Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychological condition that affects two key areas of an individual’s functioning: attention and hyperactivity.

Attention influences one’s ability to stay mentally focused, concentrate, and complete tasks. This aspect is largely internal and often difficult to observe through behaviour alone. Hyperactivity on the other hand tends to be more visible, manifesting as impulsivity, fidgeting, restlessness, and difficulty sitting still or remaining in one place for extended periods.

It’s important to note that many people—whether they have ADHD or not—will experience these symptoms from time to time. However, when these challenges significantly impact someone’s relationships, work, school, or overall participation and enjoyment of life, they may be clinically significant and warrant an ADHD diagnosis.

There is ongoing debate about how common ADHD truly is, but recent studies suggest that it affects between 10% and 15% of the general population—that’s roughly one in every eight to ten people!

While ADHD can present challenges, it also comes with strengths. These may include hyperfocus, high energy and drive, creativity, and a distinctive, often quirky, way of seeing the world. When individuals learn to harness these strengths and address common challenges—such as poor organisation, untidiness, feeling overwhelmed easily, and issues with punctuality—they often discover they have a tremendous amount to offer. With the right systems in place, they can thrive.

This is the approach I prefer: a strength-based perspective that doesn’t necessarily view ADHD as a disorder, but rather as a trait that simply doesn’t mesh easily with today’s world of constant distraction, dopamine-triggering technology, and environments that demand prolonged focus on routine tasks.

One of my favourite descriptions of ADHD comes from Ed Halliwell’s book Driven to Distraction, where he compares having ADHD to “driving a Ferrari with bicycle brakes.” It’s a powerful image—having a Ferrari engine for a brain is wonderful, but without strong brakes, you may find yourself skidding around or even crashing from time to time. The key is learning to build up those brakes.

That said, we can’t ignore the very real challenges ADHD can present. I’m passionate about helping individuals navigate the sometimes complex process of diagnosis, and just as importantly, I’m committed to working with people to build practical systems that play to their strengths whilst addressing personal challenges. The world will still expect you to be punctual, organised, and consistent—regardless of whether you have ADHD—so creating strategies that help you meet those expectations is something practical that we can work on together.

If any of this resonates with you, and you’re ready to begin exploring or managing ADHD through therapy, I’d love to hear from you and help you take the first step together.