Three Trees Newsletter - October 2026
Curiosity Instead of Criticism: ADHD Awareness
October is ADHD Awareness Month, a time to learn more about ADHD, challenge common misconceptions, and create greater understanding for the many ways ADHD can show up across a person's life.
ADHD doesn't look the same for everyone. For some, it may show up through difficulty with organization, time management, focus, or remembering everyday tasks. For others, it may look more like impulsivity, restlessness, emotional regulation challenges, difficulty getting started, or feeling overwhelmed by things that seem simple for everyone else. Children, teens, and adults can all experience ADHD differently, and symptoms can change as life circumstances and responsibilities change.
Sometimes, the hardest part isn't the ADHD itself, it's the story we begin to tell ourselves about it.
Why can't I just get it together? Why do I keep forgetting things? Why is this so much harder for me? Why can't I be more motivated?
When challenges like these happen repeatedly, it's easy to turn them into judgments about who we are. We may begin to see ourselves as lazy, careless, unmotivated, unreliable, or "too much." But ADHD is not a character flaw, and struggling with something doesn't mean you're not trying hard enough.
Sometimes, understanding why something has been difficult can change the way we respond to ourselves.
ADHD Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to replace judgment with curiosity. Instead of asking, "What's wrong with me?" we can begin asking, "What do I need?"
Maybe what we once called laziness was actually overwhelm. Maybe what we called inconsistency was difficulty with executive functioning. Maybe what we saw as a personal failure was a need that hadn't yet been understood or supported.
Understanding ourselves doesn't mean every challenge disappears. But it can give us a different place to begin—one rooted in curiosity instead of criticism and self-compassion instead of shame.
Whether you or someone you love is living with ADHD, we hope this month encourages greater understanding, patience, and compassion. And if ADHD has been part of your story for a long time—or you're just beginning to understand it—we hope you give yourself permission to ask a different question:
"What might change if I stopped judging myself and started getting curious about what I need?"
Remember we’re here to help you just keep growing!

The Three Trees Counseling team
Check it Out!
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD
This month, we're highlighting the book that will kick off our Bloom Women's ADHD Book Club:
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers
by Sari Solden, MS, and Michelle Frank, PsyD
This workbook takes a neurodiversity affirming approach to understanding ADHD in women. Rather than focusing on "fixing" yourself, it explores self-acceptance, challenging shame and negative self-talk, recognizing strengths, communicating needs, and building a more authentic life.
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Rest, Rejuvenate, & Relate
It is important to REST, REJUVENATE, and RELATE with friends, family and your community through
experiences- big and small.
Get Outside & Connect
Fall is a great time to step outside of our usual routines and enjoy the community around us. Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary in Brentwood offers several opportunities to experience the outdoors together this October.
Fall Color Hikes — October 17, 24, & 31
Take a guided hike through the sanctuary and enjoy the changing colors of the season. These hikes are designed for adults and teens.
Fall Lantern Hike
— October 2
Explore the sanctuary after sunset on a lantern-lit evening hike and experience the sights and sounds of the nighttime woods.
Day Pass Hiking — Throughout October
Prefer to go at your own pace? Owl’s Hill offers day passes for visitors who want to explore the sanctuary's trails and enjoy some time in nature.
Rest: Step away from the demands of everyday life.
Rejuvenate: Get outside, move your body, and enjoy the beauty of the season.
Relate:
Invite a friend, partner, or family member to join you and make time for meaningful connection.
Bloom Book Club
for Women
Online Group
It's not too late to join us! Come read with us, bring your thoughts and questions, and connect with other women who may understand some of your experiences.
Bloom is not group therapy.
It’s a professionally facilitated book club led by Kristen Rucker, LMSW, offering a thoughtful and supportive space for conversation, connection, personal reflection, and growth.
No fixing. No pretending. No need to have it all together.
Just women, a good book, meaningful conversation, and room to bloom.
We're Growing!
We are grateful to continue growing our Three Trees Counseling community!
Our clinicians are currently accepting new clients, and we would love to connect with individuals, couples, teens, and families who are looking for support. Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationships, life transitions, ADHD, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can provide a space to slow down, understand yourself, and move forward with greater clarity.
We're also continuing to look for additional licensed clinicians and clinical interns who share our commitment to compassionate, thoughtful, and relationship-centered care. If you or someone you know may be a good fit for our growing team, we'd love to connect!

