The Professional Version:
Regina M. Cashman is a Clinical Associate of the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and Psychodiagnosticians and is also an ADD Coach. Upon receiving her Master’s Degree from The College of William and Mary, Regina began her career as a Social Worker, specializing in Child and Family Therapy. Regina gained invaluable experience working with a diverse population on family and school issues, crisis intervention and developmental and behavioral issues.
More soon....
The Personal Version...
I have lived a life brimming with ADD and Learning Differences. I have never lived a day without being surrounded by some degree of ADD and LD. Some of my siblings, many extended family members, in-laws, friends and children all have attention and/or learning differences. Some of the people in my life have chosen to pursue a diagnosis and intervention; others deny it is part of their reality. Some exhibit the typical hyperactive profile; others are not at all hyperactive. There is every ADD type and subtype, a wide variety of learning differences, and a real cornucopia of co-morbidities, among my loved ones. I have watched many of those closest to me succeed with, or suffer from, these conditions...depending on their degree of acceptance. A lifetime of up close and personal observations of so many has led me to a deeper understanding, than I might otherwise have, of the impact these conditions can have on one's life. I have had the opportunity to see every intervention and treatment put to the test in the trenches.
My most important ADD education regarding intervention and treatment came from being on the frontline since the days when there were no choices of stimulant medications and no such thing as a PET Scan. This gave me the opportunity to learn right from the "horse's mouth". Since conference presenters were often the ones doing the actual research, new information was often shared before it had even been published. Anyone who was fortunate enough to be in the field 25 years ago was there to receive the most current information, and have the opportunity to discuss it with the brilliant minds pushing the science forward.
It was a time when a psychiatrist was a psychoanalyst one saw weekly, sometimes for years, and appointments lasted for a full hour. There were many types of therapist's and counselor's, but the only coaches we knew were our children's sports coaches. ADD was called Hyperkinetic Disorder and there was only one stimulant used to treat the condition. There were no courses taught on attention and learning differences in our universities.
The world of medical science has moved forward so rapidly since those days and I have been fortunate enough to be there all the way. I was at there when...
- Dr. Zimetkin revealed the first PET Scan image illustrating the differences between the brain with, and without, ADD.
- the first T.V. commercial about ADD was unveiled.
- the name was changed to ADD, and then ADHD and then divided into subtypes.
- the first long acting medication was introduced, recalled and then reintroduced, followed by a continualy growing number of newer longer acting medications.
- the first non-stimulant medication to treat ADD was introduced.
Because this is a condition which touches the lives of so many of those close to me, I am passionate about relieving the suffering it can cause and am committed to working tirelessly to find the most appropriate interventions for each individual client.
Please help another family find their way through the ADD maze of educational, medical, and therapeutic challenges by making a GrADDitude Donation. If you have been helped through your ADD maze please show your GrADDitude by making a donation so that others may also be helped.
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