DOSE vs Talkiatry: Understanding ADHD Crisis Tools vs. Clinical Care

Published: December 5, 2025 | 12 min read | By Steev Hodgson

If you're navigating ADHD treatment options, you've probably encountered two very different types of solutions: telepsychiatry platforms like Talkiatry that connect you with prescribers for medication management, and crisis intervention tools like DOSE that help you in acute moments of overwhelm.

Here's the thing: these aren't competitors—they're complementary.

Think of it this way: Talkiatry helps you get the right medication and clinical oversight. DOSE gives you tools for the moments when ADHD overwhelms you between those appointments. You need both the foundation (medication, therapy) and the scaffolding (crisis intervention tools).

What is Talkiatry?

Talkiatry is a telepsychiatry platform that connects you with board-certified psychiatrists for:

• ADHD diagnosis and assessment
• Medication prescriptions (stimulants, non-stimulants)
• Ongoing medication management
• Insurance-covered psychiatric care

These platforms solve the access problem: getting diagnosed and prescribed medication without waiting months for an in-person psychiatrist.

What is DOSE?

DOSE is a crisis intervention system with four evidence-based tools that work in 2-3 minutes when ADHD overwhelms you:

• 🎯 SPARK - Restructures catastrophic thoughts in real-time
• 🌊 WAVE - Guides you through emotional flooding
• 💔 RSD Meter - Provides context for rejection sensitivity
• 🍿 POPCORN - Captures racing ideas before they vanish

DOSE doesn't diagnose, prescribe, or replace clinical care. It gives you structured protocols for acute crisis moments when executive function is offline.

The Core Difference: Clinical Care vs. Crisis Intervention

When You Need Telepsychiatry

✅ You should use telepsychiatry if:

• You're seeking diagnosis - You suspect ADHD but need formal assessment
• You need medication - Stimulants or non-stimulants require a prescriber
• Your current meds aren't working - You need adjustments or alternatives
• You need regular psychiatric oversight - Complex cases, comorbidities, medication monitoring
• You want insurance coverage - Many telepsychiatry platforms accept insurance

What telepsychiatry doesn't solve:

• ❌ The 2am RSD spiral from one text message
• ❌ The catastrophic thought loop that hijacks your afternoon
• ❌ The emotional flooding that shuts down your work meeting
• ❌ The 47 racing ideas you lose because you can't capture them

Medication creates a foundation, but it doesn't eliminate every ADHD crisis moment.

When You Need Crisis Intervention Tools

✅ You should use DOSE if:

• You experience RSD meltdowns - One perceived rejection spirals into hours of catastrophizing
• Your thoughts spiral frequently - "They didn't respond" → "They hate me" → "I'm getting fired"
• You have emotional flooding episodes - Overwhelm that completely shuts you down
• Racing ideas escape you - Brilliant thoughts that vanish because you can't capture them fast enough
• You're already on meds but still struggle - Medication helps, but doesn't eliminate all symptoms

Real Scenario: Why You Need Both

Cost Comparison

Common Questions

Can DOSE replace my psychiatrist?

No. DOSE doesn't diagnose, prescribe, or provide medical advice. If you need medication or clinical oversight, you need a psychiatrist (in-person or via telepsychiatry). DOSE complements that care by giving you tools for crisis moments between appointments.

I'm already on medication. Do I still need DOSE?

Probably. Medication helps regulate your baseline, but it doesn't eliminate RSD, catastrophic thinking, or emotional dysregulation—especially in the evening when meds wear off. DOSE fills that gap.

Can I use DOSE if I'm not diagnosed?

Yes. You don't need a formal ADHD diagnosis to use DOSE's crisis intervention tools. However, if you suspect you have ADHD, we strongly recommend getting evaluated through telepsychiatry or an in-person provider.

What Users Say

The Perfect ADHD Tech Stack

Why this works: Each layer solves a different problem. Medication creates stability. Therapy addresses root causes. DOSE handles acute crises. Community provides connection.

The Bottom Line

Telepsychiatry platforms like Talkiatry solve the access and medication problem. They get you diagnosed, prescribed, and monitored efficiently.

DOSE solves the crisis intervention problem. It gives you evidence-based tools for the moments when ADHD overwhelms you, which happens even with medication.

These aren't competitors—they're complementary.

You deserve both the clinical care that stabilizes you AND the crisis tools that help you in your hardest moments.

About the Author

Steev Hodgson is the founder of DOSE and an ICF-credentialed ADHD coach who has completed 1,300+ coaching sessions with 95% client retention. Diagnosed with ADHD at 48 in 2020, Steev built DOSE to address the critical gap between clinical care and daily crisis support that he experienced firsthand. Prior to coaching, he spent 20+ years in enterprise tech sales with companies like CloudBees, LaunchDarkly, and Red Hat.

DOSE vs Inflow: Which ADHD App is Right for You?

Published: November 14, 2025 | 8 min read | By Steev Hodgson

If you're exploring ADHD apps, you've probably come across both DOSE and Inflow. While both aim to support people with ADHD, they take fundamentally different approaches. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right tool for your specific needs.

The Key Difference: Crisis Intervention vs Daily Coaching

The most important distinction between DOSE and Inflow comes down to when and how you need support:

Inflow is designed for daily ADHD management through structured coaching, educational content, and habit building. It's excellent for learning about your ADHD and developing long-term strategies.

DOSE is built for crisis intervention. When rejection sensitivity hits, when emotional dysregulation overwhelms you, or when executive function completely shuts down, DOSE provides immediate, structured tools to help you navigate those acute moments.

Feature Comparison

When to Choose DOSE

DOSE is the right choice if you:

• Experience intense rejection sensitivity - The RSD Meter is specifically designed for these crisis moments
• Need immediate support during emotional overwhelm - WAVE tool provides 2-3 minute emotional reset
• Struggle with cognitive spirals - SPARK breaks down thought patterns in real-time
• Lose brilliant ideas constantly - POPCORN captures and organizes creative thoughts
• Want tools that work when executive function fails - Designed for ADHD brains in crisis

When to Choose Inflow

Inflow is the right choice if you:

• Want structured ADHD education - Comprehensive modules about understanding ADHD
• Need daily coaching guidance - Regular check-ins and skill-building exercises
• Prefer a holistic ADHD management approach - Covers work, relationships, time management
• Value community connection - Access to coaching and peer support
• Are newly diagnosed - Excellent for learning about ADHD fundamentals

Can You Use Both?

Absolutely. Many users find that Inflow and DOSE complement each other perfectly. Use Inflow for ongoing education and daily habit building. Use DOSE when crisis hits.

Think of it this way: Inflow is your ADHD coach helping you build better systems. DOSE is your crisis hotline when those systems break down.

About the Author

Steev Hodgson is the founder of DOSE and an ICF-credentialed ADHD coach who has delivered 1,300+ coaching sessions. Diagnosed with ADHD at 48 after 20+ years in enterprise tech sales, Steev built DOSE to address the critical gap he saw in ADHD crisis support.

DOSE vs Shimmer: Which ADHD App is Right for You?

Published: November 14, 2025 | 7 min read | By Steev Hodgson

Both DOSE and Shimmer aim to support adults with ADHD, but they approach the challenge from completely different angles. Shimmer connects you with professional ADHD coaches, while DOSE provides immediate digital crisis tools.

The Core Difference: Human Coaching vs Digital Tools

Shimmer pairs you with a dedicated ADHD coach for one-on-one video sessions, text support, and personalized strategies.

DOSE provides four evidence-based digital tools plus AI companion Barkley that you can use anytime, anywhere, without scheduling or waiting.

Feature Comparison

When to Choose DOSE

• Need immediate support - Can't wait for scheduled sessions when RSD hits at 2am
• Prefer privacy - Don't want to share personal details with another human
• Want affordable tools - Professional coaching is expensive
• Value structured frameworks - SPARK's 5-step CBT, WAVE's 3-step reset
• Experience frequent crises - Unlimited use without session fees

When to Choose Shimmer

• Want human connection - Prefer talking with a real person
• Need accountability - Scheduled sessions keep you on track
• Have complex situations - Workplace accommodations, relationships
• Can afford coaching - Budget allows $150-300+ monthly

The Hybrid Approach

Many users successfully combine both. Use Shimmer for strategic weekly sessions. Use DOSE for immediate crisis intervention between coaching sessions.

About the Author

Steev Hodgson is both an ICF-credentialed ADHD coach (1,300+ sessions) and the founder of DOSE. He understands the value of both human coaching and digital tools. He built DOSE to fill the gap: clients needed support between sessions, especially during crisis moments.

DOSE vs Numo: Which ADHD App is Right for You?

Published: November 14, 2025 | 7 min read | By Steev Hodgson

Numo and DOSE both support people with ADHD, but they couldn't be more different. Numo gamifies task management and builds community, while DOSE provides crisis intervention tools for emotional regulation.

The Fundamental Difference: Productivity vs Crisis Management

Numo makes ADHD task management fun through gamification, social accountability, and community support. It helps you remember to do things and makes boring stuff engaging.

DOSE addresses emotional and cognitive crises: rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, cognitive spirals, and executive dysfunction during crisis moments.

Feature Comparison

When to Choose DOSE

• Experience intense rejection sensitivity - RSD episodes that derail your day
• Struggle with emotional regulation - Go from 0 to 100 emotionally
• Get stuck in cognitive spirals - Can't stop overthinking
• Need crisis tools, not task tools - Problem isn't forgetting laundry, it's emotional overwhelm
• Value privacy in vulnerable moments - Don't want to share RSD episodes publicly

When to Choose Numo

• Need help with executive function tasks - Remembering, starting, finishing things
• Thrive on gamification - Points and rewards motivate you
• Want community connection - Find support sharing with other ADHD folks
• Struggle with task initiation - Need dopamine hit to start boring tasks
• Like social accountability - Sharing progress keeps you motivated

Why DOSE and Numo Complement Each Other

DOSE and Numo address completely different aspects of ADHD. They're not competitors, they're complementary tools.

Use Numo for: Daily tasks, habit building, getting motivated, community support, executive function

Use DOSE for: RSD episodes, emotional overwhelm, cognitive spirals, quick emotional resets, capturing ideas

Real-World Scenario

Morning: Use Numo for your routine. Mid-morning: Boss sends terse email, you spiral. Use DOSE's RSD Meter. Afternoon: Back on track with Numo task list. Evening: Feeling overwhelmed. Use DOSE's WAVE tool for 3-minute reset. Night: Numo for evening routine.

About the Author

Steev Hodgson is the founder of DOSE and an ICF-credentialed ADHD coach with 1,300+ sessions delivered. After being diagnosed with ADHD at 48, he noticed that while task management apps helped with productivity, nothing existed for the emotional crises ADHD creates daily. That's why he built DOSE.