What does an ADHD therapist do?
A typical ADHD therapist’s goal is to help change the behavior and thought patterns that make life with ADHD difficult.
Therapists will help you work through self-esteem issues that are common with ADHD, as well as teach coping techniques to control your symptoms and better manage tasks.
Sometimes therapists offer sessions to parents of young children with ADHD to teach them ways to support their children and become their best advocates.
Though ADHD looks different in children and adults, the root causes — from prefrontal cortex differences to the stress of living with ADHD — are often the same.
One vital way therapists help people heal from the stress and lack of motivation that often comes along with ADHD is by educating them on what ADHD is and how it impacts people.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular evidence-based method for ADHD therapy.
Standard ADHD therapy tactics also use behavioral therapy. This type of psychotherapy teaches you how to monitor your behavior and give yourself praise or rewards for controlling yourself or thinking before acting.
Which treatment is best for ADHD?
Many types of specialists can treat ADHD, each with their own specific skillset. For example, a psychologist or therapist can help people with ADHD manage symptoms and learn to cope with them, while an ADHD coach can help address specific needs and personal goals.
Research has found CBT is an effective treatment in helping adults living with ADHD develop new productive habits as well as increase self-esteem and happiness.
To be most effective, a therapist should have a specialty in working with people with ADHD and have several specific strategies geared toward the brain’s specific patterns.
An ADHD therapist will have a professional license, whereas a coach is not required to have a license.
In contrast to action-oriented ADHD coaching, therapeutic work is focused on healing, emotional regulation, and ADHD-specific strategies. Some experts believe coaching is most effective if clients work through their underlying emotional issues first.