Online ADHD therapy in California
You forgot the thing again. The one you told yourself three times you wouldn't forget. Your brain has 40 tabs open and none of them are the right one.
You're not lazy. You're not careless. Your brain works differently, and nobody taught you how to work with it. We're two licensed therapists in California who help adults with ADHD build systems that actually fit how they think.
Can therapy help adults with ADHD?
Short version first, then the page goes deeper.
Online ADHD therapy can help adults in California build executive-function systems, manage emotional overwhelm, and reduce shame with CBT-based support from a licensed therapist.
- Treatment approach: CBT for ADHD, practical systems, and emotional regulation
- Best fit: time blindness, task initiation, rejection sensitivity, and burnout
- Access: secure online sessions anywhere in California
- Cost: insurance accepted or $125 private pay per session
What ADHD actually feels like
Most people think ADHD is about not being able to focus. It's not. You can focus for six hours straight on something that interests you and then forget to eat lunch. ADHD is about regulation.
Then there's the part nobody talks about: rejection sensitivity, shame from decades of "why can't you just," and burnout from masking all day to look like you have it together.
A lot of adults weren't diagnosed until their 20s, 30s, or later. Especially women and people of color who didn't fit the stereotype. If that's you, you're not alone.
Beyond the focus issues
- Starting tasks feels impossible, even when you know exactly what to do
- Small criticism hits like a punch to the gut
- Time blindness makes 5 minutes and 2 hours feel the same
- You have internalized lazy or not reaching your potential as who you are
How we treat ADHD
We use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ADHD, which means we build systems that work with your brain instead of against it. Time management, task prioritization, habit building. The practical stuff that actually makes your day easier.
But we don't stop at productivity. ADHD therapy that only focuses on planners and timers misses half the picture. We also work on rejection sensitivity, the burnout cycle, and self-worth that got beaten down by years of struggling in systems designed for neurotypical brains.
CBT for ADHD reduces symptoms even without medication changes (Safren et al., 2010). Sessions happen over secure video from anywhere in California. We accept insurance, and you'd usually pay your plan's copay. If you're not using insurance, private pay is $125 per session. We accept Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, and CIGNA.
What we actually work on
- Executive function: the part of your brain that plans, prioritizes, and follows through
- Time management systems that account for how your brain actually experiences time
- Rejection sensitivity and emotional regulation
- Breaking the shame cycle and rebuilding how you see yourself
Licensed, practical ADHD care
A quick skim of what matters before someone decides to reach out: license, method, access, and cost clarity.
Licensed California therapist
Sessions are provided by an LMFT licensed to work with clients located in California.
Practical and emotional support
The page covers executive-function systems and the emotional weight many adults with ADHD carry.
Secure online sessions
Care is delivered over secure video so treatment can fit into real life across California.
Clear cost context
The page states insurance acceptance, copay variability, and private-pay pricing.
Source notes on this page
- The page references Safren et al. on CBT for adult ADHD.
- Treatment language distinguishes medication support from therapy skills and systems.
- FAQ content clarifies that formal diagnostic paperwork is not required to begin therapy, while referrals for testing can be discussed.
Not sure where to start?
Request a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're dealing with and whether we're a good fit.
Request a free 15-minute consultation→No cost. No pressure. We'll reply within one business day.
How it works
Free consultation
We talk about what you're dealing with and figure out if we're a good fit. No cost, no commitment.
Understanding your brain
Your first session is about getting the full picture: how ADHD shows up for you, what you've tried before, and what's getting in the way right now.
Building systems
We work on time management, task initiation, and routines that stick. You try things between sessions and we adjust based on what works.
The emotional work
Alongside the systems, we work on rejection sensitivity, self-worth, and the burnout that comes from years of masking.
Who you'll work with
Leona Esmaeily-Aimua
LMFT #142467
Leona specializes in ADHD. She combines person-centered therapy with CBT, which means she's working on both the practical systems and the emotional side. She's good with clients who've spent years hearing "just try harder" and have internalized it.
ADHD therapy FAQ
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis to start working with us. A lot of our clients come in saying "I think I might have ADHD" and we figure it out together. If you do want a formal evaluation, we can refer you to someone who does testing. But you don't need paperwork to get started.
Yes. Medication and therapy do different things. Medication can help with focus and impulse control, but it doesn't teach you how to organize your day, manage your time, or deal with the emotional side of ADHD. CBT for ADHD reduces symptoms even when medication stays the same (Safren et al., 2010). Most people do best with both.
No. Organization is part of it, but ADHD affects way more than your to-do list. We also work on rejection sensitivity, the shame spiral that comes from years of "you're so smart, you just need to try harder," emotional regulation, and burnout. The practical systems matter. So does the emotional weight you've been carrying.
That's common. A lot of adults, especially women and people of color, weren't caught as kids because they didn't fit the stereotype of a hyperactive boy in a classroom. Getting diagnosed later in life often brings a mix of relief and grief. Relief because it finally makes sense. Grief because you wonder how things might have been different. We work with both.
Your brain isn't broken. Let's work with it.
Request a free consultation to talk about what's going on and whether we're the right fit.
Request a free 15-minute consultationNo cost. No commitment. Just a conversation.