LifeStance Insights

Type “ADHD test” into a search bar and millions of results appear in under a second, many promising an answer in just a few minutes. The pull is easy to understand. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, and an estimated 7 million U.S. children aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with it, with millions of adults recognizing the same patterns in themselves. The catch is that the quick answer most quizzes appear to offer is not the answer people actually need. A high score on a free ADHD test can be a useful nudge toward help, but it is not a diagnosis, and treating it like one can send a person down the wrong path entirely. What Is an ADHD Test? In everyday language, “ADHD test” covers two very different things. The first is the online ADHD quiz: a short, self-scored questionnaire that asks how often a person experiences symptoms like losing focus, fidgeting, m...

Rural Americans carry a heavier mental health burden than people in big cities due to higher rates of depression and suicide, yet they’re far less likely to reach a provider who can help. That gap raises an uncomfortable question: when care is harder to reach, do mental health treatments also work less well for the people who live in underserved parts of the country? A LifeStance Health analysis of more than 139,000 LifeStance patients points to a reassuring answer. When we looked at treatment results across every region of the U.S., including regions with large rural populations, improvement stayed remarkably consistent. The evidence suggests there's a challenge in reaching care, not benefiting from it once you’re in it. The Rural Mental Health Gap The prevalence of mental illness is similar in rural and urban America, but access to care is not. A 2020 review published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science...

When Miley Cyrus opened up about using EMDR to work through anxiety and trauma, she joined a growing list of public figures — Prince Harry and Sandra Bullock among them — crediting the same unusual-sounding therapy. That visibility has helped push eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) from a niche trauma treatment into one of the most talked-about therapies today. But as demand has grown, so has a practical question: does it still work when the session happens over video, from your own living room? The short answer is that a growing body of research suggests it does, and for many individuals, the virtual version removes the exact barriers that kept them out of the office in the first place. EMDR has spent decades earning its place as a frontline trauma and PTSD treatment, and LifeStance clinicians provide EMDR both in-office and online (if you’re new to it, LifeStance offers a full explanation of how EMDR works). This article focuses on how the method adapts to video, what the evidence shows, and who each format fits best....

This content has been updated from the previous article published on June 17, 2021. The day a child receives an ADHD diagnosis, many parents feel a rush of questions with no easy answers: What do we do now? Am I doing enough? Will my child be okay? Here's the reassuring truth: you're already the right parent for your child, and steady, everyday changes at home can make a meaningful difference. An estimated 7 million U.S. children have been diagnosed with ADHD, so your family is far from alone. The tips below give you a practical place to start, alongside any ADHD treatment plan you build with a provider. Make an Online or In-Person Appointment Signs of ADHD in Children Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)...

This content has been updated from the previous article published on October 23, 2025. When parents separate, they face the dual challenge of managing lingering emotions and coordinating day-to-day parenting tasks. Even basic communication about children’s needs can become complicated. Co-parenting apps and counseling are increasingly recognized as essential tools for reducing conflict, streamlining custody logistics, and helping families thrive across two households. What Are Co-Parenting Apps? Co-parenting apps are digital platforms created specifically to help separated or divorced parents manage communication and schedules in a structured, neutral way. Unlike text messages or emails, which can become emotional and chaotic, co-parenting apps focus on the practical aspects of parenting: calendars, custody schedules, expense tracking, and secure messaging. These apps became increasingly popular as more families looked f...

Pickleball has become America's fastest-growing sport, drawing millions of new players over the past few years, with a particularly devoted following among older adults. It’s also the subject of The Dink, the new Apple TV+ comedy about a sidelined tennis pro who trades his racquet for a paddle and finds himself taken in by a group of older players. Writer Sean Clements said the film grew out of his own experience getting “adopted by a whole crew of older women” at pickleball mixers. That detail points to something bigger about the sport: pickleball is as much about the people you meet on the court as the game itself. With about 1 in 3 adults ages 50 to 80 reporting loneliness, the connection it offers may be part of why it’s so good for well-being later in life. Here's how a backyard game became a national obsession, and what the research says it may be doing for mental health. How Pickleball Became America's Fastest-Growing Sport...

If you're a parent of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you've probably thought a lot about how to help them navigate daily life. Medication may be one of the first things that comes to mind, but it's not the only option experts recommend. Behavior therapy helps children build skills like attention and self-control, often by working closely with the adults in their lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends it as part of treatment for many children with ADHD, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks how many receive this kind of support. Nationally, fewer than half of children with ADHD received behavior treatment in recent years, based on parents' reports. With behavior therapy playing an important role in ADHD care, understanding what it is and how it works may help families feel more informed about their options. What Is Behavior Therapy for ADHD? Behav...