Finding a Therapist for Your Child with ADHD: A Guide to Behavior Therapy

Q:  My child has ADHD and I've been told a therapist can help with his behavioral issues. How do I choose the right therapist and what kind of treatment can I expect?

A: Many mental health professionals are qualified to address ADHD-related behaviors. Choosing the right therapist is crucial, as they will work closely with your child and with you.

So how do you know if a therapist is the best choice for your child?

Look for an experienced therapist who specializes in working with children who have ADHD. You can read their bio online, review their certifications, licenses, post-graduate training, roles in professional associations, availability, mission statement, and fee structure. Most states have websites where you can determine if a therapist's license is current and in good standing.

Be wary of therapists who promise guaranteed success in treatment. Not only is this subjective, but each circumstance is unique. Find a mental health professional who is optimistic but does not make guarantees.

Ask about the therapist's experience with ADHD and how they will help your child. Clear and constant communication between the parent and therapist is crucial for effective treatment, so make sure to inquire about the therapist's availability outside of session and how they prefer to communicate with parents.

Experienced therapists recognize that they can only do so much during sessions. Therapy may include practicing strategies at home, such as using token reward systems based on collaboratively planned charts to motivate certain behaviors. Behavior therapy is often the best treatment for ADHD because it's evidence-based. It's important to consistently implement at-home treatment practices that you learn from the therapist. After all, if nothing changes at home, change is unlikely to occur at all.

The right therapist should have a demeanor that puts you and your child at ease. If after a few sessions, you feel the relationship between the therapist and your child isn't a good fit, talk to the therapist. They likely have a referral network you can utilize.

Brent Moore, Ph.D., is the director and associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University and specializes in treating ADHD at his practice in Liberty, Missouri.

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