In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Dall—former educator, now ADHD coach and consultant—to talk about something we both care deeply about: what ADHD actually looks like in women. Spoiler alert: it’s often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood.

We get into our own stories, the emotional toll of masking, and what it means to get a diagnosis later in life. Plus, we share practical tools like the Pomodoro Technique, body doubling, and ways to build structure that actually work with your brain, not against it.

This episode is full of honesty, insight, and encouragement—especially for those navigating ADHD in themselves or supporting someone who is.

Here’s what we cover:

01:22 – What ADHD can look like in women

03:16 – Personal stories + early signs

08:44 – Diagnosis, misconceptions, and being missed

22:05 – Masking + why it’s so exhausting

26:23 – Burnout in ADHD and autism

27:18 – Identity struggles that come with masking

28:40 – Podcast rec: Climbing the Walls

29:48 – Realizing your own ADHD through your kids

32:21 – Why everyday stuff can feel impossible

38:01 – Pomodoro, body doubling + other tools that help

42:40 – What Dr. Dall is creating next

OUR GUEST:

Dr. Jennifer Dall is a Grief-Informed Neurodivergence Specialist and the founder of ADHD Holistically, where she empowers individuals with ADHD to transform daily struggles into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. With over 25 years of experience as an educator and a background in ADHD coaching, yoga instruction, and grief education, Dr. Jennife offers a holistic, deeply personal approach to helping neurodivergent individuals thrive.

Diagnosed with ADHD in her 50s after years of being told she "couldn’t possibly have it," Dr. Jennifer knows firsthand the challenges of navigating misinformation and masking symptoms—especially for women diagnosed later in life. Now, she specializes in helping women identify what truly works for them, focusing on practical, quick-fix strategies that simplify daily life without relying on medication or a one-size-fits-all approach.

Through her courses, workshops, and speaking engagements, Dr. Jennifer equips women—and those who support them—to reframe their ADHD narratives and unlock their full potential. Her work also extends to therapists, life coaches, and HR professionals, offering comprehensive training to better support neurodivergent clients and employees.

Website: https://adhdholistically.com/

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠