How to Keep Students with ADHD Out of the Counselor's Office

BOISE, Idaho - Sept. 14, 2022 - PRLog -- ADHD in the classroom doesn't just stir up frustration for teachers and other students; the student often feels embarrassed and humiliated consistently. A student with ADHD can become disruptive to other students to the point of being yelled at and sent to the counselor's office. One of the best ways to keep children out of the counselor's office starts with the proper diagnosis. Students with ADHD are more than misunderstood; they are sometimes shamed and bullied by others for their inability to sit still, focus, wait their turn, and more. Parents fear medicating children so often that children don't get assessed for ADHD. Right here in Idaho, 8.6% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 years old are living with diagnosed ADHD, according to a 2011 study conducted by the CDC. And as of 2016, 6.1 million, or 9.4% of children, have been diagnosed with ADHD nationwide. These findings suggest that 1 in 6 children have diagnosable ADHD. Left untreated, ADHD can lead to later self-medicating with drugs and alcohol abuse. Kids deserve to lead as normal a life as possible for proper development and happiness.

Are there other ways of managing ADHD to create a sense of calm in children at home and school to keep them out of the counselor's office?

"Yes; the answer for many lies in combining psychology with science and in educating teachers and counselors," says Lisa Schiro, founder, and CEO of K-Counseling, in Boise, Idaho. "I grew up with a brother with severe hyperactive/impulsive ADHD levels in my home. My brother recently told me he often felt like a zombie when he was on medication as a young child and was put on Prozac at a later point to counter what appeared as clinical depression. He would secretly not take either because he didn't like how he felt on the medications. But, 40 years ago, medication was the only known way to help a child with ADHD, affecting all of us. I am highly sensitive to how most parents feel regarding the fear of medicating their children. And, I am highly sensitive to how frustrated a person with ADHD feels; restless, impulsive, and disorganized is only the tip of the iceberg."

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition and not a mental illness. Think of ADHD more as a pattern of behavior. ADHD is associated with neural pathways in how the brain works; these behavior patterns usually appear by age seven. However, challenging behavior may appear at younger ages. While ADHD doesn't disappear, there are more options to address it than pharmaceuticals. Most parents would prefer to exhaust holistic options before resorting to Western medications.

"Imagine being told to sit still and pay attention in class when you feel like you have a motor inside you that never shuts off," Schiro said. "The impulse to speak out of turn and fidget continues to get them in trouble in the classroom. Today we have more options than ever before."

Educating teachers and counselors on how to help

Holistic approaches, like FDA-Approved NeuroFeedback, help the central nervous system operate as it should. When the central nervous system is less chaotic, the child is less chaotic. Education on methods to employ simple behavioral and environmental tactics in the classroom is just the beginning. K-Counseling published a free ADHD workbook for educators and counselors on their website. And, there are 'ADHD Tubs' provided at many libraries in the Meridian Library District that contain sensory items, like fidgets and manipulatives, to help with the psychomotor movement that allows a person with ADHD to feel calmer and less internally chaotic. Meridian Advanced Psychiatry is also an excellent resource for testing.

About Lisa Schiro

Lisa Schiro, M.S., LCPC, is a Board-Certified Counselor Supervisor and Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Coach. Lisa is the Founder and CEO of K-Counseling & Anxiety Treatment, LLC in Boise, Idaho. She is an author, speaker, and instructor. For more information visit https://www.k-counseling.org/