Questions? Call or text anytime πŸ“ž 818-446-9627
🧠ADHD & Parenting

Motherhood didn't give you ADHD β€” it just took away every coping system you had.

"I've always been scattered, but motherhood broke every system I had. I can't keep up with anything."
βœ“See a specialist this weekβœ“PMH-C Certified Therapistsβœ“Telehealth Β· see anyone from home

No commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.

You might benefit from therapy if…

  • βœ“You've always been scattered, and motherhood has made it unmanageable
  • βœ“You're overwhelmed by decisions, transitions, and the constant context-switching of parenting
  • βœ“You've been treated for anxiety or depression and it hasn't fully resolved
  • βœ“Your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and you're recognizing yourself in their evaluation
  • βœ“You're forgetting appointments, losing things, missing deadlines in ways that scare you
  • βœ“You're emotionally dysregulated in ways that don't feel like classic depression or anxiety
Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Psychologist & Founder

From our founder

So many of the high-functioning women I see for postpartum anxiety turn out, on closer look, to have ADHD that motherhood finally surfaced. Once we recognize it and treat it, the picture changes dramatically. I tell my clients that you didn't fail at motherhood. The systems you used your whole life just couldn't survive sleep deprivation, and that's information, not a verdict.

What therapy looks like

Therapy for ADHD in motherhood blends ADHD-specific approaches with perinatal-aware practice. Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, and several have specific knowledge about adult ADHD, particularly in women. The work is usually practical and structured, because abstract talk therapy alone often doesn't move ADHD enough on its own. Early sessions typically look at how ADHD is showing up specifically in your life, what coping you've been using, and what's broken since becoming a mother. From there the work might include external structures (calendars, systems, routines designed for an ADHD brain), emotional regulation work, addressing the shame and self-criticism that almost every woman with ADHD carries, and coordinating with a prescriber if medication is part of the plan. Most clients see meaningful change in 3 to 6 months. For many, that includes a formal evaluation, which we can help you coordinate. Improvement is often dramatic when the right combination is in place.

Our ADHD & Parenting specialists

Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification β€” the gold standard in perinatal mental health.

Real clients. Real relief.

What our clients say about their experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œ"Nobody told me that having a baby could make ADHD so much worse. The constant context-switching, the sleep deprivation, the demands from every direction at once. My brain wasn't built for this without support. My therapist helped me stop blaming myself and start building in accommodations that actually worked for how I think."”

β€” ADHD mom of 2

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œ"I got diagnosed with ADHD when my daughter was six months old. Suddenly my whole life made sense: the forgotten appointments, the emotional dysregulation, the crushing executive dysfunction in early motherhood. My therapist helped me grieve the years I'd spent thinking I was just bad at being a person, and helped me actually get the support I'd needed all along."”

β€” late-diagnosed ADHD mom

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œ"I'd managed my ADHD pretty well for most of my adult life with systems and routines. A newborn destroyed every system I had. The overwhelm was on a completely different level. My therapist helped me understand that ADHD in new parenthood isn't the same as ADHD in normal life, and helped me figure out what support actually looked like in this season."”

β€” ADHD mom

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

β€œI had been treated for anxiety for years. Postpartum it got worse and I couldn't function. My therapist asked me a few questions and gently suggested an ADHD evaluation. The diagnosis changed everything. I am medicated, structured, and a much better mother and version of myself.”

β€” Charlotte, ADHD diagnosed at 34

Expert care.
Covered by insurance.

We're in-network with major plans in 10 states so you can receive care without financial stress.

AZCAFLGALAMTNYSCTXWA

Most clients pay less than $20 per session.

We verify your benefits before your first session β€” no surprises on cost.

Accepted Insurance Networks

Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
Cigna
Anthem
+9 more

Ready to start ADHD & Parenting therapy? Here’s how it works.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes. We handle insurance β€” you just show up.

  1. 1

    Book your free call

    A quick 15-minute chat to hear what you're going through, answer your questions, and make sure we're a great fit for your needs. No cost, no commitment.

  2. 2

    Get matched

    We'll pair you with the right specialist for your specific situation. We'll also check your insurance, so you know your exact cost per session before moving forward.

  3. 3

    Start your first session

    Meet your therapist from the comfort of home. No commute, no waiting rooms, no judgment. Most clients notice a real difference within just 2 to 3 sessions.

No commitment Β· Most insurance accepted Β· Available this week

Common questions

  • Overwhelm in motherhood is normal. ADHD adds a specific, lifelong pattern of executive function difficulties that predates the baby. If you can look back at your life and see the same patterns of distractibility, forgetfulness, and emotional dysregulation showing up in school, work, and relationships, ADHD is worth evaluating. Your therapist can help you decide whether a formal evaluation makes sense.
  • It doesn't newly develop, but it can become visible for the first time. Many women have compensated successfully their whole lives until motherhood removed the conditions that allowed those workarounds. That's the most common pattern of late female diagnosis.
  • Some ADHD medications are used in pregnancy and breastfeeding under medical supervision. The decision involves weighing the impact of untreated ADHD against the medication. A reproductive psychiatrist or a perinatal-trained prescriber is the right person to walk you through it. Your therapist can help coordinate.
  • ADHD therapy is more structured, more practical, and focuses more on external systems and executive function than general talk therapy. It also addresses the emotional impact (shame, frustration, comparison) that decades of undiagnosed ADHD usually leave behind. A therapist who knows ADHD specifically will work very differently from one who doesn't.
  • PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) is awarded by Postpartum Support International (PSI) to clinicians who have completed advanced training in perinatal mental health β€” covering postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and related conditions. It represents the gold standard of specialization in this field.
  • If you're struggling β€” with your mood, your thoughts, your relationship, or just how you're coping β€” that's enough of a reason to talk to someone. You don't need a diagnosis. A free consultation is a low-commitment first step.

From the Phoenix Health resource center

Articles and guides about adhd & parenting

ADHD Medication During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Making the Decision

Many people with ADHD stop their medication during pregnancy without a real informed conversation about the tradeoffs. That conversation deserves to happen β€” with your provider, not in a vacuum.

Read article β†’

Your ADHD Symptoms Getting Worse After Having a Baby Isn't a Coincidence

If your ADHD felt manageable before and now feels like it's spinning out of control, there are specific reasons for that. This isn't you failing at something you should be able to do.

Read article β†’

How to Talk to Your Partner About Parenting With ADHD

Parenting with ADHD creates patterns that are confusing to partners who don't share the diagnosis β€” the inconsistency, the emotional reactivity, the things that fall through. Explaining what's actually happening, and what actually helps, changes the dynamic from frustration to collaboration.

Read article β†’

Trusted by leading voices in parenting and mental health

OBs, doulas, and pediatricians refer their patients to us because we specialize in maternal mental health.

  • Parents.com
  • Postpartum Support International
  • Healthline
  • HuffPost
  • Fatherly
  • Choosing Therapy

The sooner you start,
the sooner you'll
feel like yourself again.

You've been surviving. It's time to start healing.

No commitment Β· Covered by insurance Β· Available this week

Learning resources

🧠Read our ADHD & Parenting guides β†’

Often goes alongside

πŸ’­Postpartum AnxietyπŸ”₯Parental Burnout🌧Postpartum Depression