1. Counselling clients with ADHD

3. Mary Lynn Trotter MSW RSW Clinical social worker EAP provider Parent of young child with ADHD

5. What is ADHD? Attention Deficit (Hyperactive) Disorder Mental health disorder Learning disability

6. Who has it? Children Teens Adults

7. How do they know? Red flags at school Performance issues at work Relationship issues everywhere

9. How is it diagnosed? Physician/specialist such as a pediatrician, psychiatrist Psychologist – school board, private, university

10. Treatment options First-line: medication Exercize – cardio Counselling/coaching

12. Traits Inattentive Distractible Impulsive Forgetful

13. More traits Disorganized Hyperactive Emotionally over-reactive Poor motivation

15. Impact on work Poor time management Doesn’t finish things Gets bored easily

16. More challenges at work Quits/gets fired Underemployed Can’t follow instructions

17. Strengths at work Often right-brained/creative Good at sales, crises, high energy, novelty Suited to self employment

18. Interpersonal issues Too talkative, scattered Resistant to authority Can have oppositional traits

19. Counselling ADHD’ers Short, regular meetings “Chunk” information into pieces Reminders of appointment times Help with accountability

20. Key issues to address Motivation Focus more on strengths, less on areas of challenge Commitment/perserverence

21. Supports that work Hire an ADHD coach Identify workplace accommodations Recommend assistive devices

22. Ready for more?

23. Thank you!