Why Counseling for Children with ADHD is Important

Here's why psychological help for children with adhd is key.

There is a myth that ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is just a stigmatized label. is nothing more than a stigmatizing label used to designate certain minors who are more active and curious than normal, or who have a tendency not to obey the rules of every child or school.

Nothing could be further from the truth: it is a very real neurodevelopmental disorder that, if not treated in time, will greatly damage the quality of life of the child, even beyond the academic environment or his or her relationship with his or her parents. In this article we will see to what this is due and why before this class of psychological phenomena it is necessary to have professional help.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose symptoms arise mainly during the school years and have to do with problems in managing the ability to concentrate on the tasks at hand, as well as a tendency to be constantly looking for external sources of stimulation..

Thus, children with ADHD tend to be extremely restless (as the word "hyperactivity" suggests), behave in a relatively impulsive manner, and have problems following lessons in the school context.

Although we tend to associate ADHD with childhood, the disorder continues to be expressed in adulthood as well. However, it is mainly in childhood that this disorder is expressed during adulthood, it is especially in childhood that it is important to intervene to provide psychotherapeutic and educational support adapted to these individuals.Otherwise, they will accumulate educational deficits that will not only generate great discomfort, but will also complicate the challenge of being autonomous and educated individuals during adulthood.

Missing the opportunity to take advantage of the years of schooling has a very high cost that remains "entrenched" and is difficult to remedy when many years have passed since ADHD began to develop.

The role of psychological support for children with ADHD

Although up to this point we have seen a brief description of what this disorder is, the fact is that it is a very complex disorder that cannot be summarized in order to understand all its nuances. In the same way, ADHD cannot be "solved" with magic recipes either; no, psychotropic drugs such as methylphenidate, prescribed by doctors, are not intended to be a way to cure the disorder, but rather a way to mitigate some of its symptoms.

The key is to offer support so that the child is aware of what is happening to him or her and can develop his or her own tools to modulate his or her behavior so that he or she can adapt to the different situations of everyday life. In other words beyond medical logic, it is necessary to help them learn ways to modify their own behavior and the way they manage their emotions.. And this requires the right support from the educators and the family, yes, but it is also necessary to have psychological help. Below you will find a summary of the different roles that a psychologist plays in cases of children with ADHD.

1. A space is offered to express oneself and to approach the problem in a positive way.

A psychologist's office is a place where it is possible to express one's emotions and feelings without being judged.and this fact is often recognized as such and appreciated even by young children. In such situations, children are encouraged not to be afraid to express themselves. This encourages what is known as emotional ventilation, transforming the communication of emotional states into something constructive and from which work can begin on setting goals.

2. Self-esteem reinforcement techniques

ADHD often leads to very frustrating situations, and this easily leads to problems of low self-esteem. For this reason, one of the aspects that we work on the most in therapy consists of making the child understand that what is happening to him/her is not his/her fault, and that, at the same time, he/she can learn to better understand his/her own potential. and to detect their positive qualities as well.

3. Training in the development of study skills

Something as simple as sitting down for ten minutes to study a lesson given in class is often a challenge for a child with ADHD. However, there are techniques and strategies to facilitate this, and it is possible to learn them in sessions with the psychologist.

4. Learning self-motivation methods

As we have seen, impulsivity is often one of the characteristic aspects of the behavior of a young person with ADHD. However, this predisposition to set off in search of stimulating experiences does not always have to be a problem; it can also be transformed into an opportunity for self-motivation.It can also be transformed into a source of motivation.

5. Guidance for parents

Help for children with ADHD does not end at school or at the psychologist's office, but must also be extended to the family environment. To this end, psychologists work advising parents, both by resolving doubts and by giving guidelines and indications on what to do to raise and educate the child in the best way possible.

6. Helping them to have an adequate learning space

Beyond the behavior and mental processes of the child in question, it should not be forgotten that the material environments to which he/she is exposed also have a great influence on the way he/she manages ADHD.. For this reason, psychology also offers personalized assistance to create study spaces that take into account this diagnosis, and that make things easier for the child to learn.

7. Development of organizational skills

Another key to reinforce in a child with ADHD has to do with routines associated with the management of time and resources at your disposal.. Through these routines, you will be able to structure your daily life without falling into pure impulsivity and without postponing indefinitely the goals that can bring you more in the medium and long term.

Looking for professional psychological support services?

If you are looking for psychological support services for young people and families in the face of phenomena such as ADHD and learning disorders, please contact me, please contact me. I am a psychologist specialized in cognitive-behavioral psychology and I attend both in my office located in Madrid and online through video call sessions.

Bibliographical references:

• Betts, J., Mckay, J., Maruff, P. and Anderson, V. (2006) The Development of Sustained Attention in Children: The Effect of Age and Task Load. Child Neuropsychology, 12(3): pp. 205 - 221.
• Brown, T.E. (2006). Attention deficit disorder. Una mente desenfocada en niños y adultos. Barcelona: Masson.
• Franke, B., Faraone, S.V., Asherson, P., Buitelaar, J., Bau, C.H., Ramos-Quiroga, J.A., Mick, E., Grevet, E.H., Johansson, S., Haavik, J., Lesch, K.P., Cormand, B., Reif, A. (2012). The genetics of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults, a review. Molecular Psychiatry. 17(10): pp. 960 - 987.
• Sroubek A, Kelly M, Li X (February 2013). Inattentiveness in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Neuroscience Bulletin. 29 (1): pp. 103 - 110.