ADHD Therapy in Barrie, ON — Practical, Compassionate Counselling for Adults, Teens and Families
ADHD therapy in Barrie, ON is available at Reset Counselling & Psychotherapy — in-person and virtually, for adults, teens and families. ADHD is not a lack of effort or willpower. It reflects how your brain manages attention, impulse control, emotions and executive function. With the right support, therapy can address the practical, emotional and relational effects of ADHD. Our registered psychotherapists help clients build routines, improve task initiation, strengthen emotional regulation, communicate more clearly and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. We offer in-person ADHD therapy at our Barrie office and virtual counselling across Ontario.
✔ Registered psychotherapists and social workers ✔ In-person and virtual options
✔ No physician referral required ✔ Extended health receipts provided
Is ADHD Making Everyday Life Harder Than It Should Be?
Who ADHD Counselling at Reset Is For
Our ADHD counselling services are for people at many different starting points. We work with adults and teens who have a formal diagnosis, those who suspect ADHD but are still waiting for an assessment, and adults who received a diagnosis later in life. We also support teens who are struggling at school, at home or socially, and parents working to understand ADHD-related behaviour in their household. If your current strategies stopped working after a significant life change, or if ADHD challenges co-occur with anxiety, low mood, stress, trauma or low self-esteem, we are here. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
Common Reasons People Seek ADHD Therapy
Clients often come to us because:
- Constantly falling behind despite working hard
- Procrastination and difficulty starting tasks
- Losing track of time, appointments or belongings
- Disorganization and unfinished projects
- Emotional overwhelm or impulsive reactions
- Conflict with partners, parents, teachers or coworkers
- Burnout from masking or overcompensating
- Shame, self-criticism or feeling "lazy"
- Difficulty maintaining routines
How ADHD Can Show Up at
Different Stages of Life
ADHD in Adults
For adults, ADHD rarely looks like the childhood stereotype. It tends to show up as time blindness, working-memory difficulties, trouble initiating or switching tasks and chronic lateness. Missed deadlines, disorganized finances, hyperfocus followed by exhaustion, workplace stress and tension in close relationships are all common patterns. Household management and parenting demands can amplify the strain considerably.
Many high-achieving adults develop coping systems that work well — until a demanding career shift, parenthood, illness or another major life transition pushes those systems past their limit. If that description fits you, therapy can help you understand what is actually happening and build strategies that match how your brain works.
ADHD in Teens and Family Life
For teenagers, ADHD can affect homework, multi-step instructions, school attendance, morning routines and sleep. Emotional outbursts, social conflict, inconsistent motivation and disagreements over screens, chores or schoolwork are also common. These patterns are worth exploring with curiosity rather than blame.
Depending on the therapist and the client's age, therapy may include age-appropriate skill building and practical support for parents. The goal is to help families communicate more effectively and reduce the daily friction that ADHD can create.
Late-Identified ADHD, Masking and Co-Occurring Concerns
Many people — particularly women and girls with inattentive presentations — reach adulthood without ever receiving a diagnosis. Years of masking, overcompensating and self-criticism can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout and low self-esteem that sit alongside ADHD challenges. Learning disabilities and trauma are also common co-occurring concerns.
Therapy explores the whole person. We do not assume that every difficulty has a single cause, and we can support clients while they pursue diagnostic clarification elsewhere when that is appropriate.
What ADHD Therapy Can Help You Change
Our Approach to ADHD Therapy at Reset
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Practical ADHD Skills
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-supported psychotherapy approaches for ADHD in adults. CBT-informed work at Reset targets unhelpful thinking patterns, avoidance, procrastination, task initiation, planning, time management and problem-solving. It also addresses the self-criticism and low mood that frequently accompany ADHD.
Psychoeducation — learning how ADHD actually affects your brain and behaviour — is a key first step. That understanding makes it easier to develop realistic strategies rather than blaming yourself for patterns that have a neurological basis. When co-occurring anxiety or depression is present, CBT addresses those concerns alongside ADHD-related challenges.
ACT, DBT Skills, Mindfulness and Narrative Therapy
Depending on your needs and your therapist's training, our approach may also draw on:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Supports values-based living and taking action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present
- DBT-informed skills: Builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance and impulse management
- Mindfulness-based approaches: Develop the capacity to notice attention and emotional shifts without immediately reacting
- Narrative therapy: Helps separate your identity from years of labels like "lazy," "careless" or "unreliable" — and replace those stories with something more accurate
Not every therapist at Reset uses every modality. The approaches offered are tied to each clinician's actual training and your specific therapy goals.
Trauma-Informed, Neurodiversity-Affirming and Collaborative Care
We work from a neurodiversity-affirming foundation. That means building on your strengths without minimizing real impairment, and avoiding the expectation that therapy should make you function like a neurotypical person.
Many clients with ADHD carry wounds from years of criticism, exclusion or missed support. Our approach considers that history. With your consent, we can also coordinate with physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, schools or other providers when that is part of your plan. CADDRA's Canadian ADHD guidance describes care as an across-the-lifespan, multidisciplinary process — and we see our role as one part of a broader, collaborative picture.
ADHD Therapy,
Assessment and Medication
— What We Do and What We Don't
Do You Need an ADHD Diagnosis to Start Therapy?
No. You do not need a formal diagnosis before beginning psychotherapy. Many clients seek support for focus difficulties, disorganization, emotional regulation or relationship challenges without waiting for an assessment. Therapy cannot independently confirm that all of your symptoms are caused by ADHD. Your therapist will discuss your history, current difficulties and goals rather than assuming a diagnosis. If pursuing a formal assessment is appropriate, therapy can continue alongside that process.
When an ADHD Assessment or Medication Consultation May Help
Reset provides psychotherapy for ADHD-related concerns. Formal ADHD assessment, diagnosis and medication management are separate services that involve other providers — typically a psychologist, physician, nurse practitioner or psychiatrist.
If you are seeking a formal assessment or a medication review, we can discuss which type of provider to approach. Therapy works well alongside both. Psychotherapy addresses the skills, patterns and emotional dimensions that assessment findings and medication do not cover on their own. It can also support implementation of school or workplace accommodations once those are in place.
What to Expect from ADHD Therapy at Reset
Your First ADHD Therapy Session
Your first session does not require you to arrive organized or know exactly what to say. Your therapist will ask about why you are seeking support now, what your current challenges look like, what has and has not worked before and what you are hoping to change. You will also have time to ask questions about your therapist's approach. Together, you will identify a manageable starting point — one goal or focus area that makes sense as a beginning. The first session is about understanding your situation, not assessing or evaluating you.
A Personalized Plan and Regular Progress Check-Ins
Ongoing sessions combine psychoeducation, skills practice, emotional processing and practical experiments to try between appointments. We review what worked, what did not and what needs adjusting. Goals shift as your circumstances change, and that is expected. There is no fixed timeline or predetermined endpoint. What matters is that the work is producing real, meaningful change in your daily life — not that therapy follows a standardized program.
In-Person Therapy in Barrie or Virtual Therapy
We offer in-person sessions at our Barrie office and secure virtual sessions for eligible clients across Ontario. Some therapists also offer telephone sessions. Your choice of format can be based on your schedule, your privacy needs, travel time or personal comfort. Virtual therapy makes support more accessible for clients outside Barrie or for those who prefer the flexibility of connecting from home.
Book ADHD Counselling in Barrie Today
Meet Reset's ADHD Therapists in Barrie
Clinician Credentials, Experience and Areas of Focus
Andi Atkins, RP
Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) | M.A. in Counselling Psychology, McGill University | 10+ years in the mental health field
Andi works with individuals aged 14 and up. Her areas of focus include ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, adolescent and teen support, grief and loss, relationship challenges, life transitions, stress and self-esteem. She brings both clinical training and lived personal experience to her work. Sessions with Andi are available in-person at the Barrie office and by telephone. Sessions are $170 (no tax) for 50 minutes.
Our team also includes registered psychotherapists and registered social workers with experience supporting ADHD-related concerns. Availability and age groups served vary by clinician.
Find the Right Therapist and Check Availability
Not sure who is the best fit? Reset offers a therapist-matching quiz to help you identify a clinician whose approach, availability and focus areas align with your needs. You can also reach out directly and we will help point you in the right direction. There is no pressure to decide quickly.
ADHD Therapy Fees, Insurance and Booking
Session Fees and Extended Health Benefits
Sessions are $170 (no tax) for 50 minutes. No physician referral is required to book. Reset does not offer direct billing — payment is collected at the time of your session and a receipt with your therapist's registration information is provided for insurance reimbursement. Coverage for registered psychotherapy services varies by plan. We recommend checking whether your extended health benefits cover RP, RP (Qualifying) or RSW services before your first appointment. Some plans require a referral for reimbursement, so it is worth confirming your specific coverage.
Book an ADHD Therapy Session
Booking is straightforward:
- Review our available ADHD therapists and their areas of focus
- Select your preferred therapist and session format (in-person or virtual)
- Book through our secure online scheduling system
Not sure which therapist to choose? Contact us at
info@resetbarrie.ca and we will help you find the right fit.
Local ADHD Therapy for Barrie and Simcoe County
Visit Our Barrie Counselling Office
Our Barrie office is located at
Unit 201–151 Essa Road, in the Allandale area near the corner of Essa Road and Anne Street — one minute off Highway 400. Free parking is available on site. From the parking lot, follow the right-side door up the stairs and turn right. If you require mobility assistance, an elevator is available to the second floor. Sessions are by appointment.
Serving Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford, New Tecumseth and Simcoe County
Clients come to Reset from Barrie, Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford, New Tecumseth and communities throughout Simcoe County. In-person availability depends on the selected therapist and office location, while virtual appointments make therapy more accessible for eligible clients across Ontario — wherever and whenever it works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD Therapy
Do I Need a Formal ADHD Diagnosis Before Starting Therapy?
No. You can begin psychotherapy for focus challenges, emotional regulation, disorganization or relationship difficulties without a formal diagnosis. Therapy cannot confirm a diagnosis independently, but it can provide meaningful support while you explore whether formal assessment is appropriate.
Does Reset Diagnose ADHD or Prescribe ADHD Medication?
Reset provides psychotherapy only. Formal ADHD assessment and diagnosis are conducted by psychologists or physicians. Medication prescribing and monitoring are managed by physicians, nurse practitioners or psychiatrists. We can help you identify the right type of provider if needed.
Can ADHD Therapy Help If I Am Already Taking Medication?
Yes. Psychotherapy and medication serve complementary roles. Medication may improve attention and impulse control, while therapy builds the practical skills, emotional regulation strategies and self-understanding that medication alone does not address. Many clients benefit from both.
How Many ADHD Therapy Sessions Will I Need?
Duration varies by individual. It depends on your goals, the complexity of your concerns, how often you attend and whether co-occurring difficulties such as anxiety, trauma or depression are also being addressed. Your therapist will check in regularly to review progress and adjust the plan.
Do You Work with Adults, Teens and Children with ADHD?
Andi Atkins, RP works with individuals aged 14 and up, including teens and adults. Our broader team includes therapists with varying age ranges and specializations. Contact us to confirm current availability for your specific age group and needs.
Is Online ADHD Therapy Available in Ontario?
Yes. Secure virtual sessions are available for eligible clients across Ontario. Suitability for virtual therapy is discussed at or before your first session based on your needs, circumstances and preferences. Some therapists also offer telephone sessions.
Is ADHD Therapy Covered by Insurance or OHIP?
Private psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP. However, many extended health benefit plans cover registered psychotherapy services. Reset provides receipts with the therapist's registration information for reimbursement. Direct billing is not available. Verify whether your plan covers RP, RP (Qualifying) or RSW services before booking.
Book ADHD Therapy in Barrie
Reaching out is often the hardest step. We understand that. ADHD therapy at Reset can help you build practical skills, understand yourself more clearly and reduce the daily friction that comes with an ADHD brain — whether sessions happen in-person at our Barrie office or virtually from wherever you are. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral or a perfectly articulated reason to start.