Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD THERAPY in EDMONTON
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
Dr. Seuss
ADHD Counselling in Edmonton
LEARN, PROCESS & SUCCEED
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. While there is no single gene for ADHD, the heritability rate of the disorder is 74%, meaning that children are more likely to have ADHD if someone in their family does. ADHD does not only affect children. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD in children is approximately 7.2% while 2.5% of adults have ADHD.
ADHD leads to significant deficits in executive functioning and self-regulation. Such challenges can be overwhelming and isolating. These deficits create distress in academic, occupational, and interpersonal settings.
ADHD is a lifelong disorder that is associated with poor health outcomes when undiagnosed or untreated. ADHD evolves throughout the lifespan however, 80% of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to qualify for a diagnosis in adolescence and at least 60% continue to be impaired by symptoms in adulthood. ADHD treatment can support children, parents and adult individuals to better understand the disorder and to live more fulfilling and healthy lifestyles.
ADHD Counselling can help with:
- Inattention/focus
- Hyperactivity & restlessness
- Impulsivity
- Behavioural-regulation (calmer body, self-control)
- Emotional regulation (calming skills, healthy emotional
expression, identifying emotions) - Skills for planning, organizing, and completing tasks
- Time management skills
- Problem solving skills
- Memory concerns
- Social skills (less interrupting, more patience
& listening) - Reduction in unwanted behaviours (thinking things through)
- Self-confidence & self-esteem
Symptoms of ADHD:
ADHD ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
Children and adults with ADHD may experience any of the following: easily distracted, challenges with sustained attention/focus, getting bored easily, unable to pay close attention to details, making careless mistakes, forgetfulness, losing necessary things, or excessive zoning out/daydreaming.
People with ADHD may experience the following: fidgeting, a feeling of internal restlessness, a mind that races or switches focus frequently, unable to relax, talking too much or too fast, craving excitement and seeking out high risk activities, or trying to do too many things at once.
People with impulsive ADHD symptoms may experience the following: acting before pausing to think, making impulsive decisions before thinking things through, financial instability, excessively interrupting others, recklessness and jumping from job to job or relationship to relationship without a plan.
People with ADHD may struggle with the following self-regulation symptoms: quick emotional reactions, frequent anger outbursts or mood swings, easily triggered with difficulty calming down, irritable, impatient, and hypersensitive to criticism or rejection.
Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD include: challenges with prioritization, organization, planning, time management, task initiation (self-motivation) or working memory.
Childhood ADHD:
In younger children with ADHD we generally see hyperactivity which can look like excessive energy and motor activity (ex: running, climbing even when told not to do so), not being able to sit still for long, excessive talking about their interests, and interrupting often. When children are in elementary school, more of the inattentive symptoms appear. Children may find it difficult to pay attention in class, miss details on assignments, or zone out during mundane daily activities. They may forget to bring their lunch to school or have trouble with switching tasks (ex: recess to math class, watching TV to getting ready for school). Older children may also appear more restless and fidgety rather than hyperactive (ex: tapping their pencil, need to fidgeting with something in their hands).Â
Such struggles impact a child’s ability to regulate their thoughts, emotions, and body. You may notice that your child has emotional outbursts or poor frustration tolerance skills.
ADHD in children is often comorbid with anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder and learning disabilities. ADHD is also closely related to a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem as well as challenges with social skills or interpersonal relationships.
Early intervention is key.
Parenting a Child with ADHD:
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning that there are differences in your child's brain, particularly in the self-management system (prefrontal cortex). Your child's brain is working really fast, thinking of many things at once, and it is difficult for your child to slow down and put the brakes on.
Think of a train that keeps switching tracks and has trouble staying on route because the conductor has not learnt the skills to control the train. They likely need your help with pausing and thinking before responding.Â
Our therapists provide parent coaching support so that you can learn the most effective ways to help your little one grow. Keep in mind that your parenting style may differ with each child, depending on their individual needs.
Executive Functioning:
Children with ADHD struggle with executive functioning, which is a fancy term for higher order, complex mental processes. These processes help connect knowledge and past experiences with present behaviours. When children have problems with executive functioning, you may notice emotional and/or behavioural problems at home and school. Since ADHD impacts many functions that are required for learning and being successful in school, it is a good idea to connect with your child's teacher to determine how they are doing in the classroom.
Adult ADHD:
ADHD is a disorder that presents itself in childhood; however, we are now finding that many adults were misdiagnosed in childhood or not diagnosed at all. Since COVID-19 came about, many adults find that they have not been able to function as they usually would have. The switch to working from home, not having enough social time, not being able to workout in the gym, and not engaging in their usual hobbies has taken a toll on their ability to regulate their mind and body. Now they need to find new strategies to stay organized and on track.
Managing ADHD:
Counselling for ADHD is highly effective in providing people with tools and skills that they need to thrive in life. Our team is here to help you become the best version of yourself!
ADHD Counselling for Children:
The counselling approach for children with ADHD is strengths-based and involves a combination of behavioural therapy and regulation therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. We encourage parents to be involved in the therapeutic process so that we can provide practical parenting tools and psychoeducation on ADHD. We may also collaborate with the child's pediatrician for well-rounded support or with school staff regarding school accommodations for optimal learning.
Our therapists support children with ADHD to develop resiliency and enhance emotional regulation, positive thinking, social skills, problem solving skills, executive functioning and self-confidence.Â
Our ADHD Therapists make counselling engaging, fun and interesting!
ADHD Counselling for Teens & Adults:
ADHD counselling for teens and adults involves a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and ADHD coaching.
ADHD coaching is a collaborative and strengths-based approach that targets impairments in executive functioning and self-regulation. Counselling is personalized to meet your specific goals. You will learn about the biological underpinning of ADHD and practice skills to improve executive functioning, emotional regulation and relational skills. You may also receive coaching for vocational or academic goals, such as learning strategies for studying and test taking in university, or staying on top of your workload and preventing burnout. Counselling may target self-esteem, self-compassion, anxiety and depression.
Achieve real results with a specialized ADHD Therapist in Edmonton.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
In addition to ADHD counselling, we have Psychologists who specialize in assessing and diagnosing ADHD. The ADHD diagnosis process typically includes 2-3 assessment sessions involving a clinical interview and standardized testing. For children's Psychoeducational Assessments, parents and teachers must also complete questionnaires. The Psychologist may also wish to consult with other professionals (ex: physician, psychiatrist, teacher, or speech language pathologist) to gather further information. The final session consists of debriefing the assessment results, as well as reviewing strategies and next steps for success. A letter or report will be provided to access funding or academic supports at school, university or work.
Discover how you learn best so that you can flourish in all areas of your life.
Click below to read more the ADHD diagnosis process.
Therapists who specialize in ADHD Counselling in Edmonton:
Our team of Edmonton-based ADHD Therapists are here for you and your family. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and skills with you. We are excited to meet you and show you how meaningful and effective therapy truly can be.Â
Vanessa Goodchild
Ashley Driedger
Kennedy Ballam
Andrea Vera
Adriana Wiebe
Mirna Malak
Darien Zwicker
Sonali Shivaji
Haley Burchett
Kathleen Dane
Amer Aujla
Parishi Taya
Violeta Pidgorna
Emma Chi
Don't live in Edmonton?
If you do not live in Edmonton, don't stress. Solace Psychology offers virtual therapy for ADHD (secure phone or video) for anyone who lives within Alberta.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Barkley, R. A. (2006). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (3rd edition). New York: Guilford Press, 72 Spring St., New York, NY 10012
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC, 2023). About ADHD. https://caddac.ca/about-adhd/
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Demler, O., Faraone, S. V., Greenhill, L. L., Howes, M. J., Secnik, K., Spencer, T., Ustun, T. B., Walters, E. E., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. The American journal of psychiatry, 163(4), 716–723. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716
Willcutt E. G. (2012). The prevalence of DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analytic review. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 9(3), 490–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0135-8