Recently, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Since learning about it in graduate school I wondered if it applied to me. Unfortunately, it seemed as if I didn’t fit the stereotype. I realized that I had developed routines that helped me manage my symptoms to a significant enough degree that I was able to function very well in academic and work environments. Socially, however, I’ve been able to determine that what I came to believe was “shyness” as a child and adult may be a consequence of ADHD. While I’m still discovering what this diagnosis means, it has given me a new lens through which to view myself and my experiences and I now have a new understanding of why I have felt like an outsider.

I’ve been practicing as a psychologist for over 25 years, but I arrived at my career through a very indirect route. I began college with the intention of being an aerospace engineer, but after several years I decided it wasn’t for me. Although I had several family members who had attended college, none of them could help me with deciding on a major. I wrestled with what I wanted to do with my life and finally admitted that I needed help. Like many therapists, my first introduction to therapy was as a client seeking career counseling. The therapist was a Black woman and she was immensely helpful in allowing me to safely explore my inner desires and passions and determine my career direction. With her help, I decided I wanted to help people deal with emotional challenges by becoming a psychologist.