Therapy is often vital in the treatment of ADHD because it gives people a dedicated, non-judgmental space to focus on addressing the specific symptoms that cause them distress and impairment. To address ADHD symptoms, it’s common for therapists to work with people on structured problem-solving techniques. This is a therapeutic approach that involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, establishing clear goals, and outlining specific steps to achieve those goals. Because individuals with ADHD often struggle with planning, organizing, and decision-making, the structured problem-solving approach provides a framework that is highly effective in helping people improve their executive function skills.
Therapists can also serve as valuable supporters in helping people with ADHD prioritize tasks in their lives. Often, individuals with ADHD struggle to differentiate between essential and non-essential tasks, leading them to consume time on unimportant tasks and fall behind on responsibilities. Through therapy, individuals can express and explore the things that want to be more attentive of in their life and develop concrete steps toward prioritizing them.
Additionally, people with ADHD benefit from therapy because it allows them an opportunity to learn how to avoid distractions that can negatively impact their productivity. A therapist can help someone identify their distractions, such as checking emails frequently, browsing social media, or even talking to colleagues, which can quickly add up and consume valuable time. The therapeutic process will teach people how to avoid these distractions, set boundaries, and create daily routines that help them maximize their goals.
To address impulsivity related to ADHD, therapist will work with people on strategies to recognize impulses and resist acting on them. For example, a therapist may utilize mindfulness techniques to help people identify impulsivity as it arises, develop strategies to pause and think, and evaluate the potential consequences of their actions. CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) can help clients identify thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to impulsivity and replace them with healthier ones, while DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) can help someone learn effective distress tolerance skills that can reduce impulsive behavior.
No matter your unique individual experiences with ADHD, therapy can help you by recognizing your strengths and using them to your advantage. Strength-based therapy leverages an individual’s positive attributes, skills, or resources to support emotional regulation and problem-solving skills. It emphasizes on a person’s resilience, strengths, resources, and personal assets. Strength-based therapy does not ignore the challenges of ADHD but strives to focus on areas of potential strength to enhance the your self-efficacy.
Other topics discussed in therapy to address ADHD might include suggest coping strategies such as better sleep hygiene, exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation therapy. Further, a therapist might help a person work through the differences between personal and professional life, and help create healthy interpersonal relationships by improving communications and addressing issues related to focus and follow-through. Overall, therapy provides a safe space for people with ADHD to verbalize their concerns, thoughts, and emotions. It can help individuals learn more about their condition, acknowledge the challenges and identify coping mechanisms, and develop skills to manage their symptoms better.