ADHD Counseling

Are you struggling to stay focused on one task at a time?

Does it feel like you are unable to manage your time?

Do you feel easily frustrated and more irritable than usual?

Are you restless or having troubles settling down and relaxing?

If you are nodding your head with a definitive “yes!” to any or all of those questions, it may be time to be assessed for ADHD.

Though it can be difficult to diagnose, ADHD is extremely treatable and can be well-managed if given the proper care and treatment. If you or your child are displaying symptoms that align with ADHD, or you have been recently diagnosed with ADHD – it’s important to know the next steps in managing it and what your options are. ADHD counseling is an incredibly successful and helpful resource that is available to both children and adults and has been shown to be incredibly impactful in managing the symptoms.

If you are facing the struggles of life with ADHD, know that you don’t have to do it alone. There are an abundance of helpful tools and resources at your fingertips, you just have to know where to access them. If you’re considering ADHD counseling, continue reading to learn more about what it is and how it can help you to live a happy and healthy life.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychological condition that creates challenges in a person’s ability to focus, accomplish tasks, manage time and control impulsivity. ADHD has several negative impacts on an individual’s ability to function in a learning setting, career and often in relationships. People typically begin to show symptoms and receive a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood, but the majority of those continue to face symptoms into adolescence and adulthood. It is also becoming increasingly common for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life, although it is more difficult to diagnose than in childhood.

ADHD in children

Children can begin to show signs of ADHD as young as two years old, but it’s more commonly diagnosed in their early elementary years. In children, ADHD is usually first recognized through their experience or challenges at school. Because ADHD is so closely tied to focus and attention, many children with ADHD struggle significantly in the classroom setting. If you’re noticing some concerning behaviors or challenges in your child, it may be something to look into evaluating. But parents often ask themselves, what is “normal” and what is considered concerning.

ADHD in children falls into two categories of profiles:

1. Predominantly Inattentive

In this category, the child’s symptoms mostly are associated with inattention and lack of focus. Children with ADHD that struggle with inattention usually struggle to pay attention to one thing for a long period of time, stay organized or have a harder time than others following directions. This type of ADHD presents clearly in the classroom setting, as children will either zone out or have difficulty finishing their assignments. 

Symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:

• Easily distracted, especially when they aren’t engaged in something they find interesting

• Lack of organization

• Struggling to pay attention and follow directions

• Forgetfulness

• Losing track of belongings

2. Predominantly hyper-impulsive

This type of ADHD is a combination of two types of symptoms; hyperactivity and impulsivity. Hyperactivity is a trademark symptom of ADHD, and often the one that gets the most attention or recognition. While most kids generally have a high-energy level, children with ADHD have an exceptionally high energy level and struggle to channel or control it. 

Symptoms that show hyperactivity in children with ADHD:

• Struggle to sit still

• Inability to focus for long periods of time

• Excessive fidgeting and movement

• Constantly running and climbing on surroundings

• Talking constantly and uncontrollably

The second symptom in this category is impulsivity. This is used to describe when a child lacks the ability to control their actions and behavior or practice restraint.

Signs of impulsivity in children include:

• Struggle to control emotions/anger

• Interrupting in conversation

• Shouting out answers in class at inappropriate times

• Making choices without thinking

ADHD in adults 

Finding out you have ADHD in adulthood, although less common, does happen and can be extremely difficult and shocking. The severity of symptoms in adults vary greatly, which is one of the reasons it can be difficult to diagnose. If you’ve been functioning your whole life with symptoms of ADHD, it’s natural to assume that it is your “normal”. The reality is that many individuals struggle with adult ADHD and never even discover it. Sometimes it takes a partner pointing out your behavior, an employer expressing poor reviews of your work or even your own child receiving a diagnosis before you realize you may have it.

Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults are:

The symptoms of ADHD in adults can range from completely manageable and hardly noticeable, to absolutely debilitating and impossible to manage. Regardless of where you fall on that scale, seeking help for your ADHD diagnosis is so important. It is a very well-treated and managed condition, and with the support of the right treatment plan, does not need to be something that stands in your way.

Diagnosis

So, you may be looking at these lists of symptoms and considering for the first time that you might have ADHD. If that’s the case, there’s no better time than now to seek an evaluation. To receive a formal ADHD diagnosis, you can seek a psychological evaluation performed by a psychologist, or you can also be assessed by a psychiatric care provider, physician, nurse practitioner or licensed therapist. On staff at Insight Northwest Counseling, we are able to offer the support of psychiatric care providers, licensed therapists, as well as a clinical psychologist for assessment and evaluation.

If you are concerned about your (or your child’s) symptoms and behavior, book a consultation or appointment today with one of our providers. We are here to help and support individuals of all ages through ADHD therapy and treatment.

ADHD Counseling

Counseling for ADHD is a very common and successful form of treatment. Your ADHD therapist will focus on therapeutic techniques that cater to your specific set of needs and experience.

The goal of your counselor will be to help you manage the ADHD symptoms and behavior in order to help you thrive in your daily life. The goal will be for them to be able to function at a normal level and not be held back by any of the ADHD symptoms.

Though there are many psychotherapy methods to be used, the most commonly used are behavioral therapy practices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 

CBT is a psychotherapeutic technique commonly used to treat many mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and addiction. In CBT practices, your therapist helps you to identify and recognize your thoughts and behaviors, targeting the negative and unhelpful ones, and then work to help adjust and reconceptualize them. In CBT, you also learn and practice new, healthy and applicable coping mechanisms that can serve as an alternative method of coping to the rather unhealthy ones that have been contributing to the problem.

For CBT, your therapist will help you focus on these main components:

• Explaining your condition to you and what makes ADHD what it is

• Work with you to pinpoint your main concerns and symptoms that led you there

• Offer guidance in developing a plan to achieve SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals

• Help you explore strategies for combating your biggest hurdles

• Offer suggestions of healthy coping tools

• Practice mindfulness and acceptance skills

In CBT, there are several exercises and skills that the therapist will use both in the sessions and encourage you to use outside of the sessions that will help you to find success in.

Some of the exercises or techniques that will be used to improve ADHD symptoms are:

• Planning and scheduling activities

• Organize your daily schedule

• Manage your time productively

• Create a distraction-free workspace

• Adjusting perfectionist mindset

• Using alarms or reminders to your advantage

Overall, CBT treatment is profoundly helpful in managing and working through ADHD. If you want to know more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or how it can help you – click here.

Behavior Therapy (for parents/children)

In treating ADHD in children, the approach is almost completely focused and centered around their behavior. And while the therapist works directly with the child on their behavior, the treatment of therapy in children for ADHD is most successful coming from the parent – as they are the ones spending the consistent time with them. A therapist will work with the parents and child to offer several strategies and methods to help improve their child’s behavior; such as reward systems, routines, and consequences.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

It is becoming more evident with time and experience, that DBT is a very effective treatment for ADHD. DBT specifically helps the individual to focus on the present moment, adjust unhelpful and destructive behaviors, and overall reduce symptoms of ADHD. DBT aims to offer the clients with the best tools and support to better balance their attention and behavior.

In DBT practice, for ADHD specifically, your therapist will focus on these key principles:

Mindfulness: practicing being present in mind and body.

Distress tolerance: learning how to cope with and manage your emotions in times when they seem impossible and unbearable.

Interpersonal Effectiveness: learning how to communicate and maintain relationships in a respectful and healthy way; with healthy boundaries and self-respect.

Emotion Regulation: learn to tolerate, adjust and accept various emotions – as to ensure that you control them, and they don’t control you.

ADHD Counseling at Insight Northwest Counseling

Our team of providers are here and ready to support you through your journey with ADHD. Whether you have yet to be evaluated, or you want to focus on treating symptoms of ADHD, we want to meet you where you are and walk by your side. We want to help you without judgment and in a way that feels the most comfortable to you. Treating a mental health condition of any kind should be treated as a collaborative effort, and we want you to be a part of each decision and step of your therapy experience, so that you feel informed, respected and valued as an individual. 

If you are ready to seek help for your ADHD treatment, contact us today for more information.