Let’s Talk About ADHD Therapy in Ireland: Moving Beyond the Diagnosis

[Important Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]

If you are searching for information on ADHD therapy in Ireland, it is likely you are at a pivotal moment in your life. Perhaps you have just received an adult ADHD diagnosis after years of wondering why certain things felt harder for you than for others. Or perhaps you are currently on a waiting list for an assessment in Dublin, Cork, or Galway, and are researching what support looks like on the other side.

Receiving a diagnosis as an adult is often described as a rollercoaster of relief and grief. The relief comes from finally having a name for your experience. The grief comes from mourning the years spent struggling without support.

A diagnosis is a vital first step, but it is not the destination. Therapy specifically tailored for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is where the real work of understanding, healing, and growing begins.

Therapy for neurodivergent adults is not about “fixing” you. It is about providing a supportive space to understand how your unique brain works and developing strategies to thrive in a neurotypical world.

Here is a look at the crucial areas you can explore in ADHD-focused therapy.

1. The Practical: Building Your Executive Function ScaffoldingWorking Memory Improvement: A Summary of Meta-Study Evidence

ADHD is largely a disorder of executive function—the brain’s management system responsible for planning, prioritizing, starting tasks, time management, and working memory.

For many adults in Ireland seeking ADHD therapy, the immediate goal is to get a handle on the chaos of daily life. A therapist trained in ADHD modalities (such as adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or ADHD coaching techniques) can help you move from knowing what to do to actually doing it.

Therapy can provide a non-judgmental space to develop “scaffolding” for your life, including:

Realistic Planning: Moving away from idealistic to-do lists and learning how your brain actually perceives time and effort.
Task Initiation Strategies: Finding “hacks” to overcome the wall of procrastination and paralysis that often precedes starting a boring or overwhelming task.
Emotional Regulation: Learning practical tools to pause before reacting impulsively in stressful situations.

2. The Emotional Core: Healing from Criticism and Shame

If you grew up with undiagnosed ADHD, you likely received a lifetime of negative feedback. You may have been told you were lazy, careless, disruptive, or “not living up to your potential.”

Over decades, this external criticism often becomes an internal monologue. This is sometimes called “internalized ableism”—believing the negative stereotypes about your own neurodivergence.

Effective ADHD therapy provides a compassionate environment to unpack this baggage. It involves:

Processing Past Wounds: Grief work related to past failures, lost opportunities, or damaged relationships caused by untreated ADHD.
Separating You from Symptoms: Understanding that forgetting an appointment or struggling to focus is a symptom of a neurodevelopmental condition, not a moral failing or a character flaw.
Self-Compassion: Replacing the harsh inner critic with a voice of understanding and patience.

3. Tackling Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

While not yet an official medical diagnosis in the DSM-5, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is an incredibly common and debilitating experience for many people with ADHD.

RSD is an extreme emotional sensitivity to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or failure. A minor critique from a boss or a slightly delayed text from a friend can trigger an intense, painful emotional spiral that feels physically unbearable.

Therapy for RSD is vital. It helps clients recognize the physical signs of an RSD spiral and develop “circuit breakers” to self-soothe before the emotion becomes overwhelming. It transforms a terrifying, unseen force into something manageable.

4. Navigating Relationships and the “Double Empathy Problem”

ADHD can significantly impact interpersonal relationships. You might struggle with interrupting others, “zoning out” during conversations, or emotional volatility that confuses partners or friends.

In therapy, we often explore these dynamics through the lens of neurodiversity, including concepts like the “Double Empathy Problem.”

The Double Empathy Problem suggests that communication breakdowns aren’t just the fault of the neurodivergent person. Rather, it is a two-way mismatch between neurodivergent and neurotypical communication styles. Therapy can help you understand your own communication patterns, advocate for your needs in relationships, and translate between neurotypes to reduce friction with loved ones.

5. Reevaluating Life Through the ADHD Lens

An adult diagnosis changes everything. You have to re-watch the “movie” of your entire life with this new crucial piece of information.

Therapy offers a space for this massive existential undertaking. You might use therapy time to:

Reframe Your Identity: Exploring who you are outside of the struggle.
Discovering Strengths: Moving away from a “deficit model” and identifying the unique strengths often associated with the ADHD brain, such as creativity, hyperfocus, resilience, and out-of-the-box problem-solving.
Career alignment: Discussing whether your current job environment is hostile or supportive to your neurotype and exploring adjustments.

Finding the Right ADHD Therapist in Ireland

If you are looking for ADHD therapy in Ireland, it is crucial to find a professional who is neurodivergent-affirming.

Unfortunately, many general therapists are not trained in the specifics of adult ADHD and may inadvertently reinforce shame by focusing solely on behavioral “failures” rather than the underlying neurology.

When searching for a therapist—whether through directories like Psychology Today Ireland, or via accrediting bodies like the IACP (Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or the PSI (Psychological Society of Ireland)—ask prospective therapists about their experience with adult ADHD.

Ask them: Do you work from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective? Do you have experience helping clients with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria?

The journey after an ADHD diagnosis can be challenging, but you do not have to walk it alone. Effective therapy can help you lay down the heavy burden of shame and pick up the tools you need to build a life that works with your brain, not against it.

About the Author

Rebecca Bourke, BSc (Hons), MIACP

Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist | ADHD Specialist

Rebecca Bourke is an accredited member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) (M16721) specializing in neurodiversity-affirming therapy for adults. Originally from Cork, Rebecca provides expert therapeutic support to clients across Dublin and Kildare, balancing a deep understanding of psychological theory with a practical, lived-experience approach to ADHD.

Since beginning their clinical journey in 2020 and establishing a private practice in 2023, Rebecca has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate the complexities of an ADHD diagnosis. Her work focuses on dismantling internalized ableism, managing Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and developing functional “scaffolding” for executive dysfunction.

Core Qualifications & Expertise

To ensure the highest standard of care and clinical authority, Rebecca maintains an extensive portfolio of specialized training:

Academic Foundations: Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Post-Graduate Certificate in ADHD, both from Middlesex University.
Neurodiversity Specialist Training: Extensive certifications in Working with Adult Autistic Clients (Thriving Autistic), Understanding Autism & ADHD (University of Derby), and advanced Psychology modules through UNED.
Clinical Modalities: Trained in Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) for OCD, trauma-informed care (PCI), and relational depth within Person-Centred and Existential therapy (under Mick Cooper).
Crisis & Advocacy: Fully trained in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills) and Transgender Awareness (TENI), ensuring a safe, inclusive, and intersectional therapeutic space.

Rebecca is committed to the “Double Empathy” model of communication, ensuring that neurodivergent clients feel seen, heard, and understood—not just “managed.” Whether practicing in the heart of Dublin or the quiet of Kildare, their mission remains the same: helping adults move from a place of self-criticism to one of self-advocacy.