ABOUT ME
April Kane – Clinical Psychologist, Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) approved Supervisor
Hi there, I’m April – I live in Perth, Western Australia with my family and pets. After leaving high school I served as a member of the Australian Defence Force (Royal Australian Navy), which I continued full-time whilst I completed my psychology degree. I was drawn to psychology because I’m inherently curious about people and what makes us tick. It’s an honour and a privilege to share in my clients’ experiences.
I have obtained a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) with First Class Honours, and a Master of Psychology (Clinical). I’ve been registered as a psychologist since 2013 and since then I have gained experience working for government and non-profit organisations in children’s and family services, in EAP and vocational rehabilitation, the Department of Justice, Defence Force Recruiting and in private practice.
I have experience working with clients with a range of presentations, including anxiety, mood disorders and trauma. But my special area of interest is ADHD, particularly individuals with late-diagnosis, and especially women. You may have recently been diagnosed as having ADHD, perhaps someone has suggested or you’ve suspected you might have it, or maybe your partner or someone you love has ADHD.
Whether formally diagnosed or self-identified and new to the journey, I would love to help you to make sense of yourself and how ADHD has contributed to your experiences, your psychological functioning, your self-perception, and the internalised messages and beliefs you have about yourself.
With a late-diagnosis of ADHD myself I have experienced first-hand the difficulty in recognising and obtaining a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This is especially so for women and girls.
My own experiences have led me to feel so passionate about education and advocacy in this space, and so Great Minds Therapy and ADHD Services was born; a way for me to combine my love of therapy with my drive to contribute to changing the narrative around ADHD.
My goal is to be a voice for women and girls with ADHD, and to destigmatise what it means to live with this condition. We have amazing, great minds….especially when we learn to recognise our strengths and use these to thrive.
MY INSPIRATION
“Keep those faces in mind, the little girls and boys in the early grades, all trusting the adults to show them the way, all eager and excited about life and what will come next, and then just follow those faces over time.
Follow the face of a little girl who doesn't read very well and is told to try harder; who tends to daydream and is told she better pay attention; who talks out in class when she sees something fascinating, like a butterfly on the windowpane, and is told to leave the class and report to the principal; who forgets her homework and is told she will just never learn, will she; who writes a story rich in imagination and insight and is told her handwriting and spelling are atrocious; who asks for help and is told she should try harder herself before getting others to do her work for her; who begins to feel unhappy in school and is told that big girls try harder.
This is the brutal process of the breaking of the spirit of a child. I can think of no more precious resource than the spirits of our children.”
– Edward Hallowell, M.D.
Authenticity…
is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect.
– Brené Brown
PODCAST
ADHD For Smart Ass Women
Episode 170: Inattentive ADHD with Clinical Psychologist, April Kane
As Smart Ass women, we know ADHD varies wildly in how it presents compared to the stereotypes, but what do we do when the rest of the world hasn’t caught up? After a lifetime of having our symptoms dismissed by teachers, parents, and even medical professionals, it can feel terrifying and futile to pursue a diagnosis. My guest this episode, April Kane, was so worried about having her ADHD suspicions invalidated that she put off getting an official evaluation for years, despite being a clinical psychologist herself.
For more ADHD For Smart Ass Women podcast episodes click here.