Medication Services

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD and wish for the MHC Counseling Service to continue or initiate medication, you are ready for the next steps!

1. Contact your current prescriber (if you have one) and arrange for ongoing care while you complete the process required to transfer your care to MHC. This can take several weeks and is best done before you arrive on campus if you are an incoming first-year student.
    
2. Have your provider submit documentation of a complete evaluation supporting the diagnosis directly to the MHC Counseling Service (fax number 413-538-3518). The following must be included (in office notes, copies of formal neuropsychological testing and/or a letter from the diagnosing provider):
   • Documentation of a comprehensive diagnostic interview by a qualified physician, psychologist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner whose scope of practice includes the diagnosis of attentional problems. Use of diagnostic terminology indicating ADHD by someone whose training and experience are not in these fields is not acceptable. This provider must not be a relative of the requesting student. Please note that an ADHD checklist alone does not qualify as a comprehensive assessment.   
   • Evidence of symptoms prior to the age of 12.
   • Evidence of impairment in 2 or more settings.
   • Assessment of possible conditions which may also cause attentional issues including learning disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. Lack of adequate sleep and nutrition can also be a factor in attentional issues.
      
3. Be sure to provide us with your most up-to-date contact information. We will review your documentation and reach out to you to schedule an appointment.

Let us know if you have questions at any point in the process. We would be happy to consult with you: 413-538-2037, counseling_wm@mtholyoke.edu 

If you think you may have ADHD and are interested in pursuing medication as a treatment option and/or accommodations, we recommend neuropsychological testing/evaluation. This typically involves an in-depth assessment of many factors, including attention, executive function, problem solving, memory, language, IQ, visual-spatial perception, academic performance, and social-emotional functioning. A neuropsychological evaluation is the most accurate and thorough way to measure and evaluate cognitive function, rule in or out the diagnosis of ADHD, as well as assess for potential learning disabilities.  

MHC Counseling Service staff do not perform neuropsychological testing for initial diagnosis of ADHD. Listed below are four practices that we commonly refer to for neuropsychological testing. You may also wish to consult with your insurance company or primary care provider at home for referrals. Wait lists for testing can sometimes be as long as several months, so it is important to contact as many of these locations as early as possible in order to get the process started. 

• Learning Solutions - Northampton
• Haffey Center - Amherst
• Neuropsychological and Clinical Services - Hadley
• Lifestance Health - Boston

Neuropsychological testing can be a time consuming and costly process, depending on your medical insurance coverage and other resources. If you are a current student and need assistance making connections with your insurance company or identifying your options, our Student Care Coordinator may be able to help guide you through the process. Please call 413-538-2037 to schedule a consultation if you need assistance.