Tools that actually work
These are things Dr. Cowan recommends to real families in real clinical situations. Not paid placements. Not affiliate-first recommendations. Tools that have earned their place in 40 years of practice.
A home-use calming device designed to support the nervous system between clinical sessions. The column wave format provides rhythmic, grounding sensory input that many families find genuinely useful for high-activation moments.
Clinical tools used in session are important. What happens between sessions matters just as much. The Column Box extends the calming work into the home environment — particularly for Tigger and Piglet types who need a way to come down.
Consumer-grade neurofeedback devices have improved dramatically. For families who can't access clinic-based neurofeedback regularly, quality home devices can provide meaningful between-session support.
Home devices are a supplement, not a replacement, for professional neurofeedback. Speak with Dr. Cowan before choosing a device — the right protocol matters as much as the device itself.
A visual representation of time passing — not just a number counting down, but a visual disappearing arc. For ADHD brains that experience time blindness, seeing time is dramatically more effective than knowing it intellectually.
Time blindness is a core ADHD symptom. The visual timer makes abstract time concrete. Works for children and adults both — there is no age where seeing time become something you can feel instead of just count.
Digital calendars are convenient. Paper planners are more effective for ADHD brains. Writing things down creates a different kind of memory trace — and looking at a physical page requires no app loading, no notifications, no competing tabs.
Handwriting engages the brain differently than typing. For ADHD brains, the physical act of writing something down increases the likelihood of actually remembering and following through on it.
An app built on the same character-type framework as this site — personalized strategies, daily check-ins, and tools matched to your specific ADHD type. Built with Dr. Cowan's clinical guidance.
Being built with the same philosophy as the site: performance first, feelings follow. Practical tools, not journaling prompts.
A companion app for managing anxiety in real time — breathing tools, grounding exercises, check-ins, and the GAD-7 tracker built in. Based on the same clinical approach we use with clients.
The goal is a tool that helps in the moment anxiety spikes — not a wellness journal. Practical, fast, and built for anxious brains.
A note on these recommendations: This list will grow as we find tools worthy of it. Dr. Cowan does not recommend products he hasn't used or reviewed clinically. Some links may be affiliate links — if so, that is disclosed clearly. Products labeled "Coming Soon" are in active development and will be announced here first.