Nominated for the BBC Radio 4 All in the Mind Awards (Professional category) 2025
CBT for ADHD Group
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, is a form of time-limited and goal-oriented talking therapy that focuses on the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It aims to identify and change unhelpful patterns to promote healthier and more adaptive coping strategies.
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CBT for ADHD is a specialised evidence based CBT protocol for ADHD that addresses the particular challenges associated with ADHD by integrating CBT techniques with psychoeducation, ADHD specific skills and practical exercises to maximise clients’ strengths and mitigate their areas of challenge.
The process
It is an 8 session, 90 minute, weekly closed group, covering the following topics:
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Making sense of the diagnosis
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Time awareness, management & scheduling
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Avoiding overwhelm, prioritization and using to do lists
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Overcoming emotional obstacles to progress
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Activation & Motivation
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Setting up, implementing and maintaining an organizational system
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Project Planning
As a group based intervention, it also draws on the multiple perspectives and experiences of the group members, as well as providing mutual support and accountability. The program utilises between session tasks to give participants the opportunity to practice skills in their everyday lives.
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I also draw on my wider skills and experience and when appropriate, may reference other approaches such as solution focused coaching, digital solutions, Zones of Regulation, neurorehabilitation and CBT for insomnia.
The group is a closed group, limited to 8 people maximum. This is so that group members not only gain maximum individual benefit from the sessions, but also so that the group can develop trust and mutual support over time. We have recently started a waiting list for the group and it will start when fully recruited. We anticipate that the group will run on Wednesdays from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. There will also be the opportunity of joining a post-group monthly group coaching session where group participants can continue to develop and consolidate their skills, whilst receiving support and accountability to do so.
Pricing
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£80 per 90 minute session
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VAT is not payable
Group members are usually self pay, particularly as it is a cost effective alternative compared to individual therapy and Health insurers are unlikely to cover CBT for ADHD as ADHD is a preexisting condition. That said, Insurers will fund individual CBT for other conditions such as anxiety or depression that often cooccur with ADHD. There is an argument that addressing ADHD will reduce anxiety and depression, but insurers may or may not accept that rationale.
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If you are employed or self employed, it is possible that sessions may be funded by the government’s Access to Work scheme as ADHD is classed as a disability. Further information on this is available here. It should be noted that this can be a complicated and highly bureaucratic process that people with ADHD usually find challenging to navigate. Access to Work advisers differ in their understanding of interventions for ADHD and some of them do not understand that there is a specific CBT protocol targeted at ADHD and get confused with CBT for mental health conditions (which A2W will not fund).
However, you can apply for a package of CBT for ADHD coaching to improve your work performance in the context of your ADHD. Although CBT for ADHD is a generic, non-occupational specific intervention, it is clear from the modules above that it has the potential to improve all areas of functioning, including employment. If you do pursue this route, please ask for a tailored quotation that you can use as part of the process.
The Access to Work process generally takes around three - four months and once accepted, clients pay the therapist and then reclaim the money through Access to Work.