talked meds and I got to hear lots of options for ADHD. I just saw her today, actually. She was interested to hear of my experience going 2 weeks off of the stims. I now have dual stim prescriptions: one for 30 mg Vyvanse (my typical) and one for 20 mg Vyvanse (if I don't feel I need as much in certain circumstances such as weekends, vacations, getting up late in the day, etc.) It's nice to have a couple of different doses at one's disposal to choose from.

It was more that T was telling me there are different things you can do to help with ADHD: meds, therapy, etc. Then he gave me referrals for each: the PNP for meds, and this therapist he knew for ADHD support groups. He specifically suggested group therapy not individual. When I went to the web site of the therapist he suggested, I saw he also did individual therapy. But the groups looked really good--for adults with ADHD. I just wasn't into that, though. I am sure they talk about really good behavioral strategies, coping, etc. But I feel I can get that out of books. Or posting here! My own therapist and I do not work on my ADHD like symptoms. They aren't problematic enough to devote therapy minutes/dollars to, and the more important problems in my life take precedence.