In-Congress Workshop 8 - Cognitive-behavior Therapy for Adult ADHD: An Implementation-focused Approach

Who the workshop is aimed at: Experience in the psychosocial treatment/CBT for adult ADHD is helpful, but CBT therapists unfamiliar with ADHD will benefit.

Background: Adult ADHD diagnoses significantly increased over the pandemic years. It’s one of the more common and impairing syndromes encountered in clinical practices. The worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated at nearly 7%. CBT for adult ADHD is an evidence-based psychosocial treatment, but its clinical implementation is made difficult because clients with adult ADHD struggle with follow-through on their intentions and goals despite knowing what to do – that is, ADHD is a performance problem, not a knowledge problem. The current session offers an implementation-focused approach to delivering CBT for adults with ADHD.

The framework for the CBT approach for adult ADHD outlined in the workshop consists of its four facets adapted to adults with ADHD (as well as the importance of the therapeutic alliance):

(i) Cognitive modification
(ii) Emotion regulation strategies
(iii) Behavioral-implementation strategies
(iv) Relationship-interpersonal coping strategies (“social capital”)

The workshop will start with a brief description of the contemporary understand of ADHD as a developmental syndrome of self-dysregulation/executive dysfunction and the common impairments. The CBT approach for adult ADHD outlined and illustrated with a focus on addressing procrastination. Coping strategies for time management and managing social and interpersonal roles will also be illustrated.

Methods: In this workshop, the teaching method includes instruction, modelling with clinical examples, including “what to say” suggestions, and a focus on implementation strategies to increase the likelihood clients will use the skills in their daily lives more often.