Building Bridges: Tips for Better ADHD Connection and Relationships with Lisa Rabinowitz

May 14, 2025

Lisa Rabinowitz, a seasoned couples counselor and author of "Why Won’t You Stop Interrupting Me?" dives into the intricacies of relationships influenced by ADHD. She shares insights on overcoming communication challenges by creating a safe "talk nook" for deeper connections. Listeners learn to navigate emotional reactivity through teamwork and compassion. Tools like timers and fidget toys are suggested for better conversations, while self-awareness fosters responsibility. Join Lisa for practical strategies to evolve and empower partnerships in the face of neurodivergence.

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INSIGHT

ADHD Impacts Communication

ADHD in relationships often leads to communication challenges due to distraction and focus issues.
Partners may have different types of neurodivergence, requiring acceptance rather than comparison.

INSIGHT

Neurodivergent Partner Pairing

ADHD partners rarely pair with truly neurotypical partners; often both show neurodivergence but differently.
Recognizing different manifestations helps avoid unfair comparisons and blame.

ADVICE

Shift From Blame to Teamwork

Avoid blaming one partner; relationship issues require shared responsibility and teamwork.
Address individual challenges through self-awareness before joint therapy can be effective.

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In this week’s episode of The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, I’m joined by couples counsellor and author Lisa Rabinowitz to discuss what really happens when ADHD shows up in a relationship and how to evolve and grow through it together.

Whether you have ADHD, your partner does, or you’re both neurodivergent, this conversation offers real-life tools and insights to help you feel more connected, understood, and supported.

Lisa, author of Why Won’t You Stop Interrupting Me?, shares how ADHD can create challenges with communication, emotional regulation, and reactivity, and how couples can move from blame to teamwork.

What You’ll Learn:

✨ Why ADHD can make communication harder and how to reduce misinterpretation and reactivity

✨ How understanding both partners’ neurodivergence creates more compassion and connection

✨ What a “talk nook” is, and why creating space for safe conversations can transform your relationship

✨ How to use tools like timers, summaries, fidget toys, ChatGPT, and bullet points to support better discussions

✨ Why self-awareness and emotional responsibility matter for both partners

✨ How to move from blame to teamwork, and what it means to approach your relationship like a “3-legged race”

✨ The role of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in relationships and how to navigate needs for independence

✨ Why having a shared goal and taking small steps forward together builds empowerment and trust

✨ How to start using your ADHD diagnosis as a tool for deeper understanding

✨ Encouraging, science-backed advice from Lisa’s work with couples navigating ADHD challenges

Timestamps:

🕒 00:59 – Understanding Neurodivergence in Relationships

🕒 14:51 – The Importance of Self-Responsibility in Relationships

🕒 17:32 – Navigating Neurodivergence in Relationships

🕒 23:36 – Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

🕒 30:03 – Exploring Different Communication Styles

You’ll walk away with encouragement, clarity, and small steps that make a big difference, whether you’re navigating frustration, wanting to reconnect, or just looking to understand each other better.

To find out more about Lisa Rabinowitz and the work she does check out her website, counselorforcouples.com or connect with her on Instagram (@rabinowitzcounseling).

You can find out more about her book, Why Won't You Stop Interrupting Me? here

Links and Resources:

⭐ Boosting your Self-Belief and Self-Trust after a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis is available to buy now on-demand - Click here to purchase.

⭐ Book on to the next ADHD Wellbeing Workshop all about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria - Click here to book.

⭐ If you love the podcast but want more ADHD support, get a sneak peek of my brand new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit and pre-order it here!

⭐ Launching September! Tired of ADHD support that doesn’t get you? My new compassionate, community-first membership ditches the overwhelm by providing support aligned with YOU! Join the waitlist now for an exclusive founding member offer!

Find all of Kate's popular online workshops and free resources here

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Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.