What ages do you treat ADHD for at the Center for CBT? 

Kids and Teens

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What is ADHD? 

ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. This term is inclusive of the disorder’s three different versions:  predominately inattentive type, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type (which means that the child exhibits both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity).

 

ADHD can look different in each person, but common symptoms include:

• being in constant motion

• difficulty staying still and quiet

• wandering off task

• feeling scattered

• difficulty listening and following through on directions and commands

• talking excessively

• failing to follow rules

• poor motivation for non-preferred or more difficult tasks

• difficulty monitoring and correcting behavior

• acting without thinking

• desire for immediate rewards

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Symptoms and difficult behaviors often appear both at home and in school, resulting in an impact on the child, their family, their academic performance, and their social interactions with peers. Treatment is thereby reflective of a learning process and collaboration with the child, parents, siblings, and teachers.

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What is the Treatment for ADHD? 

Research shows that effective ADHD treatment includes education, cognitive strategies, behavioral interventions, school support, and in some cases, pharmacological interventions.  The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has multiple therapists who are specialists in empirically-supported ADHD treatment.  Therapy starts with a thorough assessment to identify and understand each child’s specific ADHD symptoms and behaviors of concern, as well as areas of strength and ability. Treatment is then balanced by building on the child’s positive qualities, strengths, and skills, while working on areas of need or weakness by teaching children and their parents the cutting-edge, evidence-based tools that research has shown to reduce ADHD symptoms most effectively and efficiently.

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The course of ADHD treatment involves:

• Helping the child and parents gain a thorough understanding of ADHD

• Reducing problem behaviors

• Increasing the child's ability and willingness to listen/follow directions

• Reducing conflict in the home

• Improving executive functioning and self-regulation (improving attention, organization, problem-solving, and task completion)

• Increasing flexibility

• Improving emotional self-control

• Improving structure and positive communication in the home

 

These goals are achieved through the use of fun, interactive, and positive activities that have been shown by research to be highly effective for decreasing the symptoms of children with ADHD.