ADHD is the acronym commonly used for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The most current statistical information from a 2003 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that an estimated 2.5 million children--not including adults--living in the United States are currently receiving medication for their ADHD.
Individual Counseling
Rider University suggests talk therapy as a means to get to the root problems. If an individual has issues pertaining to a histroy of abuse, abandonment, neglect, post-traumatic stress disorder or separation anxiety, many of these can be relieved through therapy sessions. The counselor/therapist will design a contract in which the individual is an equal party. The fees for this service can be considerable, but many insurances will cover up to 12 visits a year.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a method of neurotherapy that uses tiny electrical currents attached to sensors on the head. According to "Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide," this method is painless, optimizes the use of brain waves and current technology and works to stimulate brain waves functioning abnormally into healthy patterns. The computer tells the brain waves that they are going the wrong direction and positively reinforces correction of the pattern. The goal of biofeedback is to relearn, rewire and reprogram the brain and provide positive, permanent changes. Benefits also include improved concentration, memory, motor-skill performance, energy, overall mood and sleep quality. This is a short-term contractual obligation that can provide impressive results in as little as a single visit.
Behavioral Therapy
The National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists posits that behavioral therapy or "cognitive-behavioral therapy" is not a single approach per se, but several. However, the underlying roots in stoicism--beneath the soft psychological exterior--is really about thoughts that harbor too much resentment and negative emotions, and the need to change their impact in order to change our lives. Behavioral therapy is also called Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Dialectic Behavior Therapy. An extra benefit to using this method is that the process has a beginning and an end. This brief--about 16 sessions--contract assures a sense of accomplishment and is not a never-ending commitment.
References
- Rider University: "What is counseling?"; 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:"ADHD, Data and Statistics"; 2010
- "Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide"; Trivieri Jr, L & Anderson, J (Eds); 2002
- "National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy"; 2010
