ADHD Counseling – Counselors and Therapists in Delaware County, Media, PA

What is ADHD? Does my child have ADHD? How is my child diagnosed with ADHD? What does ADHD do to a child? How can I help my ADHD child ADHD?

If you are a parent asking yourselves any of the above questions, read on. ADHD is a disorder that is becoming increasingly more common in children. According to the CDC nearly 5% of children in the US suffer from ADHD and about 10% of children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point. ADHD is a disorder that significantly affects a child’s ability to maintain focus, be organized, and control his impulses.

Symptoms

Most often, ADHD symptoms begin to affect the child and are most noticed when a child transitions to school, where the ability to pay attention, remain focused, and remain seated are crucial to the child’s academic success and development. It is when a child begins to exhibit difficulties in transitioning to the school structure and meeting the academic expectations that problems arise, in the form of poor grades, disciplinary issues, impulse control problems, and social issues.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis of ADHD the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) requires a child must exhibit at least 6 or more of the following symptoms for 6 months or longer and the symptoms must interfere with their functioning and development.

1. Inattention (6 or more)

• Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Difficulty sustaining attention
• Not listening to when spoken to directly
• Does not follow through on instructions
• Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Dislikes and avoids engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort
• Often losses things
• Often distracted by extraneous stimuli
• Often forgetful in daily activities

2. Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (6 or more)

• Fidgety
• Difficulty remaining seated when expected to
• Running and climbing in inappropriate situations
• Unable to engage in activities quietly
• Often “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out answers before a question is completed
• Difficulty waiting his turn
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others

What now?

The Inability to understand and help a child struggling with the symptoms of ADHD often leads to frustration with everyone in that’s child’s life. Lack of treatment can have long term consequences for a child in the form of poor grades, low self- esteem, social problems, negative self- image, disciplinary problems, and depression and anxiety. Understanding the difficulties and challenges of ADHD and available treatment options are essential. There are several treatment options to help a child and family better understand and cope with ADHD.

Treatments

Treatment for ADHD typically can consist of psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy, and medication to target and decrease the specific symptoms. Through treatment, children can better understand their struggles and learn to identify their feelings and express their frustrations, they will work on improving their coping skills to better manage impulses and other problematic behavior, and they will strengthen their social skills to improve their ability to establish and maintain positive peer relationships.

Support for Parents

Parents will receive support to enhance their parenting skills learn new skills to better support and understand their child to improve their chances for academic and social success. At Thriveworks we have dedicated and licensed professionals who can help. Our therapists are licensed Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Professional Counselors. If you have a child currently exhibiting academic difficulties or believe might be struggling with symptoms of ADHD, Thriveworks can help.

Same and next-day appointments!

We also know how difficult it can be to get an appointment with a qualified therapist who accepts your health insurance. Many practices don’t even answer the phone, much less call you back if you leave a voicemail. At Thriveworks, we always answer the phone and typically are able to offer same and next-day appointments.

We accept insurance!

We accept most major insurance plans and typically offer appointments within 24 hours of your initial call.

Convenient location

We are conveniently located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, at 600 N Jackson St, Suite 300, Media, PA, 19063, and are accessible by public transportation via SEPTA Regional Rail, Trolley, and bus. We also offer ample free parking.

Call 610-808-9923 to schedule an appointment, or fill out a contact form and we’ll call you!