Understanding Adult ADHD: My Journey, the Neuroscience & How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire and also work online nationally.
My Story – Diagnosed at 45 and Why It Matters
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 45, and it changed everything. Suddenly, those bursts of creativity, the hyper-focus when tackling something I loved, and the overwhelm when too much was going on… it all made sense.
I’d spent years running my own recruitment businesses, juggling multiple roles, noticing signs of anxiety and burnout, and thinking it was just “me not coping.”
Finding hypnotherapy and then training in Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) opened a new chapter. This lived experience now shapes how I support adults (and teens from 16+) who feel their brain is working against them rather than for them.
The Neuroscience of ADHD – What the Research Tells Us
ADHD involves differences in brain circuits responsible for attention, impulse control, and reward processing. Research shows that the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia—areas linked to executive function and motivation—show altered dopamine and noradrenaline signalling (Volkow et al., 2009; Swanson et al., 2007). These neurotransmitters play key roles in maintaining focus and regulating emotion, meaning the brain’s “go” and “brake” systems can feel slightly out of sync.
Functional imaging also shows differences in the Default Mode Network (DMN), the part of the brain active during mind-wandering (Castellanos et al., 2008). When the DMN remains active during tasks, it can create that familiar mental static or the sense of “too many tabs open.”
ADHD isn’t a lack of attention – it’s often an imbalance of interest and reward. When something sparks curiosity or emotional relevance, dopamine levels rise, and focus feels effortless. When a task feels dull or repetitive, motivation drops sharply.
Understanding this difference helps clients realise that ADHD isn’t about willpower—it’s about wiring.
Common Challenges for Adults with ADHD
If this sounds familiar, you might recognise some of these experiences:
Difficulty getting started, even on important tasks
Time blindness and frustration with deadlines
High creativity and energy that sometimes leads to overwhelm
A busy, restless mind that struggles to switch off at night
Feelings of underachievement despite working hard
These challenges can affect relationships, work, and confidence. Recognising the neurobiological roots of ADHD can help you move from frustration to understanding — and from self-criticism to self-compassion.
How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support Your Wellbeing
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy isn’t a treatment for ADHD, but many people living with ADHD find it can be a supportive addition to their wellbeing routine.
The approach blends neuroscience, solution-focused conversations, and guided relaxation to encourage calmer, more grounded states and help people explore preferred ways of responding to everyday challenges.
Here’s how SFH can support general emotional wellbeing for adults with ADHD:
1. Creating clarity and small steps forward
SFH uses gentle, future-focused questions to clarify what you would like life to look like. Many people find that identifying small, achievable steps helps create a sense of momentum and direction.
2. Calming the busy mind
The trance element of SFH typically feels deeply relaxing for clients.Some people describe it as a welcome pause from mental noise, supporting a sense of rest and settling.
3. Strengthening focus through imagination
During hypnosis, you’re guided to rehearse preferred ways of approaching everyday situations. Imagining yourself managing things well can help build confidence and familiarity with the behaviours you want more of.
4. Encouraging steadier emotional responses
SFH gently supports people in exploring calmer, more grounded ways of responding when life feels overwhelming. This can be helpful when the emotional intensity associated with ADHD is part of your experience.
5. Embracing your strengths
A core part of SFH is amplifying what already works. For many with ADHD, this includes creativity, intuition, passion, and sensitivity. Therapy focuses on building from what’s strong, not what’s “wrong.”
Moving Forward
If you’ve recently been diagnosed — or you suspect ADHD may play a part in how you experience the world — you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Understanding your brain is the first step. From there, small, solution-focused changes can create a ripple effect in many areas of life.
Through Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy, I support adults and teens (16+) to explore calmer focus, stronger self-belief, and practical approaches that feel aligned with the way their brain naturally operates.
Working Online or In Person
I offer Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy both online and in person from my comfortable garden therapy room in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Some clients enjoy the calm, face-to-face space, while others prefer the flexibility and privacy of online sessions. Both formats offer a consistent, supportive experience — it simply depends on what feels right for you.
Whether you’re in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire or connecting from elsewhere in the UK (or overseas), online hypnotherapy provides the same welcoming and structured session format wherever you are.
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy designed to support emotional wellbeing and behavioural change. It is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you suspect you have ADHD or are currently under the care of a GP, psychiatrist, or other healthcare provider, you should continue to follow their advice. Hypnotherapy can be used alongside medical or psychological treatment with the consent of your healthcare professional where appropriate.References:
Bush, G. (2011) ‘Cingulate, frontal, and parietal cortical dysfunction in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder’, Biological Psychiatry, 69(12), pp. 1160–1167.
Castellanos, F.X., Kelly, C., and Milham, M.P. (2008) ‘The restless brain: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, resting-state functional connectivity, and intrasubject variability’, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(10), pp. 665–672.
Faraone, S.V., Perlis, R.H., Doyle, A.E., Smoller, J.W., Goralnick, J.J., Holmgren, M.A., and Sklar, P. (2005) ‘Molecular genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’, Biological Psychiatry, 57(11), pp. 1313–1323.
Jensen, M.P., and Patterson, D.R. (2014) ‘Hypnotic approaches for chronic pain management: clinical implications of recent research findings’, American Psychologist, 69(2), pp. 167–177.
Kosslyn, S.M., Thompson, W.L., Constantini-Ferrando, M.F., Alpert, N.M., and Spiegel, D. (2000) ‘Hypnotic visual illusion alters color processing in the brain’, American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(8), pp. 1279–1284.
Shaw, P., Eckstrand, K., Sharp, W., Blumenthal, J., Lerch, J.P., Greenstein, D., Clasen, L., Evans, A., Giedd, J., and Rapoport, J. (2007) ‘Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by a delay in cortical maturation’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(49), pp. 19649–19654.
Swanson, J.M., Castellanos, F.X., Murias, M., LaHoste, G.J., and Kennedy, J.L. (2007) ‘Cognitive neuroscience of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its clinical translation’, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(Suppl 12), pp. 10–17.
Volkow, N.D., Wang, G.J., Fowler, J.S., Tomasi, D., and Telang, F. (2009) ‘Imaging dopamine’s role in drug abuse and ADHD’, Neuropharmacology, 56(Suppl 1), pp. 3–8.
Volkow, N.D., Wang, G.J., Fowler, J.S., Tomasi, D., Telang, F., and Baler, R. (2011) ‘Addiction: beyond dopamine reward circuitry’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(37), pp. 15037–15042.
Book your 60-minute Initial Consultation today and start your journey towards better well-being
In-person at my Oxfordshire Therapy Room (Upper Heyford, near Bicester or Online via Zoom).
My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
I service the main towns and cities around Upper Heyford, including Bicester, Banbury, Oxford, Kidlington, Witney, Brackley, Charlbury, Northampton, Buckingham, Chipping Norton, Thame, Didcot, Abingdon, Henley-on-Thames, and Aylesbury, along with other local areas.
I also work nationally and offer remote hypnotherapy services online, so no matter where you're based, support is just a click away!