What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning it impacts the way the brain develops and functions. Spotted Rabbit Creative Arts Therapy in Rochester uses creative art therapy to help treat ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) in adults, child ADHD, and can assist with providing an ADHD diagnosis. Read more for information about this the benefits of creative art therapy for ADHD and AFAB treatment.

This disorder has a few different diagnoses:

• Hyperactivity/impulsivity (ADHD-H), inattention (ADHD-I), or a combination of the two (ADHD-C)
• Hyperactivity-Impulsivity (ADHD-H): primary problem is regulating movement & impulses
• Excessive movement, fidgeting, trouble sitting still or staying in seat, difficulty waiting or taking turns
• Excessive talking, frequent interrupting/disrupting of others -acting without thinking, poor self-control
• Inattention (ADHD-I): the primary problem is regulating attention and organization
• Easily distracted, trouble sustaining attention, forgetful, careless mistakes
• Poor organization, losing items
• Appearing quiet or spacey, lost in thought, seemingly unmotivated

Learn more about neurodivergence on our website.

The Gender Imbalance in ADHD

ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood; however, if someone is AFAB (assigned female at birth), they are far less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than their cis male counterparts. Why is this? Spotted Rabbit in Rochester has experienced ADHD therapists who have been there, and see you.

Females often present with the inattentive subtype of ADHD. This means their symptoms are mainly internal, and therefore less likely to disrupt others and warrant attention from caregivers and teachers during childhood. Males whose symptoms present more outwardly often receive diagnoses earlier in childhood and at higher rates overall. For example, a student who cannot remain seated in the classroom or wait their turn in line is physically disruptive and warrants intervention. An AFAB student who talks a lot may also been seen as disruptive, but not in the same way that the physically disruptive student is as they don’t require the same level of intervention. And because chattiness is typically seen as a social trait rather than a symptom of neurodivergence, it’s often overlooked as an indicator of ADHD.

The term “Lost Girls” has been created to refer to adult females who have felt isolated in their ADHD journeys, suggesting this experience isn’t as isolated as it may feel.

Excuses adults might have made for your symptoms in childhood if you’re AFAB:

• Too chatty
• Always daydreaming
• Too sensitive
• Drama queen
• Wound up
• Lazy, unmotivated, careless
• Messy
• Room is cluttered and/or messy

Symptoms Over Time

Symptoms of ADHD in childhood don’t magically go away with age. ADHD isn’t something that can be “grown out of.” Typically, adults develop skills designed for masking their symptoms, not treating or working around them. Oftentimes, AFAB adults don’t realize they’re neurodivergent, until burnout strikes and adult responsibilities become too much to bear.

ADHD symptoms from childhood tend to develop into restlessness, emotional dysregulation/ disconnect, and mental and physical disorganization; all elements that are bound to leak into relationships, work/school, and overall functioning.

What ADHD Looks Like in Adulthood

• Forgetting important dates, events, or appointments, even if they repeat or are on the calendar
• Having multiple calendars and still not checking them
• Misplacing items, forgetting you own items, buying multiple of the same item
• Not giving yourself enough time, showing up late, setting timers & ignoring them
• Your friends telling you an arrival time several hours earlier than everyone else, because they know you’ll be late
• Forgetting to turn things off (stove, iron, etc.)/not remembering if you turned those things off
• Not being able to start or follow through with tasks (task paralysis)
• Leaving things till the last minute
• Getting distracted and not being able to finish a task
• Chores piling up
• Not doing chores because you know they’re going to pile up
• “Doom piles” everywhere
• Dreading going home due to your disorganization
• Not thinking before you speak
• Making careless mistakes, even if you double-checked your work
• Losing train of thought in conversations

Benefits of Art Therapy for ADHD

Traditional talk therapy can be challenging for those with ADHD as the one-on-one environment can feel intimidating and leave little room for stimulation or opportunities to release energy. Talk therapy isn’t inherently neurodivergent-affirming, and clients with ADHD often sense that. Art therapy eliminates both of those problems, creating a space where you can do therapeutic work without the pressure of traditional therapeutic expectations.

Art therapy allows the client to work with their hands while they talk and go through the session. Working with the hands naturally helps to release energy and promote grounding in session. Many of our in-person clients who come to us from traditional talk therapists find they’re less anxious in art therapy sessions because they know it’s okay to keep their hands busy and avoid eye contact. Fidgeting is a natural way to self-regulate; art making allows fidgeting to be more directed.

Art Therapy Sessions for ADHD and AFAB

The types of art interventions we do with clients and the coping skills we suggest vary depending on the client’s strengths, struggles, and past successes. If desired, we’ll work on ways to improve executive dysfunction. Punch cards and bingo boards are great ways to track information over time and hold yourself accountable in an artistic way. “Gamifying” tasks by assigning points to different chores to earn yourself rewards can help with task initiation and follow-through, especially for tasks that repeat daily, weekly, or more often than desired.

Sessions may also look like making art for fun, for the sole purpose of grounding and regulating. Many clients enjoy having a space to make art freely while verbally exploring unrelated topics. Art therapy is a versatile and flexible experience where the client has control over how they want their sessions to look and feel. No two art therapy experiences are exactly the same, as we encourage our clients to advocate for themselves and take control of the session.

If you’re a New York resident interested in trying art therapy with us, check out our website to connect! If you’re a Rochester local, we have offices in Brighton and Pittsford. If not, we offer virtual sessions as well.

Join one of our upcoming Spring 2026 classes and events, and bond with like-minded individuals. You can see what’s coming up here! We also share updates and resources through our newsletter and social channels, if you’d like to stay connected.

This article was written by Kamryn Aaronson (she/her), Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
at Spotted Rabbit Creative Arts Therapy. If you’d like to learn more about her and
how she approaches therapy, click here.