How do I Find a Psychiatrist Who Understands Adult ADD?

Finding the right psychiatrist for you is kind of like finding the right family doctor or dentist. You want to make sure that your personalities blend well and that the psychiatrist has your best interest in mind. This is especially true when you have a specific issue you want to deal with, including adult attention deficit disorder, or ADD. In some cases, finding the psychiatrist for you can be a lengthy process that requires numerous visits to different offices. However, it is possible to do some pre-planning to make that search a much smoother one.

Instructions

• 1

  Create a list of psychiatrists in your area who specialize or are used to working with adults who have ADD/ADHD. Research the psychiatrists and their offices online and jot down contact information of those that seem like they'd be a good fit for you.

• 2

  Call the psychiatrist's office and request information. If possible, ask the psychiatrist or their assistant a few questions about their practice. Some good questions to ask include their therapy style, their comfort level with ADD/ADHD and how they view client/psychiatrist relationships.

• 3

  Meet with the psychiatrists in consultation meetings to see if your personalities mesh well in person. You should feel like the psychiatrist respects and values you as a person, is nurturing toward your issue with ADD/ADHD, has a sense of rapport and is someone you can trust.

• 4

  Ask the psychiatrist how she feels about working with you. If she is as comfortable with you as you are with her, go to several sessions and feel things out. If she doesn't feel like it's a good match or you decide her approach is not for you, ask for a recommendation for another psychiatrist.