ADHD Treatment in Reno, NV

If you or your child is struggling with ADHD symptoms, there is hope. Receiving a diagnosis and then treatment for ADHD can put both children and adults on the path to success with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

The first step towards ADHD treatment in Reno, NV, is receiving an assessment. An ADHD assessment or screening first involves an exam to determine whether or not you or your child meets the criteria for ADHD. This part of the assessment may take time, as we need to determine whether symptoms or behavior fit a pattern (i.e., happening consistently in different places over a long period of time), or if they are inconsistent. If it is determined that you or your child do not fit the criteria for ADHD, don’t worry — at Mind and Body Counseling, we are prepared to continue to work with you and help in any way we can.

If it is determined you or your child fit the criteria for ADHD, the assessment will continue with an in-depth interview. For children, this will involve asking them questions, and will likely also involve an interview with a parent or caregiver. For adults, in addition to asking you questions, we may also have you fill out a self-assessment to give us a bigger picture. Finally, we will work with you to determine whether there are any other disorders or disabilities present with ADHD. Many adults and children with ADHD experience anxiety and depression, and nearly half of children with ADHD also experience a type of learning disability. We will work with you to ensure we are treating all of these symptoms.

While medication is one of the most effective treatments for ADHD, behavioral therapy can also be helpful for both children and adults with ADHD, either paired with medication or on its own. For children especially, we typically recommend starting with behavioral therapy first.

The goal of behavioral therapy for children is to help them learn self-control, improve their social interactions, and succeed in structured environments. Parents and caregivers play an important role in behavioral therapy as well, so they can help manage their child’s behavior effectively with techniques like positive reinforcement, structured routines, and stress management strategies.

For adults, behavioral therapy is similar, except that they likely have to learn to manage these behaviors on their own, without the help of a family member. Adults are also more likely to have deeply ingrained thoughts and beliefs as a result of ADHD, which may effect their self-worth and how they view the world.

Part of behavioral therapy treatment for adults includes unlearning unhealthy thought patterns and beliefs, such as procrastinating or avoiding tasks that can’t be done “perfectly,” magnifying mistakes, and downplaying achievements. Our trained therapists at Mind and Body Counseling may also be able to help adults devise practical strategies to overcome ADHD-related challenges, such as helping with building calendars or task lists to help adults stay organized.