​Our Approaches to Treatment for Adolescents and Children with ADHD

Our UPMC Western Psychiatric outpatient locations offer treatment that is tailored to each individual based upon age and the specific need identified.

Our evidence-based treatment approaches include:

Child (age 12 and younger)

• Parent Education and Training – working with parents to learn new or different ways to provide positive support and effective scaffolding for their developing child with ADHD succeed both at home and in school.
• Skills Groups - working with peers who are also diagnosed with ADHD to address social and academic struggles.
• Medication management - upon request, a psychiatrist will assist individuals in choosing and monitoring medication (must be combined with therapy, we do not do medication management alone).

Adolescent (13 to 17 years of age, also may include older individuals who are still enrolled in high school)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Teens with ADHD – one-on-one sessions to help teens with organization, planning, school success, and building self-awareness in addition to other skills.
• Parent/teen negotiation skills - helping parents and teens work on improving communication to reduce conflicts and improve family relationships.
• Study skills group - working with peers who are in high school to learn specific tools for achievement in high school and with the transition to college. Skills targeted include organization, note taking, test preparation, barriers to school success and challenges with the transition to college.
• Medication management- upon request, a psychiatrist will assist individuals in choosing and monitoring medication (must be combined with therapy, we do provide medication management as a stand-alone service).

Transition Age and College Students (18-25 years of age)

• ADHD Life/Work Skills Group – working with same age peers to learn ways to stay organized and improve skills used in daily life.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ADHD – one-on-one sessions to help with organization, planning and adaptive thinking as well as other skills.
• Study Skills Group – for college students. Work with peers who are completing higher education to learn specific tools for achievement in college. Targeted skills include organization, note taking, test preparation, and barriers to school success.
• Medication Management – upon request, a psychiatrist will assist individuals in choosing and monitoring medication (must be combined with therapy, we do provide medication management as a stand-alone service).