By Natasha Montgomery, M.A., LPC-S, LCDC

“Do I need medication?” “Are there other things I can try?” “What if I don’t feel like myself?”

There can be a lot behind those questions. Sometimes it is fear of side effects. Sometimes it is a past experience of feeling rushed or unheard. Sometimes it is what we grew up hearing about mental health treatment. Whatever brings the question up, I want there to be room to ask it.

In this episode of This Therapist Has Problems, I welcome Dr. Shayla Buckler, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, of The Calming Mind Psychiatry Group. We talk about ADHD care, medication, holistic approaches, and the importance of understanding the person sitting in front of you.

Watch our full conversation: https://youtu.be/8UAyuzkjOrY

What do we mean by holistic care?

When I talk about the whole person, I am thinking about someone’s daily life, relationships, stress, health, and the support they have available. I want to understand what they are carrying and what it takes for them to get through the day.

In our conversation, Dr. Buckler describes asking questions beyond the symptom that brought someone into her office. She discusses sleep, mood, physical health, and the patient’s own understanding of what is happening. Those questions help illustrate the kind of attention that drew me to this conversation.

Holistic care can include medication. The word does not have to mean avoiding psychiatric treatment, and it should not be used to suggest that every natural product is safe or effective. For adult ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health identifies medication and psychotherapy among common treatment approaches and describes care that may combine several elements. Learn more from NIMH.

Start with a conversation about what you are experiencing

It can be helpful to recognize yourself in someone else’s story. A podcast, social media post, or conversation with a friend may give you language for something you have struggled to explain.

Dr. Buckler talks about patients coming to her with questions about ADHD after seeing information online. She describes taking time to explore those concerns rather than stopping at the first explanation. Her examples are a reminder to bring your experiences into an appointment, even if you are unsure what to call them.

You might write down what is hardest, when it happens, and how it affects your day. Is it starting a task? Remembering what you intended to do? Keeping up at home after using all your energy at work? What has changed, and what has been present for a long time?

You do not need a polished presentation to deserve help. The details you notice can give your provider a starting point. The next steps, including any medical evaluation, should be based on your individual situation.

Medication questions deserve more than a quick answer

One of the parts of this conversation I appreciated most was hearing Dr. Buckler talk about patient education. She describes explaining treatment choices, discussing potential side effects, and following up with patients about their experiences.

For me, that is a meaningful part of care. Agreeing to a plan should come with an opportunity to understand it. If something worries you, that concern belongs in the conversation.

Questions you can bring include:

• What are we hoping this treatment will help me do or feel differently?
• What benefits and risks should I understand?
• What should I do if something does not feel right?
• How will we check whether this plan is helping?
• What other support could be part of my care?

You can also tell your provider what makes follow-through difficult. Maybe you forget an appointment, have questions you think of afterward, or feel unsure about bringing up a concern. Those are useful things to discuss rather than reasons to judge yourself.

Daily support belongs in the conversation, too

Dr. Buckler and I discuss calendars, reminders, organization, sleep, and other parts of daily life. I appreciate practical conversations because a treatment plan has to exist in someone’s actual day.

A routine that sounds simple on paper may be difficult when someone is overwhelmed. A reminder is only useful if it is placed where that person will notice it. Support should leave room to learn what works and adjust what does not.

The episode also includes discussion of supplements. That part deserves careful context: NCCIH describes the evidence for many complementary approaches to ADHD as mixed or inconclusive and notes that supplements can interact with medications. Please discuss supplements with a qualified clinician rather than treating a podcast example as a personal recommendation. Read NCCIH’s ADHD overview.

Trust matters, especially when asking for help already feels hard

We also talk about stigma in the Black community and the effort it can take to reach out. People bring family messages, cultural experiences, and prior encounters with health care into the room. I want those experiences to be met with curiosity and respect.

I was encouraged by Dr. Buckler’s emphasis on education and connection. I also appreciated her willingness to talk about her own therapy. As clinicians, we can care about this work and still need support ourselves.

My hope is that hearing two providers speak openly helps make that first conversation feel a little more approachable. You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to want a clear explanation. You are allowed to look for care that takes your concerns seriously.

Meet Dr. Shayla Buckler

Dr. Shayla Buckler, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Clinical Professor with over 20 years of experience in clinical care, education, and leadership. She teaches and mentors nursing students and contributes to curriculum development across multiple universities.

In clinical practice, she provides compassionate, trauma-informed psychiatric care to adolescents and adults experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. Her approach emphasizes evidence-based treatment, medication management, patient education, and collaborative care tailored to each individual’s needs. She is committed to reducing mental health stigma, improving access to quality psychiatric services, and educating future generations of nursing professionals.

Connect with The Calming Mind Psychiatry Group:

• Website: https://www.thecalmingmindpsychiatrygroup.org/
• Phone: 214-800-4417
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecalmingmindpsychiatrygroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Z39f779D/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecalmingmindpsychiatry

Ask the practice directly about current services, eligibility, insurance, and appointment availability.

Keep the conversation going

What would help you feel more informed and supported in your care?

You can sit with that question privately or bring it into your next appointment. You do not have to decide on a treatment plan from a podcast. I hope the conversation helps you identify what you want to ask next.

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/8UAyuzkjOrY

Through M.B.S. Whole Health, I offer adult individual counseling, life coaching, and LPC Associate supervision. To learn more, visit https://mbswholehealth.com/contact/, call 682-292-8087, or email clients@mbswholehealth.com.

Additional educational resources

These are additional reading resources selected for this article, not endorsements attributed to the guest:

• NIMH: ADHD in Adults
• NCCIH: ADHD and complementary approaches
• NCCIH: Ashwagandha usefulness and safety

My hope is that these conversations help you feel seen, encouraged, and better informed. They’re here for education and connection, and don’t replace therapy, diagnosis, or medical advice tailored to your needs. If you’re in crisis, please contact 911 or 988 as you deserve timely support from a crisis service, as my inquiry form and social media accounts aren’t equipped to provide that care.

For U.S. crisis support: 988.