ADHD Treatment Information: Who Can You Listen To And Actually Believe?
February 5, 2009 
3 Comments
I became a passionate advocate in the ADHD community for one reason and ONLY one reason.
I wanted to make sure that people were getting the right information from the right people.
It had been my experience through graduate school and while training to become a psychologist (which I stepped away from*) that most people did NOT understand ADHD or what it took to parent a child with ADHD. Like most people, there are a good number of professionals who only understand ADHD as it is characterized by it’s major symptoms:
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Inattention
Unfortunately however, these “major symptoms” are only the tip of the iceberg. To really understand ADHD, you have to dig down so much deeper and understand a lot more about ADHD – as a condition and as a way of life.
It also helps if you have an understanding of human dynamics, child development, biology, relationships, and more… This is NOT an area where just anyone with an opinion should be walking in and giving advice — at least not to parents of children with ADHD.
Who Do You Believe?
During my training (and even today as a coach), I hear from lots of families that they won’t go back to a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist because of how they were treated. It’s very unfortunate!
But — it happens. And I need you to know that it happens. While people have good intentions, that is NOT enough. You deserve better, and you deserve to know exactly how to find a competent individual to support you, your family, your child, or loved one affected by ADHD.
I am here today to hopefully empower you to want more and to expect more from the people who will support you! There are a lot of people with opinions out there about ADHD and how to manage it and support someone who might be struggling with ADHD.
Friends / family / loved ones / strangers / parents / parents of children with ADHD… You name it — someone has an agenda. Even me! I’ll be the first to admit that. But hopefully you know that my agenda is to get the right information out to the people who need it the most. It’s NOT to bash people or hold people back.
Be Cautious As Your Proceed
Each and every day, I come across people sharing information about ADHD who truly don’t get it. Oh believe me, they think they get it…and they’ll do their best to convince you that they get it. Please be careful!!
It’s a struggle, and it really hurts when I see good families and good people following advice that is completely inaccurate or unfounded!
This is the problem with the Internet and people being able to share information to anyone who is willing to listen.
Follow These Few Steps, And You’ll Do Ok!
- What is the person’s background?
- How long have they been involved in the ADHD community?
- What do they believe about ADHD?
- How do they help people with ADHD?
- Do they have any formal training?
**Most of all – do the answers to these questions match your needs, interests, and expectations. If they don’t, then you’ve got to keep looking. I won’t proclaim to be the right person for everyone, and if I’m not, let me help you find someone who will match what you are looking for.
There are absolutely good people out there to help you, but there are also people out there who try and try and try….and they do mean well….but I have found they are lacking some fundamental basics that can mean the difference between short-term relief and long-lasting relief.
If I’m Your Guy:
Because I want you to get the right information, I need to share two very important upcoming events.
#1 – ADHD Family Teleseminar
We start a free weekly teleseminar this coming Sunday, February 8th 2009 at 8 PM EST. You can get the details here.
#2 – Ask Dr. Cerulli
Join me as I interview psychiatrist (and my friend and colleague), Dr. Theresa Cerulli. Each month we get on the phone and answer your most pressing questions. Details here.
Rory, Excellent post! There is a lot of “noise” in the ADHD treatment community that can be hard for people to sort through. Your checklist of questions for families to use to find the coach or therapist who works for them is a wonderful resource.
Susan Giurleo, PhD
Hi Dr. Stern,
I just want to let you know that the resources I have gained from listening to your webinar over the summer has really made a difference in helping my 6 y.o. son with ADHD. Specifically your guest speaker Kirk Martin. I ordered his CD’s and the biggest help while listening to him is that he gets it. He’s been through it with his own son and he understands how they react in different situations. I keep adding the parenting skills that he talks about as I gain confidence. But the information is not conceptual crap from acadamia that does nothing to stop a bad day or week,(which I have spent a lot of money to hear) it is in the trenches, practical advise that actually does work. And I thank you for helping parents like me have access to this wonderful array of experts that truly get what we are going through and help us make educated decisons about our children.
Thank you again!
Bonnie Larson
Sandy, UT
I’m in a situation where my husband and my mother-in-law don’t really believe he has an illness. Kids with ADHD that I’ve learned about lack a chemical in their brain which causes behavioral problems. They believe that I allowed him to get away with too much and that I’m using this as a crutch for no doing my job in disciplining him. They feel whooping him everytime he’s being disrespectful or doing something wrong, they believe he know’s exactly what he’s doing and that he’s doing it on purpose. I gave them material to read, but that didn’t do any good. He’s been called stupid and 1 level from being retarded. He’s not on any medications now because I no longer have insurance. When I did have insurance they only paid $8.00 towards his medicine and his medicine is around $300.00 for 30 pills, they don’t make generic. How do you get ignorant people to listen and believe what your saying. My son is not my husbands child.