MHAIRE BYARS PSYCHOLOGY
Psychotherapy and ADHD assessment clinic
Welcome! There are many reasons why someone might be seeking the services of a Psychologist. Most often, people are looking for help with a mental health condition, such as depression, or anxiety. Or they might be looking for support and guidance through a difficult time in their lives. Many people are in need of diagnostic services for ADHD. Hopefully this website can help you decide if I might be a good fit for you.
Welcome
MY BACKGROUND:
I am a Registered Psychologist with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and over thirty years of clinical experience. I started my career in Health Care, in 1991, primarily in the area of outpatient mental health. I left health care in 2000 to work part-time in a local private practice, until both my children were attending primary school full-time. For the next nine years I was an Assistant Professor at the Memorial University Counselling Centre, on a contractual basis. In 2015, I started my own private practice, MHAIRE BYARS PSCYHOLOGY.
AREAS OF CLINICAL INTEREST:
Although my early work in Health Care, and at the University, dictated that I become somewhat of a generalist, my primary clinical interest over much of my career has been in the area of anxiety disorders, and obsessive -compulsive disorder. However, during my time at the University Counselling Centre, I developed a particular interest in Attention- Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.). This interest grew as my private practice developed, and I found that a significant percentage of my practice was dedicated to assessing and treating this neurodevelopmental condition. I have done extensive continuing education in the area of ADHD over the last twelve years, and continue to keep abreast of the research.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH:
My training, both at Queens University and Memorial University, was in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, which is still my foundational approach to most mental health issues. However, over the last thirty years, I have integrated other theoretical approaches into my work. I draw on principles and techniques of other evidence-based treatments, such as Acceptance and Commitment therapy, somatic therapies , and mindfulness -based therapies to augment and enhance my treatment plans. A collaborative and flexible approach, in a compassionate, non-judgemental environment is the foundation for helping clients to feel safe and to allow them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to reach their therapeutic goals.
After taking some time off to flirt with retirement, I have resumed private practice, but with a different model of service delivery. In addition to a limited general psychotherapy practice, I am now offering an ADHD assessment clinic, with dedicated time slots each week specifically for ADHD assessment. This new approach is in recognition of the lengthy waiting lists for such assessment in the community, and the importance of timely access to treatment.
AGE GROUP SERVED:
Ages 17 and up
Services Offered
PSYCHOTHERAPY:
Assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental health issues and disorders, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, anger-management, effective-communication, personal effectiveness, etc.
ADHD CLINIC:
ASSESSMENT: Comprehensive ADHD assessment, with report provided.
TREATMENT: An individualized, tailored, treatment plan, combines psychoeducation with a skill-based approach to improving self-regulation of ADHD symptoms, and functional outcomes.
A BIT ABOUT ADHD:
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood, and usually persists in some form throughout adulthood. It is characterized by deficits in self-regulation of attention, behaviour and emotions. These difficulties with self-regulation typically result in impaired functioning and negative consequences in almost every area of life, including academic, occupational, social, health and economic. Individuals with untreated ADHD are at a much higher risk of substance use/abuse, gambling disorders, eating disorders, car accidents, accidents in general, underperformance in academic and occupational goals, divorce and economic adversity.
“The consequences of untreated ADHD are far too great to ignore. It is a serious mental health disorder contributing to marked impairment through a lifespan. However, it can be successfully treated with improvement in outcome and reduction of mental health consequences and costs”
Action Plan: Creating Equitable Access to ADHD Care in Canada.
ADHD not a one-size fits all disorder. It is a complex condition with many individual differences in symptom expression, symptom severity, functional limitations and personal strengths. In the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) there are three officially recognized presentations of ADHD: Combined presentation, Predominantly inattentive presentation, and Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation. But even within these diagnostic sub-categories, significant individual differences exist. Also, ADHD is frequently associated with other mental health disorders, such as anxiety, and depression. Often, people have previously been misdiagnosed with other conditions, because the ADHD was missed, and sometimes people meet criteria for ADHD AND at least one other comorbid condition.
A proper ADHD assessment requires a thorough clinical interview, in addition to validated self-report questionnaires, and corroborating information, in order to ensure that all Diagnostic Criteria are met, and comorbid conditions are not missed. A questionnaire alone cannot be a sufficient basis to diagnose (or fail to diagnose) ADHD.