Child ADHD Psychotherapy and Counselling in London

Have you noticed a tendency in your child to be hyperactive or ADD?

Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD? Are you desperate to help your child learn better management skills and gain more confidence? 

In the UK, psychological therapy is the first-line treatment for children with mild to moderate ADHD, and can bring relief both to your child and your family. 

It is also beneficial for your child or adolescent to receive ADHD therapy if he or she is taking medication for severe ADHD. Although medication can reduce impulsive or hyperactive behavior in children, it does not teach them other positive behavior. Your child will also be prepared for a future time when they might stop taking their medication by working with a therapist. 

Your child’s and your family’s support can make all the difference 

By providing your child with adequate support, they are less likely to develop secondary disorders from managing their attention problems, or are better able to manage them if these conditions are already present. Among them are:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low self-esteem 

Although ADHD is believed to be hereditary, managing your child’s symptoms can affect both the severity of the disorder and the development of more serious problems over time. Positive outcomes for your child can be achieved through early intervention. You will be more likely to prevent school and social failure and associated problems such as underachievement and low self-esteem that may lead to delinquency or substance abuse if you address your child’s problems at an early age. Although raising a child can be challenging at times, as a parent you can help create an environment in the home and at school that is conducive to success for your child.

The following are some suggestions for getting started.

• Don’t waste your limited emotional energy on self-blame. In the majority of cases, ADHD is an inherited disorder affecting certain regions of the brain. In spite of the fact that poor parenting or a chaotic home environment can contribute to the symptoms of ADHD, the home environment does not cause the disorder.
• Learn all you can about ADHD. Although there is a great deal of information available regarding the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, not all of it is accurate or supported by scientific evidence. The onus is on you to be an informed consumer and understand the difference between accurate and inaccurate information. What are the best methods for sorting out what will be useful and what will not? A general rule of thumb is to be cautious when it comes to advertisements that claim to cure ADHD. Although ADHD cannot be cured at this time, you can take positive steps to minimize its effects. Be sure to pay attention to the source of the information as well.

• Make sure your child has a comprehensive assessment. To complete the diagnostic process, make sure your child has a comprehensive assessment that includes medical, educational, and psychological evaluations (with input from your child’s teacher) and that other disorders that mimic or occur often with ADHD have been examined.

How to help your child succeed at school

• Become an effective case manager. Ensure that you keep a record of all information about your child. Please include copies of all report cards, teacher notes, disciplinary reports, evaluations, and any documents pertaining to your child. In addition, you may wish to include information regarding ADHD, a record of your child’s previous treatment and placements, and contact information for professionals who have worked with your child in the past.
• Form a team that understands ADHD and be the team captain. Meetings at your child’s school should be attended by the principal’s designee as well as a special educator and a classroom teacher who are familiar with your child. However, you have the right to request input from others who are familiar with ADHD or your child’s special needs during these meetings. Physicians, school psychologists, nurses, and guidance counselors at your child’s school may provide advice and assistance. During these meetings, if you have consulted other professionals, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, educational advocate, or behavior management specialist, the useful information they have provided should also be discussed. Having a thorough understanding of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as how ADHD affects him or her, will enable you and the rest of the team to design a program that is appropriate and effective.
• Become your child’s best advocate. It is important for you to represent and protect your child’s best interests in school settings, both academically and behaviorally. Be a part of the team that determines what services and placements your child receives under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 plan. Information about education for individuals with ADHD can be found at Education for Individuals with ADHD.
• Communicate regularly. When working with your child’s team, adopt a collaborative approach. Everyone has the same goal: ensuring that your child succeeds. If there are major changes in your family, let your child’s teachers know as soon as possible because your child’s behavior may be affected. Invite the teachers to contact you with any issues or concerns before they become a problem. You and the school should maintain open lines of communication.

How to make life at home easier

• Join a support group. Attending local CHADD meetings, where available, will provide parents with additional information and support. The chapter locator can be used to locate the chapter closest to your residence.
• Seek professional help. Seek the assistance of a mental health professional if you are feeling depressed, frustrated, or exhausted. In addition to helping yourself feel less stressed, you will also be benefiting your child.
• Work together. The adults who care for your child (parents, grandparents, relatives, and babysitters) should agree on how to handle your child’s problem behaviors. It is beneficial to consult with a professional, if necessary, in order to better understand how to work together to support your child.
• Learn the tools of successful behavior management. The use of behavioral techniques in treating children with ADHD has been widely established as an essential component of treatment. You will learn strategies for changing your child’s behavior and improving your relationship with him or her through parent training.
• Find out if you have ADHD. It is common for parents of children with ADHD to discover that they themselves have ADHD once their child has been diagnosed with the disorder. A parent with ADHD may require the same type of evaluation and treatment that they seek for their children in order to function at their best. A parent with ADHD may cause chaos in the home and affect their ability to be proactive rather than reactive.

 

Parent training will help you learn to:

• Provide clear, consistent expectations, directions and limits. The expectations of others should be clearly understood by children with ADHD. A professional can assist you in narrowing the focus to a few specific behaviors, setting limits and consistently following through with consequences if you are experiencing ambiguous situations that do not specify what is expected and that require you to “read between the lines.”
• Set up an effective discipline system. A parent should learn proactive discipline methods, rather than reactive ones, which teach and reward appropriate behavior and respond to misbehavior with alternatives such as timeouts or loss of privileges. As much as possible, communicate with the other caregivers of your child and use the same behavioral techniques across settings and caregivers.
• Help your child learn from his or her mistakes. There are times when children’s behavior will result in negative consequences. It is, however, difficult for children with ADHD to make the connection between their behavior and these consequences. In order to help their child with ADHD make these connections and learn from his/her mistakes, parents can assist them.

How to boost your child’s confidence

• Set aside a daily special time for you and your child. A child’s self-esteem can be undermined by constant negative feedback. When you spend time with your child in positive interaction, whether it is an outing, playing games, or just spending time with your child in positive interaction, you can help your child resist attacks on their self-esteem.
• Notice your child’s successes, no matter how small. You should make an effort to notice when your child is paying attention well or performing the tasks he/she is supposed to be performing. Your child should be told exactly what he or she did well. In addition to improving your child’s self-esteem, this can also teach him/her to notice gradual improvements rather than being too hard on themselves.
• Tell your child that you love and support him/her unconditionally. There will be times when you may doubt your own belief in this statement. In those circumstances, it will be even more critical that you acknowledge your child’s difficulties and express your love to him or her. Be sure to assure your child that you will be there for them through both the good times and the bad ones.
• Assist your child with social skills. There is a possibility that children with ADHD may be rejected by peers as a result of their hyperactive, impulsive, or aggressive behavior. As a parent, you will learn how to assist your child in making friends and learning to work cooperatively with others through parent training.
• Identify your child’s strengths. Children with ADHD often have strengths in certain areas such as art, athletics, computers, or mechanical abilities. Your child will feel pride and accomplishment if you build upon these strengths. Make sure that your child has the opportunity to be successful in these activities and that his strengths are not undermined by untreated ADHD. If your child misbehaves, avoid withholding these activities as a form of punishment or targeting them as a condition for good behavior.

Your child will be able to manage life more effectively with ADHD therapy

Your child can benefit from working with an ADHD psychologist in the following ways:

• Better life skills
• Improved social skills
• Increased self-awareness and self-control
• More able to understand others
• Learn positive decision-making and problem solving
• Recognize and control impulsiveness
• Learn how to relax
• Feel better about themselves

Psychotherapy and Counseling for ADHD – Expert Therapy

Our child psychologists and psychotherapists have at least five years of clinical experience and are trained and registered to work with children. Your child will feel comfortable and understood in a warm, supportive environment. 

Learn how ADHD Therapy can help you today

Many families deal with ADHD on a daily basis. Having your child work with an ADHD therapist at Expert Therapy can give them new confidence, and can help you better understand their needs. 

For a confidential first session with one of our highly experienced child ADHD psychologists in the City of London, call us today or complete our online booking form now. Please let us know how we can help. 

Further reading on child ADHD 

• Guide to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)  
• ADHD in Children – Should You Be Concerned? 
• Child ADHD Treatment