CBT for ADHD in Children & Adults

What is ADHD 

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. This means ADHD affects how the brain works, and can impact the ability to control attention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought). It is often diagnosed in childhood, and symptoms may continue through adulthood.

CBT for ADHD 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an effective and evidence-based treatment for ADHD in children and adults. CBT helps people with ADHD manage their symptoms and practice beneficial coping skills. It focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to ADHD challenges, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Certain areas that CBT targets are organization, time management, problem solving, and emotional regulation.

CBT Skills for ADHD

Psychoeducation: CBT includes the therapist providing information on ADHD, including common symptoms of ADHD, exploring the specific symptoms a client experiences and how these impact the client’s functioning and life, and helpful coping skills.

Cognitive Restructuring or Cognitive Distancing:  It is common to experience unhelpful thoughts about ADHD symptoms that may lead to unhelpful behaviors. For example, if you struggle to pay attention and complete tasks and think, “I can’t do anything well,” you may have more of an urge to procrastinate or avoid tasks. By challenging and changing the initial unhelpful thought, for example, “Some things are more difficult than others, and I can practice helpful strategies,” you set the table for helpful behavior.

Or, you can practice noticing and naming unhelpful thoughts and using imagery to practice letting the thoughts come and go without letting your attention linger on them. For example, imagine your thoughts as clouds in the sky that drift by at their own pace.

Behavioral Strategies

Time Management and Organization: Writing down tasks on a calendar, planner, or in your phone, making to-do lists, breaking larger tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, and setting realistic and doable goals and expectations.

Procrastination Management: Exploring reasons for procrastination and testing out possible helpful solutions such as a reward system, using a timer and setting a short amount of time to work on a task, breaking tasks into smaller pieces, and setting a deadline.

Emotional Regulation: If emotional intensity increases to the point that it is a barrier to helpful behavior, it is important to practice skills to lower and manage the intensity of emotions, such as deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, and creating more balanced and neutral thoughts that do not fuel emotional intensity.

Impulse Control: Exploring and identifying situations when you tend to act impulsively and practicing skills to lessen impulsivity, such as pausing, considering values and what is important to you, acting in a values-based way, and delaying gratification.

Problem-Solving Skills

CBT helps children and adults develop effective problem-solving skills when they encounter challenges or barriers in daily life. This can include identifying the specific problem, brainstorming possible solutions, exploring the pros and cons of each solution, and picking an effective solution based on current resources and circumstances.

Life Long Coping Skills

Please see CBT Denver’s ADHD Educational Page for more information on CBT for ADHD. CBT can help people with ADHD develop and practice long-term coping skills that can improve their daily functioning and quality of life.

Therapy interventions can be particularly helpful for ADHD. While many people’s symptoms may be improved with medications, the positive impact of medication may not last over time. In addition, some people do not benefit from medications or find that the side effects are intolerable. A recent NYT article highlighted key takeaways from ADHD research, including how the impact of medication can fade after about 3 years.

Please contact us at CBT Denver to learn more about therapy for ADHD.