Why Knowing Isn't Doing: Adult ADHD Through a CBT Lens | Dr. Russell Ramsay

"I know what I need to do, but I don't trust that I'll do it when I need to do it." If that sentence lands, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the leading voices in adult ADHD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We talk about his new book, Once I Get Started, and the cognitive theme he believes runs beneath much of adult ADHD: self-mistrust. This is not a productivity conversation. It is a conversation about what actually happens between knowing what to do and doing it — and why that gap shows up so often for capable, high-performing professionals. What we explore: Self-mistrust as a possible central cognitive theme of adult ADHD, and how it shapes self-worth, decisions, and follow-through Why ADHD is better understood as a performance problem than a knowledge problem Motivation as an emotion, and why deadline pressure stops being a sustainable strategy Self-regulatory efficacy: why some people disengage early, and what protects against it How thoughts, feelings, and behaviors operate as a braided cord rather than a linear chain People-pleasing, social capital, and why ADHD professionals may overestimate their relational debts Procrastivity, or productive procrastination — when it is adaptive, and when it is avoidance Taskidermy tasks: the items that keep reappearing on your to-do list without moving forward The SAP Method: Specific, Actionable, Pivot Points for getting unstuck How CBT for adult ADHD differs from CBT for depression or anxiety, and why the implementation focus matters Masking, intentional self-presentation, and the difference between coping and concealment This episode offers language for patterns that often go unnamed at work — and a more grounded way to think about why standard advice keeps falling short. About Dr. Russell Ramsay: Dr. Russell Ramsay is a psychologist who specializes in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. He has lectured internationally, published widely, and authored six books on adult ADHD, including his most recent, Once I Get Started. He is a CHADD Hall of Fame inductee.   Pre-order Once I Get Started by Russell Ramsay, Ph.D.: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/783710/once-i-get-started-by-russell-ramsay-phd/     Connect with Cathy Rashidian: ReadySetChoose.com Resources: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist Instructions https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf  

"I know what I need to do, but I don't trust that I'll do it when I need to do it." If that sentence lands, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the leading voices in adult ADHD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We talk about his new book, Once I Get Started, and the cognitive theme he believes runs beneath much of adult ADHD: self-mistrust. This is not a productivity conversation. It is a conversation about what actually happens between knowing what to do and doing it — and why that gap shows up so often for capable, high-performing professionals. What we explore: Self-mistrust as a possible central cognitive theme of adult ADHD, and how it shapes self-worth, decisions, and follow-through Why ADHD is better understood as a performance problem than a knowledge problem Motivation as an emotion, and why deadline pressure stops being a sustainable strategy Self-regulatory efficacy: why some people disengage early, and what protects against it How thoughts, feelings, and behaviors operate as a braided cord rather than a linear chain People-pleasing, social capital, and why ADHD professionals may overestimate their relational debts Procrastivity, or productive procrastination — when it is adaptive, and when it is avoidance Taskidermy tasks: the items that keep reappearing on your to-do list without moving forward The SAP Method: Specific, Actionable, Pivot Points for getting unstuck How CBT for adult ADHD differs from CBT for depression or anxiety, and why the implementation focus matters Masking, intentional self-presentation, and the difference between coping and concealment This episode offers language for patterns that often go unnamed at work — and a more grounded way to think about why standard advice keeps falling short. About Dr. Russell Ramsay: Dr. Russell Ramsay is a psychologist who specializes in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. He has lectured internationally, published widely, and authored six books on adult ADHD, including his most recent, Once I Get Started. He is a CHADD Hall of Fame inductee.   Pre-order Once I Get Started by Russell Ramsay, Ph.D.: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/783710/once-i-get-started-by-russell-ramsay-phd/     Connect with Cathy Rashidian: ReadySetChoose.com Resources: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist Instructions  https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf  

"I know what I need to do, but I don't trust that I'll do it when I need to do it." If that sentence lands, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the leading voices in adult ADHD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We talk about his new book, Once I Get Started, and the cognitive theme he believes runs beneath much of adult ADHD: self-mistrust. This is not a productivity conversation. It is a conversation about what actually happens between knowing what to do and doing it — and why that gap shows up so often for capable, high-performing professionals.   What we explore: Self-mistrust as a possible central cognitive theme of adult ADHD, and how it shapes self-worth, decisions, and follow-through Why ADHD is better understood as a performance problem than a knowledge problem Motivation as an emotion, and why deadline pressure stops being a sustainable strategy Self-regulatory efficacy: why some people disengage early, and what protects against it How thoughts, feelings, and behaviors operate as a braided cord rather than a linear chain People-pleasing, social capital, and why ADHD professionals may overestimate their relational debts Procrastivity, or productive procrastination — when it is adaptive, and when it is avoidance Taskidermy tasks: the items that keep reappearing on your to-do list without moving forward The SAP Method: Specific, Actionable, Pivot Points for getting unstuck How CBT for adult ADHD differs from CBT for depression or anxiety, and why the implementation focus matters Masking, intentional self-presentation, and the difference between coping and concealment This episode offers language for patterns that often go unnamed at work — and a more grounded way to think about why standard advice keeps falling short. About Dr. Russell Ramsay: Dr. Russell Ramsay is a psychologist who specializes in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. He has lectured internationally, published widely, and authored six books on adult ADHD, including his most recent, Once I Get Started. He is a CHADD Hall of Fame inductee.   Pre-order Once I Get Started by Russell Ramsay, Ph.D.: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/783710/once-i-get-started-by-russell-ramsay-phd/     Connect with Cathy Rashidian: ReadySetChoose.com Resources: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist Instructions  https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf   ----more---- 🔖 Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction and grounding quotes from the book 1:30 — Self-mistrust as a central cognitive theme 4:15 — What makes Once I Get Started different, and ADHD as a performance problem 6:30 — How CBT for ADHD differs from CBT for depression or anxiety 11:00 — Beyond the DSM list: executive function and the lived reality of ADHD 14:00 — Motivation as emotion, and the cost of running on adrenaline 17:30 — Self-mistrust, self-efficacy, and self-regulatory efficacy 21:00 — Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as a braided cord 23:00 — Permission-giving beliefs and avoidant automatic thoughts 25:00 — Cognitive rehearsal and the pause that creates choice 27:30 — Automatic compliance and the cost of saying yes too quickly 28:30 — People-pleasing, social capital, and overestimating relational debts 31:30 — Emotional impulsivity and the externalization of self-worth 36:00 — Procrastination, procrastivity, and what makes some tasks easier to start 40:30 — ADHD as an uncertainty generator 41:30 — Taskidermy tasks and what to do with them 42:30 — The SAP Method: Specific, Actionable, Pivot Points 44:30 — CBT, masking, and intentional self-presentation 48:30 — Closing reflection

In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Edition, I’m sharing the story of two career-defining decisions I made at the height of my corporate leadership roles—both of which I now realize were driven by ADHD. On the outside, they looked like bold, deliberate moves. On the inside, I was in fight-or-flight mode, making fear-based calls that brought short-term relief but long-term consequences. You’ll hear: How ADHD traits like impulsivity, emotional intensity, and uncertainty intolerance can influence leadership decisions under pressure Why big life transitions (like parenthood) can magnify ADHD tendencies at work The difference between acting from clarity versus acting from discomfort What I wish I had done differently—and how you can apply those lessons in your own leadership role If you’ve ever left a role, made a major career move, or passed up an opportunity only to later question the decision, this episode will give you tools to pause, assess, and choose with strategy, not stress. If you are at that tipping point—knowing something needs to change, but not sure what—this is where a pause can change everything. My ADHD-Powered Clarity Pit Stop is a focused, one-on-one session to help you slow down, see the full picture, and make your next move from strategy, not stress. You can learn more here → ADHD-Powered Clarity Pit Stop   Subscribe to our new YouTube channel here: Get leadership insights through the ADHD lens

What happens when the mask comes off? In this episode, Coach Cathy dives into the unique challenges faced by high-achieving professionals with ADHD who feel pressured to conform to traditional leadership molds. Through her personal story of exhaustion and the breaking point that led her to quit her executive role, Cathy shines a light on masking—the exhausting effort to hide your struggles and maintain a polished facade. She unpacks the toll this takes on your mental bandwidth, decision-making, and ability to lead authentically. Cathy offers clear insights into the signs you might be leading from survival mode, why understanding ADHD is a game-changer, and how small, strategic shifts can help you lead with clarity, sustainability, and alignment with your values. Whether you’re feeling stuck in the cycle of burnout or navigating your next leadership transition, this episode will leave you with actionable steps to recalibrate your approach in a way that works with your brain, not against it. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction: What does it mean to lead with ADHD? 01:09 Personal Story: The moment the mask shattered. 01:31 Understanding Masking: Why it’s so draining and its impact on leadership. 02:46 Survival Mode vs. Authentic Leadership: Recognizing the signs. 04:56 Reflecting on Leadership and ADHD: A new lens for aligned leadership. 07:05 Steps to Aligned Leadership: Practical strategies to start leading differently. 08:37 Invitation to Connect: Learn how ADHD-informed coaching can help you lead authentically. If you’re tired of performing leadership and ready to step into authenticity, this episode is for you. Tune in to reclaim your energy, find clarity, and lead in a way that feels true to who you are. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to have a conversation about how you can work together. Schedule a call using this link.  

Your Special June Invite  To join us, there’s no requirement for a 3-month commitment (usual commitment to join our group).—just one powerful opportunity to see what this group  experience can unlock for you. $150. One month. Full access. We begin Friday, June 6, at noon EST. (Encore Session: June 13) Here is what we are doing this month  Monthly Group Call:  June 6 & June 13  noon EST. (you can come to both or one of them)  All members of the community are invited to join the call. Typically, we hold these calls once a month, but this month I am hosting an encore session the following week. The format consists of a 90-minute session where I will teach for the first 15 minutes (this month, I will cover Emotional Regulation and ADHD). For the rest of the call, we will focus on group coaching, meaning a member may pose a question related to the topic, and I will delve deeper with that person while the other members draw their own key takeaways. Usually, I end up coaching about three people during the call.   Encore Group Call: June 13 at noon EST, same as above  - and members are encouraged to come to both.  3 Micro coaching lessons from Coach Cathy - join live or watch replay - I don't have specific dates for these yet because I see them as more of a teaching format. I host them live on the community platform, so whenever a member is online, they’re welcome to join in, listen, and ask any questions they might have. These sessions are designed to be more about self-paced learning, making it easy for everyone to participate!  Planning Session: June 17 at 11:30 AM EST - We have a planning session once a month where members interested in organizing a project can join us. Together, we go through a step-by-step approach to planning. This session is an open option for members!  Clarity Sessions: A quick (15 min), Enjoy a one-on-one coaching session that cuts through the noise and helps clarify what really matters! This has to be my favorite part of the community, as members get exclusive access to me to discuss their pressing topics. In terms of the format, I hop onto my Zoom link and welcome each person from the RSVP list one at a time. Each individual joins me for a 10 to 15 minute coaching call, and when they're done, they leave the zoom, the next person is brought into the Zoom call.   If all of this resonates, I would love to have you join us for this month - simply use this link and we shall see you this Friday or next week https://www.readysetchoose.com/offers/swMujWzT/checkout   Or email me if you have any questions  [email protected]

If you’re ADHD and high-performing, here’s what no one tells you — self-leadership is your lifeline. In this episode, Coach Cathy explores how neurodivergent professionals can lead themselves with more clarity, compassion, and confidence. You’ll learn how to:  • Track your energy patterns (instead of forcing productivity)  • Identify personal anchor practices  • Ask for what you need — without over-explaining You’ll also hear personal stories, practical tools, and an invitation to connect with others on the same journey. 📍Topics Covered: 0:00 – Welcome 0:32 – What is Self-Leadership? 1:53 – Why Knowing Yourself Changes Everything 4:49 – Owning Your Story 6:59 – Practical Tools That Actually Work 8:39 – Final Thoughts + Community Invite 👉 Join the Quantum Thinkers Community: http://qtcommunity.com 🔔 Like, Subscribe & Share if this hit home.

Are you constantly pushing through the exhaustion — because slowing down feels like failure?   For ADHD professionals, what looks like resilience is often toxic overfunctioning. Burnout doesn’t always show up as collapse — sometimes it looks like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or staying “productive” at all costs.   In this episode, “ ADHD Burnout Isn’t Your Fault — But Here’s What’s Keeping You Stuck” we unpack the real traps keeping you stuck: The Self-Sufficiency Trap (when you refuse to ask for help) Overcompensation loops (doing more to prove you’re enough) Hyperfocus disguised as productivity (when you can’t stop even when you want to) You’ll walk away with: A new lens on resilience through Quantum Thinking Practical tools to recognize burnout patterns early Mindset shifts to protect your energy without guilt     Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means your strengths are out of alignment.   You don’t have to handle this alone. Join the Quantum Thinkers community and get support that actually gets your ADHD brain: www.readysetchoose.com/site/quantum-thinkers-community QTCommunity.com 

Join us in a special episode featuring a review of the Quantum Thinkers ADHD community. Discover how this unique space empowers professionals with ADHD by transforming challenges into leadership strengths. Learn about the community's structure, coaching methodology, and the wealth of resources available to help members thrive in their careers. Whether you're seeking enhanced leadership skills or a supportive network, this episode provides an insightful look into how Quantum Thinkers can guide your journey toward success. Tune in and uncover the potential within you. We kickoff the community as of April 1 - Join us at QTCommunity.com

In this episode of Refined Leadership ADHD Lens, Coach Cathy Rashidian explores the unique strengths that neurodivergent leaders bring to the table, including innovative thinking, hyperfocus, and resilience. Learn how these leaders drive innovation, build resilient teams, and make a lasting impact on organizations by harnessing their distinctive cognitive wiring. Discover practical strategies for turning these strengths into sustainable leadership and creating psychologically safe environments for teams to thrive. Embrace self-awareness, intentional pauses, and authentic leadership to elevate your professional approach. Checkout QTCommunity.com for group coaching for professionals with ADHD.