Wondering About ADHD as an Adult? You're Not Too Late

By Christi Kersten, MA, LPC · Telehealth for adults 18+ in Alaska

Maybe it started with a friend's story, a child's evaluation or an article that felt uncomfortably familiar. Missed deadlines, half-finished projects, losing hours to one task while others pile up, and years of hearing you just need to try harder. Now you are wondering: could this be ADHD?

You are not alone. Many adults, especially women and people who learned early to mask their struggles, don't recognize ADHD patterns until well into adulthood.

Why ADHD gets missed

• It doesn't always look like hyperactivity. Adult ADHD often shows up as inner restlessness, distraction, overwhelm or emotional intensity.
• Smart, capable people compensate. Strong skills can hide the effort it takes to keep up, until life gets more demanding.
• It overlaps with other things. Anxiety, depression and burnout can look similar, and often show up together with ADHD.

What changes when you understand it

For many adults, the biggest shift is not a label. It is finally understanding why some things have always felt so hard, and letting go of years of self-blame. That understanding makes practical change easier to start and to keep.

How therapy can help

You don't need a formal diagnosis to start. In therapy we can:

• Sort through what you've been experiencing and what might be driving it
• Build systems for time, tasks and follow-through that fit how your brain works
• Work on emotional regulation, overwhelm and the shame that often comes with ADHD
• Talk through options for evaluation or medication, and coordinate with a prescriber if you choose

My approach is neurodivergent-affirming. As a mom to two neurodivergent daughters, I understand different wiring from the inside, and therapy starts from your strengths, not your deficits.

Sessions are by secure video for adults anywhere in Alaska.

Related: ADHD & Executive Function Support · Neurodivergent-Affirming Counseling