Understand What’s Going On
Do I have ADHD? (Symptoms)
Many women with ADHD carry a quiet sense that life feels harder than it should be.
- You push yourself to keep up, constantly trying to “measure up” to others.
- Even when you succeed, it can feel undeserved (hello, imposter syndrome).
- Your mind is often restless – racing thoughts and difficulty switching off.
- You hyperfocus on interesting things while avoiding the boring but important.
- Procrastination shows up, often driven by overwhelm or self-doubt.
- Sleep, forgetfulness, and burnout build over time, especially with hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, periods, peri- and post-menopause).
- It’s not an excuse, but it is a very good explanation!
I can help you identify your symptoms, explore whether ADHD may be part of the picture, and develop strategies to make life a little easier.
Anna
Late Diagnosis
“Better late than never.”
Whoever first said that might well have been talking about ADHD.
For decades, ADHD was mostly recognised in young boys.
- Girls were often missed, misunderstood, or labelled differently.
- Research didn’t yet reflect how ADHD presents in women.
- Many of us were taught ADHD faded in adulthood – it doesn’t.
As adults, we assumed it would have already been diagnosed.
So we adapted… coped, overcompensated, and kept going.
Then something shifts – often a small but powerful moment…
“Mum… I think I have ADHD… and I think you do too.”
- Everything suddenly clicks into place.
- Diagnosis brings clarity, relief, and self-understanding.
- The past starts to make sense, and the future feels different.
A late diagnosis changed my life.
Discover the ADHD Assessment Steps that get you closer to a late diagnosis.
It’s never too late.
Anna
Depression & Anxiety
Stuck in cycles you can’t seem to shift?
ADHD often sits underneath these struggles.
Research shows that:
- ~70–80% of people with ADHD have at least one additional condition, often anxiety.
- ~50% of people with ADHD have two or more, often anxiety and depression (Kessler et al., 2006; Sobanski, 2006).
Treating anxiety/depression alone can miss the driver, when ADHD might be the contributing factor.
Understanding ADHD can change the whole picture
Anna
Different Brain (Neurodiversity)
ADHD is part of what we call neurodiversity – natural differences in how brains develop and experience the world.
ADHD and Autism (ASD) often overlap, and many people notice traits of both.
Sometimes this shows up in subtle ways. Other times it affects communication, routines, sensory sensitivity, relationships, and daily life.
When women come to see me, we look at the full picture.
If ADHD appears to be the main pattern, we explore that together and build practical strategies.
If Autism seems to be the primary neurotype, I’ll guide you toward a clinician who specialises in Autism.
The goal is always the same – helping you understand your brain and find the support that fits you best.
Anna
Get Clear Answers & Direction
ADHD Assessment Steps
Understanding whether ADHD is part of your story happens step by step – not in a single session.
Step 1 – Screening & Initial Session
Before this session, you complete some questionnaires at home, online. Then, at this initial session, we start with a conversation about your possible ADHD experiences, history, and current challenges. If ADHD seems likely, you are sent home to complete step 2.
Step 2 – Broader Assessment
You complete additional questionnaires online, at home, over the course of a week. They explore areas like mood, sleep, stress, trauma and emotional regulation, all of which can overlap with ADHD. Once completed you attend a session to review these questionnaires and if ADHD really stands out, you are now ready for step 3.
Step 3 – Diagnostic Interview
During a structured interview we look at ADHD symptoms across childhood and adulthood, and how they’ve impacted your life. This is the gold standard assessment used world-wide. If ADHD is confirmed, we proceed to step 4.
Step 4 – Written Report
All the information (session 1 and 2 information, questionnaires and structured interview) is brought together into a clear report with findings and recommendations. Anna sends you and your GP a copy of the report. This report is not for court proceedings without Anna’s written permission. You can now proceed to step 5.
Step 5 – Formal Diagnosis
Your report can be taken to an ADHD GP or ADHD psychiatrist for formal diagnosis. If you choose to pursue medication, and/or accommodations (extra time for uni assignments etc.) you will need a formal diagnosis.
I’ll guide you through each step along the way.
For full details and fees, please see the booking page.
Anna
ADHD Counselling
Counselling, therapy… call it what you like – living with ADHD shapes your life in real ways:
- ADHD is neurodevelopmental, influencing how your brain grows, copes, and moves through the world
- Over time, you’ve developed ways of managing – some helpful, some not.
- The constant effort can lead to anxiety, exhaustion, burnout, or depression.
- You might become overly accommodating, reactive, overwhelmed, or avoidant.
- Not because you’re failing – because those strategies reduced pressure at the time, but maybe not longer.
Counselling helps you understand these patterns and gently shift what’s no longer working.
The goal is to keep who you are, whist building calmer, more sustainable ways of living with ADHD.
It’s something we can explore together.
Anna
ADHD Coaching
Coaching is different from counselling.
Counselling focuses on understanding your experiences and helping you make sense of the patterns that have shaped your life.
Coaching is more practical. It focuses on what works, and how we can build on it.
The challenge is that 10 Medicare-rebated sessions a year is rarely enough to cover both the emotional work and the practical skills.
Because of this, I’m planning to launch an ADHD Coaching Program for Women in the second half of 2026.
My hope is that women can begin these modules soon after diagnosis, so that our one-on-one sessions can focus on the more personal parts of their journey.
More details will come as it develops.
Anna
ADHD Medication
Not everyone with ADHD needs medication, but research shows it helps many people (Faraone et al., 2021).
Some people benefit from stimulants, others from non-stimulants. Some take it daily, others only when needed.
Medication often supports more than focus. It can also help with emotional regulation – making overwhelm, irritability, and shutdown less intense.
Many people feel cautious, which is completely understandable. That’s why doctors check things like blood tests and heart health before prescribing.
If it’s suitable, a trial period (often around six months) can help you decide if it’s working.
For many people, it makes a meaningful difference in daily life.
It’s something we can talk through together when the time comes.
Anna
Build a Life that Works
ADHD & Brain Health
Two things live in our heads: our brain and our mind.
The brain is the hardware – it needs sleep, nutrition, movement, and a healthy body to function well.
The mind is the software – our thoughts, habits, and patterns that shape how we experience life.
Like any system, the software works best when the hardware is supported.
You might be here to update your thinking, your brain and body… or both.
With the right support, ADHD brains can function so much better.
We don’t change who you are – the essence of you – we support you to work at your full potential.
Let me show you how.
Anna
ADHD & Women’s Health
Hormones play a role in our lives all the time – we really can’t escape them.
Through puberty, pregnancy, peri-menopause, and post-menopause, we feel the ups and downs. For women with ADHD, these hormonal changes can often make things feel even more intense.
Unfortunately, research in this area is still catching up. For many years, women were simply harder to study because our hormonal cycles were seen as something that complicated research. Ironically, that’s exactly why we need better research now, because hormones influence both our bodies and our mental wellbeing.
Having been through these stages myself, I understand the good, the bad, and sometimes the downright ‘drive-you-round-the-bend’ frustrating!
But there are also wonderful parts: when hormones support connection, relationships, sexuality, and family life.
Understanding how hormones interact with ADHD can make a big difference to how we experience life.
I’m always happy to talk about this with any woman sitting on my couch, and to refer her to knowledgeable health professionals who can offer additional support, if needed.
Anna
ADHD & Relationships
As you probably realise, ADHD doesn’t just affect the person who has it, it also shows up in relationships.
Partners often experience the everyday effects of ADHD too. Things like forgetfulness, distraction, emotional reactions, or difficulty with planning can easily be misunderstood.
Over time this can lead to frustration on both sides. One person may feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything, while the other may feel like they’re constantly reminding, organising, or carrying the load.
Understanding ADHD can make a huge difference in how couples see these patterns.
Sometimes I invite partners to attend a session so they can better understand what ADHD is, how it works, and how it may be affecting your day-to-day life together.
These conversations are about education and understanding, not relationship counselling.
If a relationship is experiencing deeper difficulties or conflict, I will usually recommend seeing a psychologist or therapist who specialises in couples work.
The goal is always the same: Helping both people understand ADHD so that the relationship can feel calmer and more supportive.
Anna
ADHD & Work
ADHD is not about intelligence. We are quite capable and hardworking, yet work can still feel far harder than it should.
We forget things we meant to do.
We miss deadlines we were sure we would get to.
We sit staring at a task that should take ten minutes… and somehow it takes two hours to start.
Then other days we suddenly hyperfocus and do half a week’s work in one afternoon.
Over time this can become frustrating. We start wondering why work seems easier for everyone else.
ADHD affects the brain systems responsible for planning, organisation, working memory, time awareness, and getting started on tasks. It’s about how our brains manage attention and action.
I spend a lot of time talking with women about how ADHD shows up at work, and in their work relationships.
Together we work out what keeps getting in the way and how to make work life run a little more smoothly for our ADHD brains.
Because most of the time, we’re not the problem.
Our systems just weren’t designed for ADHD brains.
Come and learn how to re-design systems just for your brain.
Anna
ADHD & Lifestyle Balance
Living well with ADHD isn’t only about understanding the brain, it’s about supporting the life around it.
Many women with ADHD spend years pushing themselves just to keep up. Work, family, relationships, responsibilities… everything can start to feel like a constant juggling act.
When we’re always running on empty, our ADHD symptoms tend to get louder. Focus becomes harder, emotions run closer to the surface, sleep suffers, and overwhelm creeps in.
That’s why lifestyle balance matters so much for ADHD.
Things like sleep, nutrition, movement, structure, and downtime aren’t luxuries – they’re the foundations that help our brains function better.
It’s not about becoming perfectly organised or rigid.
It’s about building a life that supports your brain, rather than constantly fighting against it.
Finding that balance can make a remarkable difference to how ADHD shows up day to day.
Come and jump on my ‘Life-Scale’ and lets figure out how to balance it – for you!
Anna