Guide · 4 min read · 29 September 2026
Parenting a child with ADHD, and looking after yourself
Short support for parents feeling worn out while caring for a child with ADHD or waiting for assessment, focused on your wellbeing and finding a counsellor.
You are tired. You may be up through the night, juggling appointments, school conversations and a to-do list that never shrinks. You might be waiting for an assessment, trying to manage behaviour at home, or simply worn down by the small, relentless demands of parenting.
This piece is not advice or diagnosis. A clinician who is actually talking to you is the person who can say what is happening for you and what to do next.
You are not alone in feeling worn out
Many parents say they feel exhausted, overwhelmed and guilty all at once. Those feelings can arrive quietly, or in a rush when things pile up. A child’s restlessness, impulsivity or difficulty sitting still can make everyday routines harder to organise, and that adds up.
You do not need to be fixed or to perform for anyone here. This is about noticing the strain you are under and thinking about what support might fit for you.
Where to go for your child’s needs
If you are waiting for or thinking about an assessment, your GP is a practical first step. At school, the SENCO is the person usually involved in conversations about additional support or adjustments. Your health visitor or local services can also point you to local groups and assessments if you are unsure who to contact.
These routes are about your child’s care. This page is about you and the ways you might look after your own wellbeing while you take those steps.
What parents commonly report, and how counselling fits in
Parents often talk about constant low-level tension, short tempers, sleep loss, and feeling judged or isolated. Some describe grief for the parenting they expected. Others say they have less time for friendships or work, and that small things become big drains.
Counselling for a parent is a chance to make space for those feelings. Sessions usually involve talking with a counsellor about what is happening day to day, what feels most exhausting, and what matters most to you. A counsellor may listen, reflect what you say, and help you explore choices and limits that feel workable for you right now.
Finding a counsellor through this site
Every counsellor listed here is registered with a UK professional body. Most are registered with the BACP, and others may be on registers such as the NCPS or the HCPC. Counselling is not a protected title in the UK, and these are memberships and registers, not licences. You can check a counsellor’s registration on their listing.
To look for someone who mentions parenting and related stresses, you can view the pages /specialties/adhd/ and /specialties/caregiver-issues-stress/. To browse individual profiles and availability, visit /therapists/.
Practical things to think about when choosing a counsellor
Deciding on a counsellor can feel like another task. You might scan profiles for a tone that feels calm or compassionate. Look for someone who works with parents or caregiver stress, and note whether they describe the ways they conduct sessions, such as frequency and whether they offer online or face-to-face meetings.
If you choose online sessions, use them from a private space where you can speak freely. Think too about times that suit you. Early morning or late evening may be possible for some counsellors, and some offer shorter appointments if long sessions feel impossible right now.
Practical supports you can ask about in session
In counselling you can bring small, immediate concerns alongside larger ones. You might talk about tiredness, managing anger, relationship strain, or the ways the household communicates. You can also use sessions to reflect on practical options that feel doable for you in this week or month.
Sessions are for you as an adult. Counsellors here list what they work with, but the directory does not make clinical judgements for you. What you say in a session shapes what the counsellor might explore with you.
If things feel urgent
If you feel at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, or if a child is in danger, call 999 right away. If you need urgent mental-health support in England, NHS 111 (press 2 for mental health) can direct you to local urgent help. The Samaritans are available any hour on 116 123.
If you are worried about self-harm, a sudden crisis or safety at home, please contact emergency services or these numbers. A counsellor you speak with can also help you think through immediate safety planning, but contacting emergency services is the right step in acute situations.
A few gentle last notes
You do not need to contain everything for your child, partner or school on your own. Counselling is one way to find some space to say what you are carrying and to explore what you want to hold onto.
This is not advice or diagnosis. A clinician who is actually talking to you is the person who can say what is going on for you and what steps might be right next. If you are ready to look for someone, the pages /specialties/adhd/, /specialties/caregiver-issues-stress/ and /therapists/ are a simple place to begin.