Sharon Saline – 2-Day Course: ADHD in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Interventions to Improve Behavior, Build Self-Esteem and Foster Academic & Social Success

Outline

Why an Integrative, Collaborative Approach to ADHD?

• Includes the client in the process of change to improve success rates
• Builds self-esteem through strength-based thinking and acquisition of skills
• Normalizes challenges related to living with ADHD – for kids and parent
• Fosters self-acceptance through biology-based information

Assessment and Treatment Planning

• How to obtain an accurate diagnosis
• The neurobiology of ADHD, including the impact of trauma
• Co-Occurring disorders: Is it ADHD and/or something else?
  • ODD, anxiety, OCD, learning disability, autism
• Factors to consider:
  • Environmental influences, quality of sleep, video games/social media
• Current population trends in co-existing disorders
• Techniques for differential diagnosis
• Individual vs. group therapy
• How to engage the family in treatment
• Limitations of the research and potential risks

The Critical Role of Executive Functioning (EF) in ADHD Treatment

• What are executive functioning skills?
• How to identify EF strengths and weaknesses
• Effective methods for improving EF skills
• Tools for uncovering family patterns related to EF skills

The Medication Debate: What Every Professional Needs to Know

• Pros and cons of using medication to treat ADHD
• How medications work: Stimulants and non-stimulants
• Provide effective psychoeducation to clients about medication
• Non-compliance: How to respond
• Efficacy of common medication alternatives

The 5C’s Approach: Empower Kids for Success in School and Life

• Teaching Self-Control for parents and kids
• When Compassion is more than empathy
• How Collaboration fosters essential buy-in
• Consistency means steadiness, not perfection
• Celebration encourages effort

ADHD at Home: Help Families Reduce Conflict and Stay Connected

• Effective strategies to:
  • Avoid homework hassles
  • Manage emotional outbursts
  • Reduce meltdowns
  • Improve sibling relationships
  • Create routines and lists that help things run smoother
• Getting things done: Improve motivation
• Techniques for working with tired, dispirited adults

ADHD at School: Boost Academic and Social Success

• Why school is the hardest domain of functioning
• Classroom interventions that facilitate learning and self-confidence
• Parent advocacy vs. interference (and what to do about it)
• Create effective parent-school alliances
• Strategies for teaching executive functioning skills related to academics
• Tools to improve peer relationships
• Techniques to help kids handle frustration and failure

ADHD in Therapy: Build Trust, Increase Awareness and Bolster Self-Esteem

• Tools for developing self-acceptance
• Strategies to address underlying shame, anxiety and low-self-esteem
• Help kids accept their ADHD brains—strengths and challenges
• Tips to navigate setbacks and refusal to participate

The ADHD Teen: Risky Behaviors and Special Considerations

• Identify risk factors unique to teens with ADHD
• Why nicotine, vaping and marijuana are so appealing and how to curb their use
• Early and active sexuality: Help teens make healthy, safe choices
• Vulnerability to bullying: Generate appropriate clinical, parental and school responses

Technology and ADHD

• How today’s technology impacts the developing ADHD brain
• The effect of social media on distractibility, self-esteem and peer relationships
• Tips for fostering safe online practices
• Gaming: Fun or an addiction?