What Is Child Counselling Role in children with ADHD
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It’s a mental disorder that is characterised by problems with focus, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ADHD affects millions of children all over the world, and it can be a very difficult thing to deal with.
Therapy can be an incredibly helpful tool for children who are struggling with ADHD. Counselling helps to build positive thinking patterns and behaviours, and it helps kids to learn how to cope with their disorder. When children feel understood and supported, they are able to better believe in themselves and find their strengths.
Understanding the Impact of ADHD in Australia
ADHD is one of the most common mental health conditions diagnosed in Australian children, with around 1 in 20 school-aged children meeting the diagnostic criteria. (1)
This means that, chances are, you or someone you know is affected by ADHD. But what does this mean for your child, and for your family?
The good news is that there are many treatments and strategies that can help reduce the impact of ADHD and help your child thrive. The bad news is that it can be a lot of work for parents to navigate the system and find the right support.
That’s where child counselling can help. Counsellors have the expertise to help parents learn positive parenting strategies, navigate the school system, and understand how ADHD is impacting their family. Psychologists also understand how to help children build attention and concentration skills, manage emotions, and develop positive self-esteem.
What Do Child Counsellors Do to Help Children With ADHD?
When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, the first step is usually to seek out help from a therapist. This professional will be able to offer a variety of treatments to help the child manage their ADHD.
Therapists may use play or talk therapy to treat young children with ADHD. Play therapy uses games and activities to help the child express themselves and understand their feelings. Talk therapy helps the child learn how to communicate better and manage their emotions.
School counsellors also provide support to students with ADHD using evidence-based interventions. They can help develop a plan for success in school, and provide support for both the student and their parents.
Behavioural therapy is generally recommended as soon as a child is diagnosed with ADHD. This type of therapy focuses on changing the negative behaviours associated with ADHD into positive ones.
How Can Child Counselling Help With Coping With ADHD?
Child counselling can be extremely beneficial for children affected by ADHD. Therapy for ADHD can be tailored to the individual’s needs and help them build skills such as mindful breathing, social skills, and more. Parent training can also help parents understand their child’s behaviour and how to manage it in everyday life.
Behavioural treatments involve helping children control impulsive behaviour, develop better decision-making skills and build self-confidence. Cognitive treatments focus on changing negative thoughts and beliefs into more positive ones. Although therapy may not “cure” ADHD, it can help your child learn ways to manage their symptoms in order to lead a successful life.
Tips on How to Foster a Positive Relationship in Child Counselling
When it comes to your child’s therapy with a counsellor, it’s important to create and foster a positive relationship in order for the best possible outcomes. How? Counsellors can focus on three key areas to help children with ADHD—skills building, self-esteem building, and reward and consequence systems.
To build skills, counsellors will assess what the child needs. Whether that be organisation skills, trouble-shooting strategies or any other techniques—the child has to learn these new skills from someone who understands their challenges.
Building self-esteem is also an important part of helping children with ADHD. By complimenting their strengths instead of zeroing in on their weaknesses, counsellors can help children to build confidence in their abilities and find inner strength.
Finally, reward and consequence systems are often used in therapy for children with ADHD. This helps them understand the behaviours that will bring up consequences and those that can be rewarded. With this system in place, children are provided the necessary guidelines which can aid them in making good decisions even when they are feeling overwhelmed.
Expert Advice on When to Seek Professional Help for Managing Your Child’s ADHD like Spring Forward Family Centre
As a parent, you may not be sure when it’s best to seek professional help for managing your child’s ADHD. It’s important to get the advice of an expert, who can help you determine when your child would benefit most from intervention. At Spring Forward Family Centre, we offer a free 30-minute consultation with one of our clinical counsellors. They will work with you to understand your family’s needs and provide tailored advice on the best approach for your child’s unique situation.
Our counsellors are specially trained to assess and treat children with ADHD through behaviour therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). They can also provide parent-child relationship counselling, which can help parents and children build healthier relationships by teaching them how to communicate better and manage conflict without resorting to physical or verbal aggression. The goal is to equip your child with the tools they need to handle their own emotions in a positive way.
We also understand that different families have different needs, so our counsellors are able to discuss other treatment options as needed and come up with a tailored approach that suits you and your family best.
Conclusion
ADHD can be difficult for children to cope with, but with the help of a child counsellor, they can learn how to better manage their emotions and behaviour. Child counselling can also help build self-confidence in children, and teach them how to better cope with difficult situations.
