Where Science Meets Your Story: A New Approach to Adult ADHD
Beyond medication: Discover how addressing root causes can transform your ADHD experience.
Why Our Approach is Different
Living with ADHD isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong”—it’s about understanding and harnessing your brain’s unique wiring. Many ADHD traits that create challenges in traditional environments can become extraordinary strengths when properly supported: hyperfocus that drives innovation, quick-thinking that sparks creativity, and sensitivity that enhances empathy and connection.
Our approach honors your neurodiversity while providing practical support. We recognize that ADHD minds often struggle not because they’re broken, but because they’re operating in environments designed for neurotypical brains. By combining cutting-edge science with deep understanding of neurodivergent thinking patterns, we help you:
- Uncover and optimize your biological foundations—from gut health to brain chemistry
- Create environments that match your natural energy patterns and thinking style
- Transform supposed limitations into unique advantages
- Build systems that work with your brain’s natural tendencies, not against them
- Develop confidence in your distinct way of processing the world
Thriving with ADHD: Harnessing Strengths Beyond Treatment
Traditional ADHD treatment often stops at medication and basic coping strategies, trying to force square pegs into round holes. Our comprehensive approach helps you understand, support, and celebrate your unique neural wiring while creating the conditions for genuine thriving. Whether you’re an entrepreneur whose ADHD fuels innovation, an artist whose sensitivity enhances creativity, or a professional seeking to channel your intensity more effectively, we help you build on your natural strengths while managing challenges.
Beyond Scattered: Understanding Adult ADHD
That constant mental chatter. The endless struggle to start—or finish—important tasks. The feeling that you’re always catching up, never quite where you should be. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing Adult ADHD, and you’re not alone. While many think of ADHD as a childhood condition, millions of adults navigate its challenges daily, often undiagnosed and unsupported.
Adult ADHD isn’t simply about difficulty focusing—it’s a complex pattern of brain function that affects everything from motivation and time management to emotional regulation and relationships. ADHD in adulthood often looks different from childhood presentations, with challenges showing up in several key areas:
- Racing thoughts that won’t quiet
- Overwhelming mental and physical restlessness
- Difficulty relaxing even when tired
- Constant need to be in motion
- Intense emotions and emotional dysregulation
- Starting tasks feels like pushing through quicksand
- Projects left unfinished
- Important details often overlooked
- Time seems to slip away inexplicably
- Prioritizing becomes overwhelming
- Organization remains elusive despite systems
- Difficulty maintaining relationships and commitments
- Intense feelings of underachievement despite high capabilities
- Struggles with consistent follow-through
- Mental hyperactivity affecting daily tasks
Our Diagnostic Approach to Adult ADHD
While traditional diagnosis focuses primarily on behavior patterns, our functional medicine approach investigates the complete picture of your cognitive function and overall health.
Our Comprehensive Assessment Includes:
- Detailed diagnostic interview
- Advanced nutrient testing
- Lab Work and functional medicine testing when indicated
- Sleep and lifestyle pattern assessment
- Environmental factor screening
Dr. Lewis co-authored three workbooks about ADHD
Beyond Medication: Our Comprehensive Approach
While traditional approaches often begin and end with medication, our functional psychiatry approach creates personalized solutions that address both symptoms and root causes. Through advanced testing and personalized protocols, we investigate and treat the biological foundations affecting your attention and focus.
Our Investigation Includes
- Stress hormone patterns
- Inflammation markers affecting cognition
- Cellular energy production
- Glucose regulation and brain fuel
- Mitochondrial health assessment
- Food sensitivity patterns
- Toxic burden evaluation
- Sleep-wake cycle analysis
- Gut-brain connection
- Microbiome diversity
- Nutrient absorption capacity
Non-Medication Treatments for ADHD
Natural ADHD treatment for adults starts with understanding that attention challenges often signal deeper imbalances. Our comprehensive approach includes:
- Functional psychiatry assessments
- Psychotherapy
- Lifestyle strategies
- Stress management techniques
- Sleep optimization protocols
- Nutrition and exercise guidance
- Support in managing screen and technology use
- Targeted nutrient therapy based on testing
- Natural ADHD supplements backed by research
- Gut-brain optimization protocols
- Inflammation reduction strategies
- Hormone balance support
Instead of fighting how your brain works, mindfulness helps you work with it. Dr. Lewis coauthored a practical workbook on mindfulness for ADHD, offering easy-to-use strategies and tips tailored for better focus and calm.
Supporting ADHD with supplements requires a thoughtful, personalized approach. Using advanced testing, we identify the exact nutrients—like omega-3s, amino acids, and essential vitamins and minerals—that best support your brain and cognitive function. No guesswork, just targeted solutions.
ADHD Coaching for Adults: Building Sustainable Success
Coaching goes beyond basic strategies to create lasting change:
- Custom organization systems that match your brain
- Time management techniques that actually work
- Energy optimization strategies
- Productivity approaches for the ADHD mind
- Relationship and communication tools
Our Online ADHD Program
Our online ADHD treatment goes beyond video calls. It’s a complete care program that includes advanced testing, personalized supplement plans, and ongoing support—all from the comfort of home. You’ll get the same in-depth functional medicine care as in-person visits, with added benefit of flexible scheduling to fit a busy life.
Transforming ADHD: Real Stories of Change
Every ADHD journey is unique, but patterns of success emerge when we address both biological foundations and life circumstances. Consider Sarah, an executive who struggled with task completion despite years on medication—by combining targeted nutrient therapy with environmental changes and mindfulness practices, she created a workflow that matched her brain’s natural rhythms. Or Michael, whose attention challenges stemmed from a complex interplay of sleep issues, screen addiction, and unmet emotional needs—through comprehensive care that addressed both body and mind, he discovered how to improve his focus and productivity.
Lasting change comes from understanding ADHD as both a biological and human experience: Emma found clarity through addressing inflammation and hormone balance, redesigning her work environment, and healing old patterns of shame.
ADHD isn’t just something to manage—it’s a different way of processing the world that, when properly supported, can become a source of unique strengths and capabilities.
Finding Your Optimal Balance: A Thoughtful Approach to ADHD Medication
In the world of ADHD treatment, medication doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice. While stimulants and non-stimulants can be powerful tools, they work best as part of a comprehensive approach that considers your whole health picture and personal preferences.
Our Balanced Medication Philosophy
We believe in judicious use of medications—using them precisely when and how they’re most beneficial. This might mean:
- Using medications strategically for specific tasks or times
- Combining lower medication doses with targeted supplements
- Integrating stress-reducing medications like Intuniv (guanfacine) that can help both attention and emotional regulation
- Creating medication-free days when appropriate
- Adjusting medication approaches as other supports take hold
Here’s how we think about different medication options and their integration with other therapies:
- Short-Acting Options (4-6 hours)
- Helpful for targeted coverage during specific tasks
- Allows for more flexibility in timing
- Can be useful for people who need coverage only during work hours
- Long-Acting Options (8-12 hours)
- Provides consistent coverage throughout the day
- Often helpful for emotional regulation as well as attention
- Can be easier to remember with once-daily dosing
- Intuniv (guanfacine)
- Helps with both attention and emotional regulation
- Particularly useful for managing stress response
- Can be combined with stimulants when needed
- Strattera (atomoxetine)
- Works 24/7 once built up in your system
- Often helpful for mood stability alongside attention
- Can be particularly useful for anxiety alongside ADHD
We often find that thoughtful combinations work better than single medications alone:
- Combining long-acting and short-acting stimulants for customized coverage
- Using Intuniv alongside stimulants to reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation
- Adding targeted supplements to enhance medication effectiveness
- Integrating stress-reduction techniques to improve medication response
Medication is just one tool in our comprehensive approach. The goal is to find the minimum effective dose that, when combined with other strategies, helps you thrive.
Your treatment plan might include a strategic blend of:
- Carefully selected medications (stimulant or non-stimulant)
- Targeted supplement protocols
- Stress management techniques
- Lifestyle optimization
- Environmental modifications
For example, some patients find they need lower medication doses when combining them with the right supplements and stress-reduction techniques. Others discover that medications work better when taken alongside specific nutrients or after improving sleep quality. The key is finding the right balance for your unique system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Your ADHD Treatment Approach Different?
While conventional ADHD care often starts and ends with medication, our approach recognizes that attention challenges stem from multiple sources. We combine the best of functional medicine—investigating root causes like nutrient status, inflammation, and gut health—with proven traditional treatments and psychological support. Think of it as having a complete toolkit: we might use medications when helpful, while also optimizing your biology, environment, and daily routines to support your brain’s natural functioning.
How Do You Decide If Medication Is Necessary?
We approach medication decisions thoughtfully and individually, recognizing that stimulants can be valuable tools when used judiciously. Rather than automatically prescribing, we first investigate factors that might be amplifying ADHD symptoms—from sleep quality and nutrient deficiencies to hormone balance and gut health. If medication becomes part of your treatment plan, we carefully monitor its effectiveness while supporting your overall health with complementary approaches. Many patients find they need lower doses or no medication at all once underlying imbalances are addressed.
How Does Functional Medicine Work Alongside Traditional ADHD Treatments?
Our integrated approach combines functional medicine insights with evidence-based conventional treatments. For example, while working with a therapist on organizational strategies or emotional regulation, we might simultaneously optimize your brain’s biochemistry through targeted nutrition and supplement protocols. This might include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy paired with nutrient optimization
- ADHD coaching combined with stress response support
- Mindfulness training alongside inflammation reduction
- Time management tools with circadian rhythm optimization
What Role Do Lifestyle, Environment, and Psychological Factors Play?
ADHD isn’t just about brain chemistry—it’s about how you interact with your world. We help you create an environment and lifestyle that works with your brain, not against it. This includes:
- Designing workspaces that support focus
- Creating routines that match your natural energy patterns
- Addressing emotional patterns and past experiences
- Building relationships that support your growth
- Developing stress management techniques
- Optimizing sleep, exercise, and nutrition
Is ADHD Really a ``Disorder``, or Just a Different Way of Thinking?
ADHD is better understood as a variation in how the brain processes information and manages energy—what many now recognize as neurodivergence. While ADHD can present challenges in environments designed for neurotypical brains, it also brings unique strengths: innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, the ability to hyperfocus on engaging tasks, and often, exceptional pattern recognition. Our goal isn’t to “fix” your ADHD but to help you thrive with it, leveraging its advantages while managing its challenges.
What Are the Hidden Strengths of the ADHD Brain?
Many of our most successful patients discover that their ADHD traits, when properly supported, become professional and personal assets. Common ADHD strengths include:
- Exceptional creativity and out-of-the-box thinking
- Ability to make unique connections others might miss
- High energy and enthusiasm for engaging projects
- Strong empathy and emotional sensitivity
- Quick thinking and spontaneous problem-solving
- Ability to hyperfocus on passionate interests
How Can I Reframe My ADHD Experience in a More Positive Way?
Understanding ADHD through the lens of neurodiversity helps many adults shift from shame to empowerment. Rather than seeing ADHD as something “wrong” with you, we help you understand it as a different operating system that needs the right environment and support to function optimally. Many of our patients discover that their previous struggles weren’t personal failings but simply the result of trying to fit their unique brain into a one-size-fits-all world. Through our program, you’ll learn to design a life that works with your natural tendencies rather than against them.
How Does Mindfulness Work Differently for the ADHD Brain?
Traditional mindfulness practices often feel impossible for people with ADHD—sitting still and “clearing your mind” can seem like torture. Our approach adapts mindfulness specifically for the ADHD brain, incorporating movement, shorter durations, and engaging sensory experiences. We teach dynamic mindfulness techniques that work with your natural energy patterns, helping you develop better attention control without fighting against your brain’s natural tendencies. Many of our patients discover that these ADHD-friendly mindfulness practices not only improve focus but also reduce anxiety and enhance emotional regulation.
What Daily Habits Actually Make a Difference with ADHD?
Living well with ADHD isn’t about forcing yourself into rigid routines—it’s about creating a lifestyle that supports your brain’s unique needs. Our approach helps you develop sustainable habits around:
- Sleep optimization that works with your natural rhythms
- Exercise that enhances focus without feeling like a chore
- Nutrition timing that stabilizes energy and attention
- Environment design that reduces cognitive load
- Technology use that supports rather than scatters attention
- Social connections that energize rather than drain you
What’s the First Step in Working with Your Clinic?
Your journey begins with a comprehensive intake appointment where we listen to your story and understand your unique challenges and goals. From there, we create a personalized assessment plan that might include advanced testing, lifestyle evaluation, and detailed history-taking. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions—whether you choose our Clinical Track (including medical care) or our Coaching Track, we’ll create a precise roadmap for your specific needs. Every journey starts with that first conversation where we learn about your unique ADHD experience and share how we can help transform it.
Your well-being is our priority.
You’re not alone in supporting your mental health. At Dr. Lewis’s clinic, we’re here to work with you, offering the guidance and resources to help you thrive.