The Counterintuitive Nature of ADHD Behavioral Treatment

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by age-inappropriate levels of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors that can have profound impacts on a child’s home life, school performance, and peer relationships. Childhood ADHD can also have a strong impact on the family, including increased parental stress, self-blame, depression, and even marital discord. For many families it can feel counterintuitive that one of the more well researched, evidence-based treatments for childhood ADHD is to affect the systems around the child rather than working directly with children themselves.

What is Behavioral Parent Training (BPT)?

Behavioral Parent Training (or Parent Training in Behavior Management) is an evidence-based behavioral intervention for childhood ADHD that focuses on teaching caregivers strategies to increase home structure, facilitate children’s autonomy, and increase completion of tasks. A core foundation of BPT is the parent-child relationship. Parents learn and practice consistently applying rules and structure to build the external behavioral scaffolding that helps children with ADHD thrive and grow. These practical parenting strategies often include positive reinforcement, relationship building, rewards programs, working with schools, effective communication, and developing routines and schedules.

How BPT Helps Children

Children with ADHD often struggle with executive function, which makes planning, organizing, and executing tasks a significant challenge. With external support these issues can be mitigated and children can learn the tools required to stay on task even when those tasks are boring or difficult. Children can build confidence and social skills as they are supported in their choices and emotions. BPT is also helpful with oppositional and defiant behaviors that can develop by providing clear instructions, consistent follow-through, and a focus on reinforcement for positive and desired behaviors. These strategies are designed to work across settings and needs including morning/bedtime routines, homework completion, transitions, and even public behaviors at school or social settings. One aspect that makes this treatment so successful is consistency and time. Caregivers can provide the strategies throughout the day and long after the treatment programs have completed.

What to Expect

Behavioral Parent Training programs are offered in a variety of formats but many involve 8 or more structured sessions designed to build skills over time. Many programs can be delivered individually to caregivers or in group settings in a more educational approach to skills building. They can also be provided online to fit families’ schedules and needs. Individualized programs can be especially helpful to tailor training to children’s specific needs, problem solving for particularly challenging behaviors, and increasing collaboration to better model techniques.

To learn more or get started with Behavioral Parent Training, schedule an appointment with Dr. Devon Shook.