ADHD Therapy in Ottawa and Gatineau
Understanding ADHD and psychotherapy
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It involves patterns of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity that persist over time and interfere with functioning in more than one setting, for example at school, at work, at home or in relationships.
These patterns usually appear during childhood and can continue into adulthood. Some people are only diagnosed as adults.
Psychotherapy can help you understand how ADHD affects your daily life and build ways of responding to it: organization, relationships, self-esteem, or the difficulties that come with it.
Reviewed by the Belleisle Clinics clinical team. Last updated: 29 September 2026.
ADHD can show up in different ways. Signs that have been present since childhood may include:
- difficulty holding attention on a task or a conversation;
- forgetting things unusually often, or a strong tendency to lose personal belongings;
- difficulty getting organized, planning or managing time;
- a tendency to put off tasks that require sustained effort;
- restlessness, or difficulty staying seated;
- a tendency to interrupt others, or to act before thinking.
These difficulties are common, however, and they can have several causes: an overloaded schedule, anxiety, low mood, lack of sleep, stress or a learning disorder. On their own, they are not enough to conclude that a person has ADHD.
Therapy or assessment: where to start
If what you are looking for first is to find out whether your difficulties, or your child’s, are related to ADHD, that is a question for an assessment. Psychologists and physicians are among the professionals who assess ADHD.
In the Belleisle network, ADHD assessments are carried out by psychologists and neuropsychologists at the Gatineau and Ottawa offices. They usually take place in person. Depending on the situation and on the professional, some parts of an assessment can sometimes be done remotely. To learn more, see our page on ADHD assessment.
A diagnosis is not required to start psychotherapy. The work can begin from the difficulties you notice day to day. Therapy can also follow an assessment, to help put certain recommendations into practice.
What therapy can work on
Your goals depend on your situation and on what brings you in. The work may involve:
- organization, planning and time management;
- difficulty starting or finishing certain tasks;
- self-esteem and the discouragement that can follow repeated difficulties;
- relationships with a partner, family members or colleagues;
- managing certain emotions or reactions;
- associated difficulties, such as anxiety or low mood;
- adjusting to a recent diagnosis.
In adults
In adults, a meta-analysis carried out for the Canadian ADHD guidelines (CADDRA) supports the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with a moderate effect on core symptoms in the studies analysed.
Depending on needs, the work may focus on concrete strategies for organization and time management, on some of the thoughts that go with those difficulties, or on how to live with ADHD at work, in your studies and in your relationships.
In children and adolescents
With children, parents often play an important role. In the same meta-analysis, interventions with the parents of school-age children showed effects on symptoms, mainly as rated by the parents. There was not enough data to support a recommendation for adolescents.
Depending on age and circumstances, the work may include sessions with the young person, sessions with the parents, or a combination of both. How much parents take part varies with the young person’s age, their needs, consent, and the mandate agreed for the service.
To learn more, see our page on therapy for children and teens.
ADHD, therapy and medication
Depending on age, the clinical picture and the goals, medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two may be considered.
The decision about medication belongs to a professional authorized to prescribe, such as a physician. With the person’s consent, the treating professional can collaborate with the prescriber.
What a first session looks like
A first session is mainly about understanding what brings you in and how the difficulties show up in your life. It is not a diagnostic assessment of ADHD.
The professional may ask about your current difficulties, their history, their impact, and the strategies you already use. If you have already had an assessment, you can share its conclusions if you wish.
The session can also begin the therapeutic work and open a discussion about a first direction.
Who you will work with
Someone searching for a “psychologist for ADHD” is usually looking for a professional who knows these difficulties well. A professional title and the authorization to practise psychotherapy are not the same thing.
The professionals in the Belleisle network who provide ADHD therapy are independent and regulated: each belongs to a professional order or college in the province where they practise and works within their own areas of competence. In Ontario, several regulated professions may provide psychotherapy within their scope of practice; at Belleisle you are most likely to work with a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) or a Psychologist (CPBAO).
In Quebec, the practice of psychotherapy is reserved. Psychologists, physicians and couple and family therapists practise it without a separate psychotherapist permit; members of certain other professional orders may practise it while holding the psychotherapist’s permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec.
For more on professional titles and what is worth checking, see our pages on psychotherapy and Psychologist vs. Psychotherapist in Ontario.
ADHD therapy online in Ottawa and Gatineau
Psychotherapy for people with ADHD can also take place online, in Quebec as well as in Ontario.
The online format can reduce travel and some scheduling constraints. It does need a space that is private and quiet enough for a confidential conversation, and it does not suit every situation.
For remote services, authorization requirements can vary depending on the jurisdictions involved and on where the client and the professional are located during the session. The professional must make sure they comply with the rules that apply to their situation.
You may also want to read our pages on online therapy in Ottawa and, in French, psychothérapie à Gatineau.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to start therapy?
No. Therapy can begin from the difficulties you notice, even without a prior diagnosis. If you want to know whether those difficulties are related to ADHD, an assessment is the appropriate route.
Does therapy replace medication?
Not necessarily. Depending on age, the clinical picture and the goals, medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two may be considered. The decision about medication belongs to a professional authorized to prescribe.
Can an adult start therapy for ADHD?
Yes. Some people come in after a diagnosis received in adulthood, others because of difficulties that have been present for a long time.
Can an ADHD assessment be done online?
ADHD assessments usually take place in person, at our Gatineau and Ottawa offices. Depending on the situation and on the professional, some parts can sometimes be done remotely. Therapy, on the other hand, can take place online.
How long does therapy last?
It varies from one person to another, depending on the nature of the difficulties, their impact and the goals involved. After a few initial assessment sessions, the professional is often able to offer a first estimate and a direction for the work, which can be adjusted as therapy goes on.
Getting started
You can send a request to Belleisle, saying briefly what brings you in, the age of the person concerned, your province, your language preference and your availability.
Depending on needs and availability, the network aims to direct you to a professional whose area of practice matches your request.
In a crisis
The services described on this page are not a substitute for crisis or emergency services.
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, you can call or text 9-8-8 anywhere in Canada. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
In Quebec, you can also call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553) or dial 811, option 2, for Info-Social.
Reference
Tourjman, V., Louis-Nascan, G., Ahmed, G., et al. (2022). Psychosocial Interventions for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the CADDRA Guidelines Work Group. Brain Sciences, 12(8), 1023.
The content on this page is provided for information only. It is not individualized professional advice, does not create a therapeutic relationship, and does not replace a consultation with a qualified health professional.