Seattle Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • Abandonment and Neglect
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Coaching
      • Codependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Professional Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sex And Porn Addiction
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
      • Marriage Intensive
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Christian Recovery Groups
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
    • Sexual Addiction
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way Office ParkingFederal Way
    • Hansville
    • Kent Office FrontKent
    • Kirkland OutsideKirkland
    • Lacey Christian CounselingLacey
    • Mill Creek OfficeMill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor Office OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown Christian CounselingSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake OutsideSeattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Spokane OutsideSpokane
    • Spokane Valley Christian CounselingSpokane Valley
    • North Spokane Christian CounselingNorth Spokane
    • Tacoma Office EntranceTacoma
    • Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (206) 388-3929Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Benefits of Christian Counseling for Children and Teens with ADHD

Seattle Christian Counseling
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Image-3-300x199.jpg 300 199
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/seattle-greenlake-6-scaled.jpg
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-cropped-seattle-logo.png
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
Photo of Erik Mildes

Erik Mildes

Feb
2014
11

Benefits of Christian Counseling for Children and Teens with ADHD

Erik Mildes

ADHDCounseling for ChildrenFamily Counseling

Has your child or teen recently been diagnosed with ADHD? Are you exasperated and unsure how to support him or her? Navigating the next steps after your child or teen has been diagnosed with ADHD can be overwhelming. I want to highlight some practical ways counseling can be a great asset for individuals struggling with ADHD, as well as offer advice to family members seeking to support a child or teen with ADHD.

Self-Exploration and Skill Building

Student WritingIn conjunction with medication your child or teen may be taking, the counseling room is a great resource for a child or teen to explore their struggles—a safe place where they can learn new coping skills and explore who they are and who want to be. The client becomes an active participant as he or she collaborates with a counselor to foster improved self-confidence and self-esteem. Individuals struggling with ADHD may feel a wide range of emotions and have difficulty regulating those emotions. Some of these difficult emotions may include shame, anger, frustration, and/or a lack of self-esteem. Working together with a counselor can help alleviate some of those built-up emotions that fuel the frustration the individual with ADHD already feels on a regular basis. A counselor can also hold the ADHD child or teen and the family accountable for the goals they set together in the counseling room.

Reinforcing Healthy Activities

Family portrait in kitchen.Exercise, nutrition, and adequate sleep are all important parts of any person’s overall health, but these are all especially crucial and beneficial for individuals with ADHD. When we exercise, we release dopamine and norepinephrine, which can help an individual with ADHD stay alert and make clearer decisions. Exercise also improves our mood and ability to focus, which may be a large part of the struggle for someone with ADHD. Our bodies, and specifically our brains, need fuel in order to focus and function properly. Eating healthy foods and getting a good night’s rest contribute significantly to one’s ability to do these things. Stability and routine are very important pieces when working with ADHD individuals, so extra reinforcement can be a great resource. A counselor can work with the individual and his or her family to reinforce these behaviors, as well as help to explore areas where healthy habits may be a struggle.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Counseling Support for Parents with ADHD Children or Teens

Raising a child or teenager struggling with ADHD can be very difficult not only for the individual but also for the parents and family members involved. As a counselor , I have the privilege of working together with parents and families to help support their child or teen in goals we set together to help that individual toward success. Counseling is a great resource and avenue for parents to discuss struggles, celebrates successes, and build better communication skills and relationships with their child or teen. It has been my experience that parents need just as much support as their child or teen, even if it is just to ensure that they are not alone in their mission to see their child succeed. A counselor can facilitate a conversation where there can be new growth and understanding in the parent/child relationship so that all family members can know each other on a deeper level and support one another better.

Therapeutic approaches for ADHD

Tall Green TreeMy approach when working with individuals of all ages struggling with ADHD is to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In my experience, this type of therapy is very effective because it encourages the client to identify and change the negative beliefs and behaviors that are causing problems in their lives. Since many individuals with ADHD feel discouraged due to unmet expectations or their inability to focus, one of the main goals of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to transform this negative outlook into a more realistic view to give the client new hope. It is important that each client be treated as a whole person. An individual struggling with ADHD may feel discouraged in relationships, or even in their self-esteem. Challenging negative thought patterns and exploring who the individual truly is deep down, is an important and powerful part of the therapy process when working with ADHD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also focuses on issues that the individual with ADHD may struggle with on a daily basis such as such as disorganization, work performance problems, and poor time management.

Christian Counseling for ADHD

Together, we find manageable goals and practice coping skills to help your child or teen learn new habits that are effective and affirming. Combining practical tasks and skills with the exploration of an individual’s identity and how they see themselves can foster exciting growth and freedom where it may never have been before. If any of this information was helpful for you or even someone you know, I would be happy to speak with you about counseling or answer any questions you might have about Christian counseling for ADHD. Help is available, and we at Seattle Christian Counseling are here to support children and teens with ADHD as well as their parents.

Photos
Source office.microsoft.com: Boy sitting at a desk thinking while writing in a notebook; Family in Kitchen with Homework by iClipart; Sun shining through the branch

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Erik Mildes
Erik is currently not accepting new clients

Erik Mildes

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor
(425) 939-9934 erik@seattlechristiancounseling.com

I believe in the healing, transformative promises of Christ. I also believe in His patience, and have had the privilege of seeing God’s grace work miracles in the lives of my clients. As a Master’s level Mental Health Counselor, I’m honored to act as a vessel for the Lord, one that will help you discover healing and growth. I help people recover from issues like abuse, depression, anxiety, broken relationships, spiritual concerns, and more. Whatever you’re going through, I offer you support, experience, and hope for a new, Christ-filled future. Read more articles by Erik »

Other articles that might interest you...

Christian Pre-Marital Counseling and Conflict
Photo of Benjamin Deu

Benjamin Deu

Christian Pre-Marital Counseling and ...

Eyes Wide Open Ben Franklin advised those considering entering into matrimony, “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half-shut...

continue reading »
Christian Counseling for Self-Harming Teens 1
Photo of Erik Mildes

Erik Mildes

Christian Counseling for Self-Harming ...

Part 2 in a 2-Part Christian Counseling for Self-Harming Behavior Series In my previous article, I introduced the topic of self-harming...

continue reading »
3 Therapeutic Tips for Parents -- Reflective Language (Part 1)
Seattle Christian Counseling

Why Children’s Counseling?

As you decorate a child’s room with art at their eye level, age-appropriate toys, and child-sized furniture, so children’s counseling...

continue reading »

About Erik

Photo of Erik Mildes

Erik Mildes, MA, LMHC

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor

I believe in the healing, transformative promises of Christ. I also believe in His patience, and have had the privilege of seeing God’s grace work miracles in the lives of my clients. As a Master’s level Mental Health Counselor, I’m honored to act as a vessel for the Lord, one that will help you discover healing and growth. I help people recover from issues like abuse, depression, anxiety, broken relationships, spiritual concerns, and more. Whatever you’re going through, I offer you support, experience, and hope for a new, Christ-filled future. View Erik's Profile

Recent articles by Erik

  • May 19 · 5 Practical Steps to Overcome Your Fear of Abandonment
  • Apr 20 · Surviving Infidelity: 8 Steps to Affair Recovery
  • Jun 17 · Four Bible Verses about Anxiety: Scriptures to Comfort You
See all articles by Erik »

Related Services

  • ADHD
  • Counseling for Children
  • Family Counseling

Erik's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Bothell office

    Bothell

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (425) 939-7959
    10116 Main St,, Suite 204 Bothell, WA 98011

    View Office Details
Seattle Christian Counseling Logo
Seattle Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
Welcome to Seattle Christian Counseling. We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors with more than 20 office locations throughout Washington state for your convenience, including the Seattle neighborhoods of Greenlake, Ballard, and Downtown Lower Queen Anne. We look forward to meeting you soon.
© 2025 Seattle Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B, Seattle, WA 98115. Tel (206) 388-3929.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.