ADHD can make everyday activities feel difficult and challenging. Sometimes a young person won’t be able to concentrate, and other times they’ll feel flustered and like they can’t focus on one single task. This can have a knock-on effect on their confidence and the way they act, often resulting in impulsive behavior that comes across as ‘troublesome.’ At The Wave, we know how challenging it can be for people to break out of these knee-jerk reactions, and that’s why our clinical approach aims to help young people with ADHD develop positive behaviors. 

Working closely with a team of psychotherapists, they’ll learn how to develop healthy coping mechanisms in response to stressful situations. They’ll also delve deep into their own condition and better understand what it is that triggers them.

Some of our clinical treatment options include:

• Family therapy
• One-to-one therapy
• Expressive arts therapy
• Somatic therapy 
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Group therapy

Alongside medication, our clinical approach can help young people manage their symptoms with ease and have more confidence when faced with new tasks and social situations.

At The Wave, we understand that every young person is unique and that no two cases of ADHD will be the same. Some might find concentrating on tasks difficult while others will struggle with being able to sit still or relax their movements. That’s why we always work with our young people to create a fully personalized treatment plan that suits their needs. After a thorough medical examination, our compassionate care team will figure out which medications are right for them and develop a management plan.

Some of the medications used in the treatment of ADHD include:

• Stimulants (medication that helps people with ADHD focus on tasks and ignore distractions)
• Non-stimulants (medication that’s used if stimulants aren’t working properly or producing negative side effects)
• Antidepressants (in some cases, antidepressants will be prescribed if the young person is also suffering from a co-occurring disorder like depression, anxiety, or bipolar).

How long and how much medication is taken will come down to each individual, and if any changes or side-effects occur we’ll always try to find a way to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms and find a better-suited medication.

We firmly believe that no young person should be left behind, and that’s why one of our seven elements is education. ADHD often has a direct impact on a young person’s ability to concentrate and fully flourish at school, but once they get effective treatment there’s no reason why they can’t work towards a bright future. 

 Every young person has so much ahead of them, and we’re here to help them see their potential and realise their dreams. Alongside therapy and medical treatment, we provide a range of educational opportunities designed to bolster a young person’s confidence and skills for life outside of our clinic. Whatever their dream is, we’re here to help arm them with the tools needed to achieve it.

Some of the educational pathways we offer include:

• International GAP-year experiences
• Continuation of GCSEs and A-Levels
• Vocational courses (London School of Art, Royal Horticultural Society, Leith’s School of Cookery, and The British Horse Society)

Each young person will have their own personal learning plan (PLP) to help them stick to their goals and set the foundations for a solid future. 

Recovery happens through people taking affirmative action – we believe in the true lived and learned experience. It’s one of the reasons we’ve developed a global citizenship programme that gives our young people the chance to help out in the local community and become more aware of the world around them.

ADHD can often make it difficult for young people to look outside of themselves. They’re so used to being on the receiving end of extra care and attention, so turning the tables will give them a chance to develop valuable skills like teamwork and the importance of helping others.

Volunteering opportunities will also give young people a chance to reconnect with something they care about. If they feel strongly for a particular cause, our programme will help them nurture that care into something meaningful and positive. Having something that they deeply care about can help re-develop that sense of purpose and give them something to keep busy with once they leave the clinic.