ADHD Treatment For Teens

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is an increasingly common diagnosis for children aged 3-17 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 million children were diagnosed with ADHD between 2016 and 2019. While boys are slightly more likely to be diagnosed than girls, ADHD is becoming more commonly diagnosed in all children and adolescents, regardless of gender. As of 2013, almost 10% of adolescents in Tennessee had been diagnosed with ADHD. Both medication and behavior modification therapy can be effective adolescent ADHD treatments, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a combination of both.

While embrace U cannot exclusively treat ADHD, we do treat ADHD as a co-occurring condition alongside depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns. Call (615) 236-8619 today to learn more about how our mental health treatment clinic in Tennessee can positively benefit teens experiencing mental health concerns concurrently with ADHD.

ADHD: Quick Facts

ADHD can make it hard for your teen to focus or pay attention during class and can make them fidgety, restless, overly disruptive, or excessively talkative. ADHD can also make learning more difficult for your teen. Getting your child properly assessed for and diagnosed with ADHD may make your child eligible to receive accommodations in the classroom through an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in Tennessee. Receiving this kind of assistance – in combination with behavior modification therapy and medication if needed – can help your teen learn and succeed in the classroom to the best of their ability.

embrace U is an adolescent and teen Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Brentwood, Tennessee, that offers a myriad of evidence-based therapies delivered by licensed therapists. We also have board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists on staff to help diagnose and treat your teen. Additionally, embrace U offers family support, family therapy, and group experiences to help your teen develop coping mechanisms, effective communication skills, and stronger self-esteem.

While embrace U does not offer treatment exclusively for ADHD, we do treat ADHD as a co-occurring struggle alongside depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child overcome their mental health struggles.

Signs of ADHD in Adolescents

ADHD can present itself in a variety of ways in teens, with different signs and symptoms. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s list of common ADHD symptoms are:

Inattention: difficulty paying attention or focusing on the current moment
- Signs of inattention can include difficulty staying focused when completing tasks, having difficulty organizing and completing tasks and activities, being easily distracted, being highly forgetful, and having trouble following
Impulsivity: acting without thinking or struggling with self-control
- Signs of impulsivity can include difficulty following directions or rules, struggling to wait for one’s turn, and interrupting or intruding on others’ activities.
Hyperactivity: too much energy or moving and talking a lot
- Signs of hyperactivity can include running, dashing, or climbing at inappropriate times, feelings of restlessness, an inability to sit still, and interrupting others during conversations.

While these actions can be signs of ADHD, a certified professional must conduct an assessment to officially diagnose your child. embrace U is an evidence-based Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Brentwood, Tennessee, that offers treatment for adolescents aged 10-13 struggling with mental health concerns. Call (615) 236-8619 or visit embraceu.com today to receive more information about adolescent ADHD treatment options alongside treatment for depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.

We Are Here For You.

Call our Brentwood mental health clinic today at (615) 236-8619 to learn more about our program and how we can help your child. Our experienced staff is here to empower and care for your loved one.

Call us: 1-615-236-8619

Youth Treatment For ADHD

Adolescent ADHD treatment is different for every child. The most common forms of adolescent ADHD treatment are behavioral therapy and medication. Listed below are some common behavioral therapy treatments for adolescents with ADHD.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an evidence-based behavioral modification therapy that focuses on psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt to different situations, ability to shift perspectives, and their ability to balance competing desires and needs. ACT focuses on different elements of psychological flexibility, such as defusion (learning to change the inner dialogue to support changes in behavior), acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-as-context (learning effective ways to communicate an individual’s current behavior or perspective), personal values, and committed action.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a well-established, highly effective, and common therapeutic intervention for ADHD. It focuses on the ways our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact to influence our well-being. CBT seeks to help clients recognize unhelpful or harmful patterns in their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, and the therapist and client work together to understand these patterns and develop methods to change them.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based, CBT-based therapy that focuses on acceptance and change. DBT focuses on balancing opposing ideas, like learning to accept yourself for who you are, while also working to change aspects of your behavior that are unhelpful. DBT can help clients learn acceptance of themselves, including their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, while also giving clients tools to modify or change behaviors that do not serve them. DBT utilizes mindfulness practices, interpersonal effectiveness skills, distress tolerance skills, and emotional regulation skills to help clients live full and happy lives.

Youth Treatment For ADHD: The Specific Benefits of Group Therapy

the National Institute of Health (NIH), group CBT therapy is significantly beneficial for teens with ADHD. Group therapy provides a safe space for teenagers to explore and discuss the issues they are facing with a licensed clinician and group of their peers. Peer support through group therapy is a core part of our program at embrace U. Group therapy can help your teen learn ways to reduce and control their hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. It also encourages them to interact with a community of peers who can relate to their struggles and symptoms, which in turn can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Group therapy can also offer your teen with ADHD a space to feel connected to others and form relationships, all while working towards improving their mental health.

Group therapy is a common and effective adolescent ADHD treatment. Discussing mental health struggles with peers can help your teenager feel heard and understood. It can also help your teen learn how to build healthy relationships, make better choices, and learn coping skills to help manage their emotions and behaviors.

Each of these ADHD behavioral therapies are offered at embrace U as treatment options delivered by a licensed child and adolescent therapist. embrace U offers effective, evidence-based, therapeutic treatment for depression and anxiety, so if your child has a dual diagnosis of ADHD and one of these mental health struggles, we can provide dual treatment, including ADHD treatment, at our location in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Call (615) 236-8619 or visit embraceu.com today to receive more information about our adolescent ADHD treatment options.