Browse by category

This is an often talked about issue, but, in reality, one which very few people understand. Usually, only the parents or carers of a child with ADHD will be the only ones who fully grasp what ADHD is and how it can effect a child.

If your child suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) the first and most important thing to remember is that it doesn't mean you are a bad parent or have made mistakes in bringing up your child. It is a medical condition, and as a parent, you are no more at fault than if your child were to catch, measles, a bad cold or hurt themselves when they are out playing.

ADHD - A Professional's Perspective

To give you an insight into ADHD we asked Helen Fairless to give us some information. Helen is a professional child counsellor and a specialist ADHD behavioural coach. She is highly experienced in this field and works as an Extended Services Counsellor in all the schools in the Samuel Whitbread pyramid. She also runs a support group at Shefford Lower School for parents who have children who suffer from ADHD and you can find more about that group on Best Advice in the section entitled "Outside In".

Helen told us:

"As with so many things, parents are often unaware that others are in the same boat as they are and are having to deal with identical problems. Over the last few years a lot of work has been done in this field and as a result, we now understand ADHD considerably better than we have ever done, and there are lots of things that a parent or carer can do to help their child."

"We also recognise that support for the parent or carer is important and that is why the "Outside In" group has become so popular. It not only enables me to answer questions and give advice, but it also gives parents a chance to get together, talk to each other and learn from successful strategies they have used."

(Best Advice would like to thank Helen for her contribution to this section)

If you think your child has a problem, at school or at home, and that talking it through with a professional child counsellor would help, you can access the extended services Integrated Counselling Scheme which is available at every school in the pyramid. Simply ask to see your child's Head Teacher, and discuss the matter in confidence with them first. If the school highlight a problem with your child, they will discuss it with you first to go over all the options.

You can find out more on the ICS in the section of Best Advice entitled Big Problems for Little People.