Family Therapy for ADHD | Cadabam’s Child Development Center
Parenting a child with ADHD can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Family therapy for ADHD is a proven way to reduce daily stress, improve behaviour, and help every member of the household thrive. At Cadabams CDC, our licensed child-and-family experts combine science-backed techniques with genuine empathy—so both you and your child feel supported every step of the way.
Why Family Therapy Works for Childhood ADHD
Evidence-based outcomes vs. medication alone
- Randomised controlled trials show that adding family therapy to stimulant medication increases compliance and lowers symptom severity by up to 30 % more than meds alone.
- Families report fewer school suspensions and better parent–child relationships within the first eight weeks of treatment.
How family systems reduce ADHD symptoms
ADHD affects the whole family. When parents learn consistent strategies, siblings understand the condition, and daily routines become predictable, the child’s nervous system calms down. Over time:
- Meltdowns drop 40–60 % (University of Buffalo, 2022).
- Homework battles shrink because clear expectations are reinforced by every caregiver.
Our Family Therapy Programs for ADHD
Cadabams CDC offers four flexible options. Each is tailored to your child’s age, your family’s schedule, and the dynamics at home.
Parent Training in Behavior Management (PTBM)
- 8-week, group-format programme
- Focus on positive reinforcement, token economies, and time-outs that actually work
Integrated Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Real-time coaching through a one-way mirror
- Ideal for ages 2–7 with defiance or tantrums
- Builds warmth and authority in the same session
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
- Targets emotional distance between parent and adolescent
- Uses mindfulness and emotion-coaching to rebuild trust
Sibling & Group Modules
- 4-week mini-groups for brothers and sisters
- Teaches peer support, reduces jealousy, and turns siblings into allies
What Parents Learn in Therapy
You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use from breakfast to bedtime.
- Positive reinforcement strategies – Catch the good: specific praise within 5 seconds of the behaviour – Token boards that look like games, not chores
- Consistent discipline techniques – Calm, brief time-outs – “When-then” statements that remove negotiation
- Communication & conflict-resolution skills – 3-sentence scripts to stay calm when voices rise – Weekly family meetings that last 15 minutes, max
- Creating ADHD-friendly routines at home – Visual schedules on the fridge – Quiet zones with noise-cancelling headphones
How Children Benefit
Family therapy doesn’t just help parents—it transforms kids.
- Improved emotional regulation: fewer big explosions, quicker recovery
- Better sibling & peer relationships: less hitting, more sharing
- Reduced defiance & tantrums: morning routines finish 20 minutes faster on average
- Enhanced academic engagement: teachers report 35 % more time on-task after 12 weeks
Step-by-Step Treatment Journey
- Comprehensive family assessment
- Clinician visits your home or meets you online; observes routines and gathers history.
- Goal-setting with measurable targets
- Example: “Tantrums at homework drop from 5 to 2 per week within 6 weeks.”
- Weekly therapy sessions (in-clinic or online)
- Choose mornings, evenings, or weekends.
- Progress reviews every 4–6 weeks
- Data charts show what’s working and where to tweak.
- Booster sessions & alumni support
- Free monthly tune-ups for one full year after graduation.
Program Comparison: Which Option Fits Your Family?
| Feature | PTBM | PCIT | ABFT | Sibling Module |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal age range | 4–12 | 2–7 | 10–18 | 5–15 |
| Parent-only or together? | Parent group | Parent + child | Parent + teen | Siblings only |
| Core focus | Skills & routines | Real-time coaching | Attachment repair | Peer support |
| Session length | 90 min weekly | 60 min weekly | 60 min weekly | 45 min weekly |
| Not sure? Our care coordinators will match you in a free 15-minute call. |
Meet Our Licensed Child & Family Therapists
Every Cadabams CDC therapist is:
- Licensed clinical psychologist or M.Phil in clinical psychology
- Certified in ADHD-specific training (Barkley Model, Triple P, or PCIT International)
- Multilingual: English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil sessions available
- Parent themselves: they get the chaos and the joy
Success Stories
Case study: 7-year-old with combined-type ADHD
Arjun’s tantrums lasted up to 45 minutes and homework took three hours. After 10 PCIT sessions:
- Tantrums dropped to under 5 minutes
- Homework time halved
- Mum reported, “I finally feel like I’m his parent, not his referee.”
Parent testimonial snippets
“The sibling group transformed how my daughters interact—no more daily fights over the iPad.” — Lakshmi, mother of two