Please note that our team does NOT currently include practitioners who can prescribe medication for ADHD. Our team includes practitioners who are qualified to assess and diagnose ADHD, and to provide non-pharmacological intervention for ADHD (i.e. psychological/cognitive-behavioural intervention, including ADHD coaching). For all services we do offer, we adhere to the recommendations of the Australian Evidence-based Clinical Guidelines for ADHD (NHMRC-approved, 2022).
ADHD assessment for children and adolescents
Our psychologists work with children and adolescents to assess for ADHD and any associated or co-occurring difficulties. An assessment typically takes place over the course of three sessions, and includes the completion of questionnaires by parents and others (usually teachers), as well as participation in sessions by at least one parent/carer and the child or adolescent themselves. Circumstances arising during the assessment process may mean that further sessions and/or further questionnaires are required. Following the completion of the assessment, a brief letter stating the outcome of the assessment is provided. With permission, detailed information about the assessment can be provided directly to another health professional upon request.
ADHD support and intervention through our Family Program
Our practitioners provide ADHD intervention services offered within our 'Family Program for ADHD'. Our experience has taught us that gaining the best outcomes depends on taking a whole-of-family approach, with education and support for parents or carers being a critical component. As such, completion of our 'Supporting and coaching your child with ADHD' course is the first step in the Family Program. Once completed, there are further options to choose from including small group programs or individual sessions* (for children and adolescents and/or any combination of family members).
*For most individual session options there is currently an extended waitlist.
'Supporting and coaching your child with ADHD' course
This course aims to help parents and carers understand their child's ADHD, and develop skills to support and coach their child with managing ADHD impacts through all ages and life stages.
This is offered via a combination of workshops and online content, with individual sessions being an additional option if required (dependent on availability). Workshops are usually held in Hobart, but may be held via video-conference or in outreach clinics outside of Hobart from time to time.
Core areas of focus for parents and carers in the online content and workshop sessions include:
• Understanding ADHD and your child's unique set of challenges
• Using tools and strategies to support your child with challenges
• Discovering and making the most of your child's strengths
• Protecting your child's self-esteem and encouraging resilience and healthy coping habits
• Managing family dynamics and ensuring all family members' needs are met
• Coaching your child to increasingly manage their ADHD symptoms for themselves as they grow older
Additional topics that may be covered in the workshop sessions (time-dependent) include:
• Coping with any grief and adjustment to your child's diagnosis, or with any strain experienced in family life
• Managing impacts on parent/partner relationships and working cohesively as a team
• Managing impacts on your other children and their relationship with their sibling with ADHD
• Accessing additional supports and advocating for your child in settings outside of the home
Further details and access to registration for the course can be found here:
(link opens in a new window)
Intervention sessions for children and adolescents with ADHD
Children and adolescents with an ADHD diagnosis may be booked in for individual intervention sessions with one of our practitioners once at least one parent or carer has completed the above course. Adolescents can attend individual intervention sessions, whilst younger children have the option of individual sessions and/or group sessions (when available). Whilst telehealth sessions may be possible for older adolescents if necessary, we only offer in-person sessions for younger adolescents and children (at our practice in Hobart).
Common areas of intervention focus for children and adolescents with ADHD include:
• An age-appropriate understanding of ADHD, including common strengths and challenges
• ADHD symptom management at home, school, or in other settings
• Low self-esteem
• Family conflict
• Social struggles
• Study demands
• Anger management
• Anxiety and depression management
Support for siblings
The sibling component of our family program may involve individual and/or group sessions (when available). Sessions are delivered at our practice in Hobart, and via outreach clinics we operate in other areas of Tasmania from time to time.
Common areas of intervention focus for children and adolescents with siblings with ADHD include:
• An age-appropriate understanding of ADHD, including common strengths and challenges
• Supporting their sibling with ADHD
• Communicating their needs in adaptive ways
• Coping with strained family dynamics
• Other challenges to their individual mental health and wellbeing
ADHD assessment, support and intervention for adults
Our practitioners work with adults to assess for ADHD and any associated or co-occurring difficulties, and to provide evidence-based intervention to assist adults with ADHD to:
• Understand the ADHD brain
• Understand their own 'ADHD profile'
• Understand other mental health or neurological symptoms they experience and how those symptoms interact with ADHD
• Manage the impacts of ADHD and any co-occurring conditions in various life areas
• Utilise their strengths
• Repair their self-image and self-esteem
• Improve relationships and gain effective support from important people in their life
Our practitioners can work with partners and other family members to help them understand and support their loved one with ADHD if requested. We can also work with employers wishing to support an employee with ADHD to perform at their best in the workplace.
