What to Expect From Adult ADHD Care

Starting care for ADHD as an adult can bring up a lot of questions: what the first visit is like, what treatment actually involves, and what happens after that. It is completely reasonable to want those answers before you schedule. This page walks through the process in plain language, so you know what to expect at each step.

Daniel Ackroyd, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who provides adult ADHD evaluations and medication management by secure telehealth for adults anywhere in Massachusetts. No referral is needed, and all visits are by appointment.

Your First Visit: The Evaluation

The first appointment is a 60-minute evaluation by secure video. It is a conversation, not a test you can pass or fail. The goal is to understand you clearly and accurately.

During the evaluation, you can expect to talk about:

• What brings you in: the day-to-day difficulties you notice at work, at home, and in relationships.
• Your history: including childhood and school experiences, since ADHD symptoms typically begin earlier in life.
• Your overall health: mood, anxiety, sleep, substance use, medical history, and any medications you take now or have tried before. These can look like ADHD or occur alongside it.
• Rating scales: standardized questionnaires that add structure to the conversation and help give a fuller picture.

At the end, you will talk through what was found and what your options are. You are welcome to ask questions throughout. If the picture points to something other than ADHD, that is useful information too, and it will be explained clearly.

If you already take an ADHD medication and are looking for a new prescriber, transferring care is possible. It starts with verifying your current prescription and prescriber.

What Treatment Can Include

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for ADHD. Treatment is shaped around your symptoms, your health history, your goals, and your preferences, and you are part of every decision.

• Medication, when appropriate. Both stimulant and non-stimulant medications are used to treat ADHD. Whether medication makes sense for you, and which one, is decided individually after the risks and benefits are discussed with you. Medication is never automatic, and no particular medication or result can be promised in advance.
• Everyday strategies and support. Treatment may also include practical guidance on sleep, exercise, nutrition, and daily routines and structure, which can support focus and energy.

The practice focuses on evaluating and diagnosing ADHD and on medication management, and does not provide ongoing psychotherapy for ADHD. If you would like therapy or ADHD coaching alongside medication, just ask, and suggestions for outside resources can be shared.

Ongoing Care

If you start treatment, follow-up visits are typically scheduled monthly, also by telehealth. These visits are a chance to check in on how things are going, including what is helping, what is not, and any side effects, and to adjust the plan as needed.

Monitoring may include reviewing sleep, appetite, mood, blood pressure, and heart rate, and following Massachusetts prescription monitoring requirements.

About the controlled substance agreement. Many ADHD medications are controlled substances, which means they come with extra safety and legal requirements. Before treatment begins, you will review a consent for treatment that includes a controlled substance agreement. In simple terms, it is a shared understanding of how these medications are prescribed and monitored safely, and what is expected on both sides. You can ask about anything in it before signing.

Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy, so there is no paper prescription to pick up.

Insurance, Costs, and Your Documents

The practice accepts several major commercial insurance plans. See Insurance Information for the current list and details. Coverage varies by plan, so it is a good idea to confirm your benefits and telehealth coverage with your insurer.

After your first conversation with the practice, you will be asked for your insurance information so your coverage can be verified before your visit. Your privacy matters: you will never be asked to text photos of your insurance card, your ID, or other sensitive documents. If you have questions about how your information is handled, please ask.

Ready When You Are

There is no pressure to decide anything right away. If you have questions before scheduling, you are welcome to reach out, and they will be answered. When you are ready, the first step is a short, secure intake form.

Complete the Secure Intake Form →
General questions: call (617) 318-8557 or email [email protected].

This page is general information and is not medical advice. If you are having an emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.