Hyperactivity. Impulsiveness. Inability to focus. Aggressiveness. These are common symptoms of ADHD. Yet, these could just as easily be the traits of any child. If these characteristics significantly impair a child or adult’s ability to function and flourish in aspects of their lives, you may consider testing for ADHD. There is not a simple checklist for the condition – it presents itself differently in different people; the symptoms may be mild and easily managed or severe and disruptive. An accurate diagnosis by a trained professional is essential for the person, loved ones and caregivers. It provides the right support to adjust, even to thrive, at home or at school. It allows for acknowledgement, acceptance, and the creation of new and effective approaches to living and learning. This can help to reduce accompanying symptoms like depression, negative thoughts, low self-esteem, stress and anxiety.

Our clinical psychologists can help to diagnose ADHD through a range of psycho-educational assessments, clinical observations and thorough conversations. They can work with you or your child to understand unique learning styles, strengths and challenging areas, and identify personalised strategies to support you. This may include giving guidelines to your child’s school to provide a more supportive environment for your child’s learning.

Researchers believe that biology and genes play a large role in the development of ADHD. In fact, 30 to 40 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD have relatives with the same condition. Studies confirm there are factors that can lead to or aggravate a child’s or adult’s ADHD symptoms making it that much harder for them to cope. Environmental stressors. Toxins. Nutritional deficiencies. Gut infections. Food intolerances. Food additives. Childhood traumas and more. We can help you to identify factors that may be contributing to symptoms of ADHD.

Ritalin and Adderall are stimulant drugs commonly prescribed to suppress symptoms of ADHD. Though effective in most cases, they come with a laundry list of side-effects. The long-term impact of stimulant drugs is unknown, and they do nothing to address the underlying factors that may be contributing to ADHD. We recommend drugs be used as a last resort, not the first.

Research and our own 25 years’ clinical experience supporting children and adults with ADHD prove that a natural medicine and psychotherapeutic approaches can positively influence hyperactivity, impulsivity or inattention, without medication.

Drawing on IMI’s Integrated Healing Approach, we strive to identify and manage every facet that may be contributing to symptoms of ADHD. Emotions. Lifestyle habits. Diet. Environmental factors and more. Depending on your or your child’s needs, we’ll put in place a personalised, long-term plan to bolster strengths and minimise challenges. This may include:

Clinical psychological assessment to diagnose ADHD through psycho-educational assessments, clinical observation and thorough conversations. Through positive connection, they can work with you or your child to understand unique learning styles, strengths and challenging areas, and identify personalised strategies to support you. This may include giving guidelines to your child’s school to provide a more supportive environment for your child’s learning.

Psychotherapy and counselling to help children and adults, and perhaps family members, accept or address aspects of ADHD which may impact their way of being and relating to others. The process of psychotherapy offers a safe space to enhance self-esteem, reframe negative thought patterns, or assist with impulsive behaviours.

Caregivers may also find individual or family therapy with our psychotherapists of value in understanding how better to support a loved one living with ADHD, useful coping mechanisms, ways of relating to each other and encouraging their strengths.

Naturopathy to identify a myriad of factors that are impacting your way of being. Lifestyle factors. Gut health. Nutrition. Food intolerances. Exposure to heavy metals and more can all significantly impact our brain health. Working hand-in-hand with a person with ADHD, our naturopaths can identify triggers through careful analysis of your medical history and, when required, diagnostic testing.

Armed with the facts, they may recommend personalised herbs and naturopathic supplements to optimise brain health; dietary changes to clear inflammation in the gut that may be aggravating ADHD symptoms; homeopathic remedies to support emotional and mental wellbeing; and complementary therapies, depending on your needs and your child’s.

Complementary therapies to eliminate lifestyle triggers. Osteopathic manipulation to the face and neck can alleviate chronic ear infections, sinus congestion and breathing issues, which may be affecting hearing or sleep. This can result in ADHD-like symptoms. Craniosacral therapy can be relaxing, healing and restorative for the nervous system.