Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT, is a form of cognitive restructuring. In the treatment of ADHD it can help children, adolescents, or adults change the way that they think about their behavior, an how they act upon it. It can help them better process their emotions, and regulate their behavior.
CBT can be an effective treatment in addressing the problems with inattention and emotional processing in adolescents as well as children. However not all forms of CBT are alike¹. Because the learning styles of children and many adolescents tend to be different, it is important for a good therapist to keep this in mind when administering CBT ². Studies have found that while CBT can be effective for treating inattention and organization, it can be more difficult to treat impulsivity in adolescents.
For some age groups, there is evidence to suggest that the way that CBT is administered can have an impact on the effectiveness that it has.
One study done with school age children found that CBT based play therapy had a ‘significant impact’ on the presentation of children’s perceived symptoms according to both parents and teachers³. This would go hand in hand with existing literature that finds that children and adolescents do best working in environments that cater to their unique learning styles. That is, learning environments that present a wide array of stimuli geared towards a diversity of students².
Group therapy and parent child therapy can also have an impact on the overall well being of the child or adolescent, and improve outcomes across various dimensions. These allow the child the emotional and social support and understanding that they may need when navigating school and relationships 4. Adding these interventions and how they are conducted would be an essential component of this project.
When looking for a therapist, it would be important to talk with them about the methods that they use, and the experience that they have working with children and adolescents.
1. J. Allison He, Kevin M. Antshel Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in College Students: A Review of the Literature Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Available online 18 June 2016,
2.Brand, S., Dunn, R., & Greb, F. (2002). Learning Styles of Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Who Are They and How Can We Teach Them? The Clearing House, 75(5), 268-273. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/30189757
3. Abdollahian, E., Mokhber, N., Balaghi, A., & Moharrari, F. (2012). The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural play therapy on the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children aged 7–9 years. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity D
4. Morin, A. (2014, May 5). Treatment Options for ADD. Understand.org. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/treatments-approaches/treatment-options/treatment-options-for-adhd.