Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ADHD Child

The goal of CBT for ADHD children is the same as with ADHD adults although the methods may be different. The therapist can help an ADHD child recognize negative thought patterns, look at things differently, and replace negative behavior with positive.

The therapist offers ADHD child strategies to improve their lives. Self-defeating thoughts are replaced with an improved self-image; impulsivity is replaced with new coping mechanisms and tantrums are replaced with better problem-solving skills and better self-control.  With ADHD children the CBT therapist may use role-play; play therapy; reconstructing situations to “rehearse” responses; exposure therapy – gradually exposing the child to things that trigger ADHD symptoms and worksheets to help the ADHD child understand concepts.

The family may be asked to get involved in the CBT sessions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ADHD Adult

In CBT, ADHD adults can discuss symptoms of the disorder that disturb them and establish agreed-upon goals for the sessions to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones. Then the therapist will help the ADHD adult identify what thoughts were behind the undesirable behavior.

The therapist will recommend a plan of action to manage the ADHD symptoms the next time that situation arises.

The ADHD adult then goes away with “homework” to try out the tools he has been given in managing his symptoms. In the next CBT session, the therapist and ADHD adult will discuss how the tools work and adjust or change them accordingly. The goal of CBT is to identify problematic thoughts and behavior and learn ways of replacing them with healthy responses.