What Is ADHD And How Can Therapy Help?

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Though there are different variations of ADHD, people with ADHD may struggle to focus, stay organized, follow through on tasks, wait their turn or sit still, or resist acting on impulse. Beyond those “core” behaviours, ADHD often involves difficulties with executive function, such as planning, prioritizing, managing time, maintaining motivation. Sometimes this also includes difficulties with emotion-regulation, self-esteem, and social or occupational functioning.

Although often diagnosed in childhood, ADHD can - and often does - persist into adolescence and adulthood. In adults, symptoms may present differently: perhaps less overt hyperactivity, but persistent inattention, disorganization, impulsivity, or difficulty regulating emotions.

Because ADHD affects daily functioning, it can impact work or school performance, relationships, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. For this reason, many people with ADHD seek support beyond just “getting by”.

Why Therapy Matters

While medication (stimulants or non-stimulants) remains a common treatment for ADHD, therapy has an important role, especially when symptoms persist or when there are additional challenges like anxiety, depression, self-esteem, time management or organizational difficulties.

Here are a few reasons therapy can be valuable:

• Medication may help reduce core symptoms (inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity), but therapy can target real-world functioning, coping skills, and emotional or behavioral challenges in a more sustainable and individualized way.

  
  

• Therapy can help build skills that support long-term wellbeing (e.g., better planning and organization, better coping with stress or overwhelm, improved self-regulation and self-esteem).

  
  

• Sometimes symptoms persist or resurface even with medication, and therapy offers a complementary or alternative path.

  
  

Multiple research studies over decades have evaluated psychological treatments for ADHD (especially in adults), showing that therapy often helps, whether on its own or in combination with medication.

Therapeutic Approaches That Can Help Those With ADHD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is the most-studied psychological intervention for ADHD, especially in adults. In CBT for ADHD, therapists typically help clients identify unhelpful thoughts or behavior patterns and develop more adaptive thinking, plus build practical strategies: organization, scheduling, time-management, breaking tasks into manageable steps, coping with frustration or emotional dysregulation.

Other psychosocial / behavioral therapies & strategies

Therapy isn't just CBT. Psychological and psychosocial interventions (i.e., behavioural therapy, parent-training (for children), psychoeducation, skills training) also show promise. A comprehensive review in 2022 found that in the majority (≈ 87%) of included studies, psychosocial interventions (often alongside medication) resulted in significant improvements in ADHD symptoms (PubMed

Moreover, recent research into which components of therapy are most effective suggests a tailored approach may work best. A 2022 network meta-analysis of 43 trials found that combining:

• Organizational strategies (e.g., planning, time management, structuring tasks),

• “Third-wave” therapy components (e.g., mindfulness, acceptance, coping with emotions), and

• Problem-solving techniques

...was associated with the strongest treatment response for core ADHD symptoms. (PubMed)

This suggests that therapy for ADHD may work best when it integrates skill-building (organization, planning), emotional regulation, and adaptive coping - not just talk therapy in a general sense.

ADHD is more than just “being easily distracted”, it’s a complex neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention, impulse control, organization, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. While medication plays an important role, therapy, especially approaches like CBT combined with behavioral and organizational strategies, offers a powerful way to build real-life skills, cope with emotional challenges, and improve long-term outcomes.

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD or think that you might have undiagnosed ADHD and would like support to better understand and manage your symptoms, we're here to help!

You can click here to learn more about how we can support you.

To meet with our therapists for a free consultation, click here. If you'd like some help choosing a therapist, you may use our free Matching Tool here or contact us at info@infinitehorizonspsychotherapy.com or at (416) 893-TALK (8255).