Clinical support
Creating ADHD treatment plans for adults
Here’s how to narrow down the treatments to apply and create an actionable ADHD plan.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts in childhood and can extend into adulthood. Patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity impact functioning in multiple areas of life. Despite the ways this can impact a person's daily life at work or in relationships, there are various ways it can be treated. This can be guided well by an effective ADHD treatment plan.
Understanding ADHD treatment options for adults
There are a variety of treatments for adults with ADHD that can help support their symptom management. The treatment will vary depending on the presentation of the client’s ADHD and their goals for treatment. Once these have been identified, you can start narrowing down the approaches to apply and include in the treatment plan.
Medication
Medication is typically considered the frontline treatment for ADHD, especially with adults. The right medication at the right dosage can make a significant impact for clients with ADHD. These medications work by increasing activity in the prefrontal cortex as well as modulating dopamine and norepinephrine levels, helping to ease symptoms. Medication is often applied in conjunction with other treatments such as therapy. Note that all management, dosing, and titration should be handled by a psychiatric prescriber.
Therapy
There is growing research supporting the use of therapy as a means of treatment for ADHD. It can support improved attention, impulse management, behavior change, emotion regulation, self esteem, coping skills, and daily functioning. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most well-researched treatment for ADHD that can provide benefits emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) are also therapies with a growing body of research showing benefits for ADHD.
Workplace accommodations
For those who feel that ADHD is impacting their work, reasonable accommodations can be made. These treatment approaches are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can be tailored to the needs of the client. Accommodations can relate to things such as environment modifications, task and time management support, structured routine and instruction, breaks, and time for movement. Often, documentation and support from therapists or other providers on the client’s healthcare team is needed to receive an accommodation approval.
Support groups
Joining groups has proven to be an effective intervention for ADHD. Whether therapist or peer-led, the support has proven to help clients feel empowered, understood, and better able to manage their symptoms. Depending on the focus of the group, the benefits can include social support, practical coping skills, emotion regulation, accountability, expert guidance (from a therapist), and psychoeducation.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is a powerful tool for treating ADHD. It helps with client empowerment, treatment adherence, and better outcomes. When a client better understands their disorder, its impacts, and management strategies, they can proceed more effectively. Psychoeducation can also be extremely useful for loved ones of a client who is dealing with ADHD. You can provide this psychoeducation in session or make recommendations for books, courses, or online content that help educate the client and their loved ones.
Lifestyle modifications
Changes to certain aspects of a client’s life can greatly help with ADHD management. Exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, helps to modulate neurotransmitters that can help with attention, emotion regulation, and impulse management. Increasing healthy food consumption and reducing foods that cause more dramatic changes in the body (like sugars) can be useful. Sleep hygiene and building structure around routines are also proven to be useful.
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What to consider when creating a treatment plan for adult ADHD
Creating a treatment plan requires careful consideration of several components. This is particularly true for adult ADHD, as the treatment plan will guide your clinical work. A good treatment plan is a foundation for quality clinical work and good outcomes.
Assessment and diagnosis
It is important to complete a thorough assessment and diagnostic work as you create a treatment plan with the client. Providing an initial screening, comprehensive clinical evaluation, and standardized assessment tools are all essential. Besides the DSM-5-TR criteria, using validated assessments such as the ASRS is an essential piece of a proper diagnosis. It is also important to rule out any other disorders that might be causing the symptoms. This will give clarity on the diagnosis, the specific ADHD presentation, and the client goals, which will form the basis of the treatment plan.
For master’s-level clinicians, it is important to check with state regulations and insurance company requirements to see if you are allowed to diagnose ADHD. While not common in some settings, master’s-level clinicians are not able to diagnose ADHD if the diagnostic tests to be administered require psychologist licensure.
Individualized approach
Tailoring the treatment plan to the uniqueness of your client facilitates effective clinical work. Rather than applying the same approach to every client with ADHD, it is effective to individualize plans around the client’s challenges, preferences, strengths, and goals. This means organizing around the specific impairments, objectives, and strengths that the client has. Collaborate with clients to choose treatments that align with their needs and preferences. Individualized treatment plans also take into account things like the impact of co-occurring disorders and cultural influences.
Treatment goal setting
One of the biggest components of an individualized treatment plan is the client’s goals. It is crucial to define exactly what the client is wanting from treatment. This gives direction and focus to treatment and taps into the client's implicit motivation. In a treatment plan, goals focus on symptoms and give general direction. Underneath each goal are objectives. It is essential to make sure those objectives are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This can take some work and follow-up questions with a client to make sure the objectives are realistic — and that there are tangible ways to measure them. SMART goals are also important for insurance payers who want to see these types of objectives in the treatment plans they are funding.
Comprehensive treatment options
Some of the most effective treatment plans take a comprehensive approach that includes multiple treatment approaches. An example of a common multimodal approach would include medication (managed by a psychiatrist), therapy, psychoeducation, and lifestyle modifications. It is important to target each chosen intervention to meet the challenges and goals of the client. Approaching treatment from different angles can enhance outcomes.
Monitoring and adjustment
A key aspect to having an individualized treatment plan is ongoing monitoring and adjustment. Ongoing monitoring ensures responsiveness to progress, changing needs, and emerging challenges. Monitoring and feedback to the client can also enhance motivation if they can see progress. Discussions, scheduled follow-ups, client self-reporting, and ongoing use of validated assessments are all helpful ways to track treatment plan progress. Based on the information gathered, appropriate adjustments can be made.
Co-occurring conditions
Co-occurring conditions are common for people with ADHD. Anxiety and depression in particular have high co-occurring rates. Simultaneously treating these disorders can improve outcomes and quality of life. Treatment plans often only include one disorder, but some include all disorders. For a client with Major Depressive Disorder and ADHD, for example, there could be two separate treatment plans or they could be combined into one plan. It is part of your job as a therapist to keep in mind these treatment objectives and make sure you are treating both disorders in an integrated manner. At the top of the treatment plan, it should include the correct diagnosis and ICD-10 code for ADHD.
ADHD treatment plan example
The following is an example of a treatment plan for an adult with ADHD. It has clear goals and SMART objectives that have clear measurements. It also includes evidence-based approaches, which insurance companies want to see in treatment plans.
Client Name: John Jones
Date of Birth: 02/01/1958
Therapist Name: Thelma Therapist, LMFT
Diagnosis Code/Name: F90.0 – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type
Presenting Symptoms
- Client presents with persistent symptoms consistent with ADHD, Combined Presentation, as outlined in DSM-5-TR criteria.
- Inattention: Difficulty sustaining attention during tasks/activities, frequent lapses in task completion, disorganization and challenges in organizing activities, frequent misplacement of necessary items, forgetfulness in daily responsibilities.
- Hyperactivity/Impulsivity: Persistent restlessness, frequent interrupting or intruding during conversations, difficulty remaining seated during activities requiring focus.
- Functional Impact: Symptoms have persisted for several years and result in significant impairment in occupational and interpersonal functioning.
- Additional Features: Emotional dysregulation, difficulty with time management, frustration and fatigue related to daily functioning and internalized expectations. Client desires improvement that aligns with personal values and neurodivergent identity.
Modality of Treatment
Individual psychotherapy
Session Frequency and Duration
Weekly 50-minute sessions
Estimated Length of Treatment
6 months (subject to reassessment)
Treatment Orientation and Philosophy
The integrated approach combines CBT, DBT, and MBCT, emphasizing neurodiversity-affirming principles.
Interventions focus on:
- Skill development
- Adaptive coping
- Emotional regulation
- Executive functioning support
- Identity-affirming approaches (avoiding masking or suppression of neurodivergent traits)
- Prioritizes functional adaptation, self-awareness, and value-congruent behavior
Treatment Goals, Objectives, and Interventions
Long-Term Goal #1: Enhance functional organization and task completion
Estimated completion date: 1/16/2026
Objective 1.1:
Within 3 months, client will implement a personalized task management system (e.g., digital tool, visual aid, voice notes) and report improved consistency in managing priority tasks at least 4 out of 5 weekdays for four consecutive weeks.
Interventions:
- Provide psychoeducation on executive function differences in ADHD
- Use CBT to co-create and reinforce organizational strategies aligning with client preferences
- Monitor and adjust systems collaboratively
- Incorporate ACT-informed (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) values exploration for motivation
Objective 1.2:
Within 2 months, client will identify and use at least one time-structuring/work-initiation strategy (e.g., Pomodoro method, body doubling, interest-based sequencing) on 3+ workdays/week, as tracked in sessions/journaling.
Interventions:
- Introduce time management strategies tailored to ADHD profiles
- Use MBCT to build time-awareness and address avoidance
- Apply CBT skills to overcome task initiation barriers
- Encourage optional journaling/tracking for metacognitive awareness
Long-Term Goal #2: Improve emotional self-regulation and social interaction
Estimated completion date: 1/16/2026
Objective 2.1:
Within 6 months, client will implement at least two communication or co-regulation strategies to manage impulsive conversational shifts and emotional reactivity, reporting higher satisfaction and reduced relational tension.
Interventions:
- Practice DBT interpersonal effectiveness skills for communication and emotional boundaries
- Normalize ADHD communication traits; explore adaptive pacing/turn-taking tools
- Roleplay and CBT-informed rehearsal for impulse control and self-monitoring
- Cognitive restructuring to address internalized stigma/shame
Objective 2.2:
Within 12 weeks, client will consistently use one or more emotion regulation strategies (e.g., deep breathing, movement, grounding) at least 4 times/week, as reflected in session check-ins or self-report.
Interventions:
- Psychoeducation about emotional dysregulation in ADHD
- Apply DBT distress tolerance and MBCT mindfulness for regulation
- Practice techniques in session, generalize to daily life
- Encourage reflective awareness of emotional patterns and responses
Build your best practice with Headway
Managing ADHD requires a flexible, comprehensive approach tailored to each individual’s unique needs. By integrating evidence-based treatment plans, adults with ADHD can achieve meaningful improvements in focus, organization, and emotional well-being. Using a platform like Headway can help with creating effective treatment plans, monitoring progress, and leveraging supportive resources. This empowers both providers and clients to overcome challenges and reach their fullest potential. Headway streamlines practice management by minimizing administrative burdens, including insurance billing, scheduling, and documentation. Discover how Headway can support your ADHD care and simplify your workflow.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2025 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
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