Ways that we help young adults with ADHD

Making the transition from home to independent living can be very challenging for a young adult with ADHD. Studies have shown that young adults with ADHD tend to be 2-3 years behind their peers in terms of many aspects of maturity, making the tasks of required for independent living more challenging for them. Young adults with ADHD are not all alike. Some are gifted, but still not prepared for academic success away from the structure and support of home. Others will do well in college if they select a school that provides strong support services for students with ADHD. Some are not ready for a college curriculum and need to look at other options. Because the needs of young adults with ADHD are so varied, we offer a range of services to young adults and their parents including:

• Individual psychotherapy that focuses on helping the young adult learn to see their ADHD from a strengths-based, solution-focused viewpoint
• Group Therapy — Our young adult groups are appropriate whether a young adult is attending college or is in the workplace; whether a young adult is living at home or independently. We find that a group setting provides young adults with built-in peer support and allows them a clearer perspective on their own lives as they listen to one another’s experiences and challenges. Our groups focus on building confidence and on developing the skills needed for successful independent living.
• Assessing readiness for independence — working with the young adult to help them take charge of managing their daily lives and their ADHD challenges
• College counseling — We assist young adults and their parents as they go through the college selection process, helping them assess the strengths of the student disability services program at each college they consider, helping young adults with ADHD consider the size, distance from home, course offerings, course requirements and general characteristics of colleges so that they can make a choice consistent with their needs for structure and support.
• Alternatives to college — Not all young adults with ADHD are ready to succeed in college immediately after graduation from high school. We work with young adults and their families to explore possible options including gap year programs, a 5th year of high school to take additional classes that may prepare them better for admission to a competitive college, as well as options such as internships or employment opportunities.
• Returning to college — many of our young adult clients made college choices that were not a good fit for them, leading to lack of success and a return home. We work with these young adults to help them build the daily life management skills that are so critical to living successfully away from home, and also work with them to prepare for a return to college. Some of the young adult clients we work with attend a local community college as they build better time management and study skills in preparation for transfer to a four-year college.
• Career assessment/counseling — choice of career is one of the most important decisions a young adult will make; a good choice will set him or her on a path toward success while a poor or inappropriate choice may lead to frustration, low self-esteem and a sense of failure. More information on career assessments…
• Family counseling— Working with parents and young adults together, advising them as they navigate the confusing set of decisions about how much the young adult with ADHD is prepared to take responsibility for around such issues as:
  • Living independently
  • Financial management responsibilities
  • Expectations regarding work or school
  • Developing clear agreements between parents and young adults designed to help move them toward successful independence
• ADHD coachingto help build executive functioning skills including:
  • Time management skills
  • Daily life management
  • Planning and prioritizing
  • Following through on plans