ADHD Treatment for Kids: Effective Therapies to Improve Focus and Behavior 

Dr. Heath Mueller, MD, who is board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, utilizes medication, EEG neurofeedback training and outpatient behavioral therapy as her treatment options for children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Additional areas of support are parent education, educational strategies and school accommodations including 504 plans.

“As a child psychiatrist I am often managing my patients’ ADHD medications, but I also incorporate education and support for parents on how to handle their child’s ADHD symptoms,” Dr. Mueller shares. “This can be ideas on rule setting at home. Rules and consequences should be clear and consistent. Consequences should be as immediate as possible given that kids with ADHD struggle with delayed results. For example, If you tell a child with ADHD, they will get a prize at the end of the week for being good you are likely to find this doesn’t work for two reasons. Firstly, ‘being good’ needs to be clearly defined and broken down into specific behaviors e.g. ‘listening the first time an adult makes a request’ or ‘keeping hands to self” etc., and, secondly, waiting a week is too long for a child with ADHD that already struggles with impulse control and inattention. A better strategy might be, ‘If you keep your hands to yourself all afternoon, you get to pick a game for us to play together for the next 30 minutes.’ Providing positive feedback and encouragement to kids is more effective than given negative consequences.”

Whether it’s using Legos or engaging in art projects to strengthen executive function skills or practicing focus skills through activities like playing with slime or Pokémon, I tailor the approach to match their interests.

-Kristie Keeling, LPC-A

Kristie Keeling, LPC-A, who specializes in treating kids from the ages of two to sixteen with learning and developmental disabilities such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia, primarily utilizes child-centered Play Therapy at her practice. This approach is particularly effective for her youngest clients, ranging from 2 to 10 years old, and sometimes even adolescents up to 14 years old. During these child-centered Play Therapy sessions, she allows the child to take the lead, providing them with a safe space to express themselves through play. However, if a child prefers verbal communication, she seamlessly integrates elements of person-centered therapy, adjusting her approach to suit their needs.

Furthermore, depending on the child’s age and level of maturity, she incorporates additional therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and basic neuroscience principles. These methods help both the child and their parents better understand the workings of the brain, empowering them to navigate the challenges of ADHD more effectively.

“For many neurodivergent children, creative activities serve as effective learning tools. Thus, I allow them to lead the way in selecting activities they enjoy,” Keeling says. “Whether it’s using Legos or engaging in art projects to strengthen executive function skills or practicing focus skills through activities like playing with slime or Pokémon, I tailor the approach to match their interests. By incorporating activities they already love, such as these, we naturally increase their dopamine levels, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective. This approach not only helps them grasp important concepts but also fosters a positive association with therapy, encouraging continued engagement and progress.”

Parents play a crucial role in helping their children with ADHD by providing consistent support, advocating for appropriate treatments, and implementing effective behavioral strategies. Their involvement in therapy sessions and collaboration with educators ensures a comprehensive approach, enabling children to manage symptoms and achieve their full potential.

Parenting is hard. Parenting a child with ADHD can be even harder. Having a shared game plan can reduce caregiver burnout and allow everyone to support one another in the efforts to help your child reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.

-Dr. Heath Mueller, MD

According to Dr. Mueller, it is essential to understand that many behavioral challenges in children are often due to underlying disorders rather than simple defiance. This can provide some much-needed relief and validation for parents.

“Parenting is hard. Parenting a child with ADHD can be even harder. Having a shared game plan can reduce caregiver burnout and allow everyone to support one another in the efforts to help your child reach their full potential in and out of the classroom. Having similar behavioral goals, rewards, and consequences at home and in school can also be helpful for the child to have consistency in their two main environments,” she states.

Dr. Mueller also points out that parents’ expectations can sometimes be a challenge in itself. “I practice psychoeducation to adjust parents’ expectations for their child down to realistic levels. We talk through what neurodivergent means and that their child’s brain is wired differently. It is not less than. It is simply different. This also means that if they hold neurotypical expectations for their child, they must be adjusted.”

When asked how parents can help, she recommends that they should anticipate giving their child additional prompts and extra time to complete daily tasks, chores and homework. Picking a “special word” that cues the child they are off task and need to refocus can be a fun and non-shaming way to redirect a child’s attention. Behavioral reward systems are a bit more time intensive but very effective to encourage desired behaviors. Rewards need to be modified to keep the child motivated and engaged and parents must spend time monitoring and logging behaviors and giving rewards.

Kristi Keeling always asks the child to choose if they want their parents to come into session with them or not. This allows the child to feel more comfortable and the therapeutic relationship to grow. It also helps the parent to learn a bit more on ADHD and Play Therapy in the process.

“I do not force parents to participate, but I will match their energy and effort level just like with the kids. I have had parents book weekly sessions with me, where the child sees me one week, and the parents come the next. Usually this is because when the child is diagnosed with ADHD, the parent realizes they also have the disorder. ADHD is highly genetic, so if their child was diagnosed, it means that one or both parents may also have ADHD (Grimm et al., 2020). Due to the unique wiring of each brain and the varied presentation of ADHD symptoms, many parents only realize they have ADHD after their child’s diagnosis. Increasing parents’ understanding of ADHD not only enhances their knowledge of their own condition but also equips them to be a better parent and guide their child on their journey,” says Keeling.

LifeStance offers comprehensive treatment plans for children with ADHD starting with comprehensive ADHD diagnostic and evaluations, 504 Plans support, various individual and group therapy for children, and also group therapy ADHD support for parents.