ADHD Therapy for Children & Adolescents
Children and teenagers do not always have the words to explain what is making life difficult. Their distress may show up instead through conflict, avoidance, school problems, or behavior that seems disruptive or defiant.
Therapy can help families understand what is happening beneath the behavior, build practical skills, and create more effective ways of responding at home, at school, and in relationships.
What We Can Help With
We consider your child’s needs alongside their family, school, and relationships to understand what is difficult and build support that fits.
Strong emotions can leave children overwhelmed and unable to communicate what they need. Therapy helps them recognize emotions, recover from frustration, and practice more flexible ways to respond.
Frequent meltdowns or emotional outbursts
Routines, transitions, limits, and sibling relationships can become ongoing sources of tension. Therapy helps families understand what keeps these patterns going and develop more effective ways to communicate, set expectations, and respond.
Conflict at home
Distress that is hard to explain
A child or teen may seem withdrawn, unhappy, or unlike themselves without being able or willing to explain why. Therapy gives them space to explore their experiences and find ways to communicate what they need.
Anxiety, avoidance, or rigidity
Worry can show up as avoidance, irritability, perfectionism, or difficulty with change. Therapy helps children and teens approach difficult experiences gradually and build confidence in their ability to cope.
Social and learning difficulties
Incomplete work, poor grades, or disruptive behavior may signal difficulties beyond a lack of effort. Therapy helps identify what is getting in the way and develop strategies and supports that fit your child’s needs.
Difficulty listening or following through
Children may understand expectations but struggle to shift attention, get organized, or follow directions consistently. Therapy builds practical skills and helps families adjust routines and expectations to support follow-through.
What It’s Like to Work Together
Therapy begins with understanding the child within the context of their life. We look at what has been happening at home, at school, with peers, and within the family, then bring those pieces together to develop a clearer picture of what may be driving the difficulties.
With younger children, treatment is active and concrete. Sessions emphasize practicing new behaviors and skills, with parents closely involved so that changes can be supported at home. When helpful, we may also collaborate with the child’s school or other professionals.
With adolescents, therapy includes more privacy and independence. Clear expectations around confidentiality allow teenagers to build trust and speak openly, while parents remain appropriately informed and involved.
The goal is not to make a child more compliant. It is to help them become better able to understand themselves, regulate emotions, communicate their needs, and develop greater independence.
FAQ
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Therapy may be helpful when emotional or behavioral difficulties are affecting your child’s daily life, relationships, or experience at school. Families often reach out when a child is having frequent meltdowns, struggling to follow through, experiencing conflict at home, or having difficulty managing academic or social demands. You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before getting started. An initial consultation can help determine whether therapy is the right next step.
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Individual therapy sessions are 45 minutes and typically take place once a week. Depending on your child’s age and needs, some sessions may include a parent or caregiver.
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There is no standard timeline. Some children benefit from focused work around a specific concern, while others need more time to address patterns that have developed across different areas of their lives. We will discuss progress and treatment goals with you throughout the process.
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When it would be helpful and you provide written permission, we can coordinate with teachers, school staff, pediatricians, psychiatrists, or other professionals involved in your child’s care. This collaboration can help us understand how your child is functioning across settings and provide more consistent support.
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Yes, parents can meet with us as part of their child’s therapy, with sessions focused on understanding their child’s needs and supporting changes at home.
We also offer Parent Support Sessions without requiring your child to be in therapy, as well as a Parenting Skills & Support Group for parents who would benefit from practical strategies and shared problem-solving with other parents.
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Contact us to schedule a brief consultation. We will learn more about what is bringing your family to therapy, answer your questions, and determine whether one of our clinicians may be a good fit for your child.
Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child, or your family, a complimentary 15-minute consultation call can help you learn more about our practice and explore possible next steps.