ADHD Counseling for Children, Teens & Adults
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can affect much more than the ability to pay attention. Children, teens, and adults with ADHD may struggle with organization, time management, impulsivity, emotional regulation, completing tasks, relationships, school, work, and the demands of everyday life.
At Avenues of Counseling and Mediation, our therapists help children, adolescents, and adults better understand ADHD and develop practical strategies for managing the challenges it can create.
ADHD counseling is available at our Akron and Medina, Ohio counseling offices, as well as through virtual counseling for clients throughout Ohio.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with everyday functioning.
While ADHD is often associated with childhood, symptoms can continue through adolescence and adulthood. ADHD may also look very different from one person to another.
Someone with ADHD might struggle with staying focused, while another person may have more difficulty with impulsivity or restlessness. Others experience a combination of symptoms.
How Can ADHD Affect Everyday Life?
ADHD can affect many areas of life beyond attention and concentration.
Depending on the individual, challenges may include:
Staying focused or easily becoming distracted
Organization and planning
Starting or completing tasks
Forgetfulness
Managing time and deadlines
Impulsive decisions or behaviors
Restlessness
Managing frustration or strong emotions
Following routines
School or work performance
Relationship difficulties
Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities
Low self-esteem after years of struggling with expectations
Counseling can help identify where ADHD is creating difficulties and develop strategies that fit the person's age, circumstances, strengths, and goals.
ADHD Counseling for Children
Children with ADHD may experience difficulties with attention, impulse control, following directions, completing schoolwork, routines, friendships, or managing emotions.
Therapy can help children and their families better understand ADHD while developing strategies to support behavior, emotional regulation, routines, and everyday functioning.
Depending on the child's age and needs, counseling may also involve working with parents or caregivers to develop consistent strategies that can be used at home.
Learn more: Recognizing ADHD in Children
ADHD Counseling for Teens
Adolescence can introduce new challenges for teens with ADHD. Increased academic expectations, changing friendships, greater independence, extracurricular activities, jobs, and preparing for adulthood can make difficulties with organization and executive functioning more noticeable.
Counseling can help teens better understand how ADHD affects them while developing strategies for organization, time management, emotional regulation, communication, decision-making, and managing increasing responsibilities.
Therapy can also provide a supportive place to address anxiety, frustration, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or other concerns that may occur alongside ADHD.
Learn more: Recognizing ADHD in Teens
ADHD Counseling for Adults
ADHD doesn't disappear simply because someone reaches adulthood. In fact, some adults do not recognize how significantly ADHD has affected their lives until the demands of work, relationships, parenting, household responsibilities, or other aspects of adulthood become increasingly difficult to manage.
Adults with ADHD may struggle with procrastination, organization, time management, forgetfulness, unfinished projects, maintaining routines, emotional regulation, or feeling chronically overwhelmed.
Counseling can help adults better understand their patterns, identify practical strategies, and develop systems that work with their individual strengths and challenges.
Learn more: ADHD — Not Just a Kid's Issue
How Can Therapy Help With ADHD?
ADHD counseling is individualized based on a person's age, symptoms, circumstances, and treatment goals.
Therapy may focus on areas such as:
Developing organization and planning strategies
Improving time management
Creating manageable routines
Breaking large or overwhelming tasks into smaller steps
Managing impulsivity
Improving emotional regulation
Developing problem-solving skills
Addressing frustration and negative self-talk
Strengthening communication and relationships
Supporting parents of children with ADHD
Managing school, work, or household responsibilities
Addressing anxiety, depression, or other concerns that may occur alongside ADHD
Your therapist will work with you to determine which strategies and treatment approaches are most appropriate for your individual needs.
ADHD and Other Mental Health Concerns
ADHD can occur alongside other mental health or behavioral concerns.
Some people with ADHD also experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, behavioral concerns, or problems managing stress and emotions.
These overlapping concerns can sometimes make it difficult to determine what is contributing to a particular challenge.
Counseling provides an opportunity to look at the bigger picture rather than focusing only on individual ADHD symptoms.
Do I Need an ADHD Diagnosis to See a Counselor?
If you have already been diagnosed with ADHD, counseling can help you develop strategies for managing the ways ADHD affects your everyday life.
If you have concerns about attention, organization, impulsivity, or other symptoms but have not received an ADHD diagnosis, you can still talk with a counselor about the difficulties you are experiencing.
Avenues is not currently offering psychological or ADHD testing. If formal diagnostic testing is needed, your counselor can discuss appropriate next steps or outside resources with you.
ADHD Counseling in Akron & Medina, Ohio
Avenues of Counseling and Mediation has clinicians who work with ADHD at both our Akron and Medina counseling offices.
ADHD Counseling in Akron, Ohio
Our Akron counseling team includes clinicians who work with children, teens, and adults experiencing ADHD and related challenges.
Explore Counseling Services in Akron
ADHD Counseling in Medina, Ohio
Our Medina counseling team also includes clinicians who provide counseling for ADHD and related concerns.
Explore Counseling Services in Medina
Virtual counseling may also be available for clients located throughout Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD Counseling
Is ADHD only a childhood disorder?
No. ADHD begins in childhood, but symptoms can continue through adolescence and adulthood. The way ADHD affects someone may also change as responsibilities and environments change throughout life.
Can counseling help adults with ADHD?
Yes. Counseling can help adults identify how ADHD is affecting their everyday lives and develop strategies for organization, time management, emotional regulation, relationships, work, and other responsibilities.
Can counseling help children with ADHD?
Counseling and behavioral approaches can be an important part of ADHD treatment for children. Depending on a child's age, treatment may also involve working closely with parents or caregivers.
Does Avenues provide ADHD testing?
Avenues is not currently providing ADHD or psychological testing. We do, however, provide counseling for children, teens, and adults with ADHD.
Can ADHD occur with anxiety or depression?
Want to better understand EMDR and how it may help with trauma and distressing experiences? Explore our educational resources:
Learn More About ADHD
You can also learn more about children's mental health concerns in:
Signs & Symptoms of Childhood Mental Disorders
Ready to Get Started?
You don't have to manage the challenges of ADHD on your own. Our intake team can help connect you or your child with a counselor whose experience, location, and availability fit your needs.
ADHD counseling is available in Akron and Medina, Ohio, with virtual counseling options also available throughout Ohio.