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Steps of action to take with an ADHD teenager E-mail

After going through the possible traits of a teen with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and you think that your teen may be afflicted with the disorder, there are a number of steps you may take. First of all, you should get a professional’s opinion. The family doctor would be a good source. Have your child take a complete physical exam. Go through your observations with the doctor. You may ask him or her for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist with experience with ADHD. Your teen’s school may actually be able to help you out. Possibly talk with a guidance counselor about the disorder and refer to their sources as well.


The following are professionals you may opt to talk to:

  1. Your family doctor
  2. Any religious or spiritual clergy for guidance
  3. An educational consultant that may aid in choosing an appropriate program for your teen
  4. Counselor or psychotherapist
  5. A teacher or guidance counselor at his/her school to aid with your son/daughter’s issues in class

There are a number of programs that can be open to your troubled teen in dealing with his or her ADHD. You may consider inpatient programs which require hospitalization, outpatient programs, treatment during the day, and residential programs as well.

Therapeutic Boarding School

Generally, a therapeutic boarding school creates the atmosphere needed for this re-direction. Aside from academic enhancement, these types of schools present emotional counseling for your troubled teen. Therapeutic boarding schools may have a focus on your child’s self-concept, in an effort to contradict a negative, self-destructive mindset. The broad objective would be to eradicate this kind of thinking in your teenager in order to put an end to self-destructive behaviors which proceed from it. These types of schools make it a point to include emotional, social, and spiritual direction, aside from the academic assistance they provide. These schools are particularly intended for teenagers struggling with not only academic underperformance but individual emotional issues as well.


Therapeutic Wilderness Program

In a non-threatening atmosphere such as nature, a troubled teen may be able to open up in the wild and in turn rely on it to encourage further examination, hopefully leading to a firm change in the adolescent’s actions. Wilderness programs can last from about 30-60 days. With an intense focus on a teenager’s behavior, these short-term programs can act as a good intermediary point for adolescents going on to long-term therapeutic solutions. Your child may get to go out camping in the forest or mountains. There he may learn basic survival techniques which encourage the development of positive relations among other students as an effect of the teamwork required to survive in the wild.