ADHD Counselling & Support
ADHD can look very different from one person to another. A teen trying to keep up with increasing expectations at school may experience it very differently from an adult juggling work, relationships and everyday responsibilities. For children and families, ADHD can sometimes become part of challenges at school, big emotions, parenting concerns or recurring frustration at home.
There is no single ADHD experience, and counselling shouldn’t assume there is.
I provide counselling for adults, teens, children, couples and families navigating ADHD, neurodivergence and related challenges.
In-person counselling is available in Calgary, with virtual counselling available throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Understanding the Person, Not Just the ADHD
ADHD may be part of what brings someone to counselling, but it doesn’t define the whole person.
Attention, organization, emotional regulation, relationships, school, work and family life can all be part of the conversation. What matters most depends on the individual, their circumstances and what they would like support with.
Counselling can provide space to better understand what’s happening, recognize patterns that may be creating difficulty and explore practical ways of approaching those challenges.
My work is individualized. I don’t assume that everyone with ADHD thinks, feels or experiences life in the same way.
Experience That Extends Beyond the Counselling Room
My experience working with children, teens, ADHD and neurodivergence began long before I became a counsellor.
Before completing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, I spent 16 years working in education, including specialized mental-health and intensive behavioural-support settings. During that time, I worked with children and adolescents with a wide range of educational, behavioural and emotional needs and alongside parents and multidisciplinary professionals supporting them.
I also hold a Master of Education, and today I bring my background in education together with my counselling training and experience when working with adults, teens, children, couples and families.
That background is particularly valuable when working with young people because I understand that what happens at home, at school and in relationships doesn’t exist in isolation.
ADHD Counselling for Teens
The teenage years can already involve a lot of change. Expectations at school increase, friendships and relationships become more complicated, independence grows and questions about what comes next start becoming more important. For teens with ADHD or other neurodivergent experiences, some of these demands can bring additional challenges. Counselling gives teens a place to talk openly about what's happening in their lives without assuming that every difficulty is because of ADHD. Depending on the teen, our conversations might include school pressures, organization, friendships, family relationships, emotional regulation, self-esteem, independence or the transition toward adulthood. My years working with young people in educational and specialized settings give me an understanding of the environments teens navigate every day. Just as importantly, I believe teens need to feel that counselling is a place where they can be heard and understood as an individual, not simply managed as a set of behaviours or symptoms.
Supporting Children and Parents
When a child is having a difficult time, the effects often reach beyond the child. Parents may be trying to understand behaviour, respond to intense emotions, navigate concerns at school or find ways to reduce recurring conflict at home. Children themselves may be dealing with experiences they don't yet know how to explain. My background working with children in educational, behavioural-support and counselling settings informs the way I work with children and their parents. The goal isn't to fit a child into a predetermined idea of what ADHD looks like. It's to understand the individual child, what's happening around them and where support may be helpful.
ADHD in Adulthood
ADHD-related challenges don't necessarily end when school does. Adults may come to counselling because they’re struggling with attention, organization, competing responsibilities, emotional regulation or relationships. Others may already understand their ADHD well but want support with a particular relationship, life transition or recurring pattern. Sometimes ADHD is central to what someone wants to talk about. Other times, it's simply one part of a much bigger picture. Counselling can focus on what is happening in your life now and what you would like to better understand or approach differently.
ADHD, Relationships and Families
ADHD can sometimes become part of relationship and family dynamics, particularly when two people experience or interpret the same situation very differently. Couples and families can find themselves repeating arguments around responsibilities, communication, parenting, organization or expectations. Over time, the original issue can become less important than the pattern that has developed around it. Counselling provides space to slow those patterns down, understand what is happening for the people involved and explore different ways of approaching the relationship. The goal isn't to identify one person as the problem or to attribute every relationship difficulty to ADHD.
ADHD, Relationships and Families
ADHD can sometimes become part of relationship and family dynamics, particularly when two people experience or interpret the same situation very differently. Couples and families can find themselves repeating arguments around responsibilities, communication, parenting, organization or expectations. Over time, the original issue can become less important than the pattern that has developed around it. Counselling provides space to slow those patterns down, understand what is happening for the people involved and explore different ways of approaching the relationship. The goal isn't to identify one person as the problem or to attribute every relationship difficulty to ADHD.
ADHD Counselling for Teens
The teenage years can already involve a lot of change. Expectations at school increase, friendships and relationships become more complicated, independence grows and questions about what comes next start becoming more important.
For teens with ADHD or other neurodivergent experiences, some of these demands can bring additional challenges.
Counselling gives teens a place to talk openly about what’s happening in their lives without assuming that every difficulty is because of ADHD.
Depending on the teen, our conversations might include school pressures, organization, friendships, family relationships, emotional regulation, self-esteem, independence or the transition toward adulthood.
My years working with young people in educational and specialized settings give me an understanding of the environments teens navigate every day. Just as importantly, I believe teens need to feel that counselling is a place where they can be heard and understood as an individual, not simply managed as a set of behaviours or symptoms.
Supporting Children and Parents
When a child is having a difficult time, the effects often reach beyond the child. Parents may be trying to understand behaviour, respond to intense emotions, navigate concerns at school or find ways to reduce recurring conflict at home.
Children themselves may be dealing with experiences they don’t yet know how to explain. My background working with children in educational, behavioural-support and counselling settings informs the way I work with children and their parents.
The goal isn’t to fit a child into a predetermined idea of what ADHD looks like. It’s to understand the individual child, what’s happening around them and where support may be helpful.
ADHD in Adulthood
ADHD-related challenges don’t necessarily end when school does.
Adults may come to counselling because they’re struggling with attention, organization, competing responsibilities, emotional regulation or relationships. Others may already understand their ADHD well but want support with a particular relationship, life transition or recurring pattern.
Sometimes ADHD is central to what someone wants to talk about. Other times, it’s simply one part of a much bigger picture.
Counselling can focus on what is happening in your life now and what you would like to better understand or approach differently.
ADHD, Relationships and Families
ADHD can sometimes become part of relationship and family dynamics, particularly when two people experience or interpret the same situation very differently.
Couples and families can find themselves repeating arguments around responsibilities, communication, parenting, organization or expectations. Over time, the original issue can become less important than the pattern that has developed around it.
Counselling provides space to slow those patterns down, understand what is happening for the people involved and explore different ways of approaching the relationship.
The goal isn’t to identify one person as the problem or to attribute every relationship difficulty to ADHD.
In-Person and Virtual Counselling
Flexible counselling options to suit your circumstances.
In-person counselling is available in Calgary.
Virtual counselling is available throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
appropriate and available.
ADHD Counselling and ADHD Assessment
ADHD counselling and ADHD assessment are different services.
I provide counselling for people with ADHD, neurodivergent individuals and people who are experiencing concerns that may relate to ADHD. I do not conduct ADHD assessments, provide diagnoses or make medication recommendations.
You don’t need to have a formal ADHD diagnosis to come to counselling.
If you’re experiencing challenges involving attention, organization, emotional regulation, relationships, school, parenting or other parts of everyday life, we can talk about what’s happening and what you would like support with.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. I provide counselling but do not conduct ADHD assessments, provide diagnoses or make medication recommendations.
Yes. I work with teens and have extensive professional experience working with children and adolescents, including 16 years in education before becoming a counsellor.
Yes. I work with adults as well as teens, children, couples and families. What brings an adult to counselling can be very different from what brings a child or teenager, so the focus is based on the individual rather than their age or diagnosis.
Yes. Parents and family members can be part of counselling when parenting concerns, family relationships or recurring patterns at home are part of what you would like support with.
Yes. I offer in-person counselling appointments in Calgary.
Yes. I offer virtual counselling throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
No. You don't need a formal ADHD diagnosis to talk with me about concerns involving attention, organization, emotional regulation or other challenges that may be affecting your everyday life.
Wondering If We Might Be a Good Fit?
Finding the right counsellor is personal.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can talk briefly about what brings you to counselling, you can ask any questions you have and we can determine whether working together feels like the right next step.
Michelle McMillan
CCC, MACP
Therapy & Wellness
Virtual. Accessible. Confidential.
Virtual and in-person counselling for adults, couples, children, teens and families. Serving Calgary and clients across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.