
275- CBT and DBT for ADHD: How Talk Therapies Reduce Symptoms and Boost Confidence
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Dec 11, 2019 John Mitchell, an Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical Center, specializes in ADHD treatment and shares his insights on talk therapies. He explains the core differences between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Listeners learn about the structure of each therapy, the techniques for addressing negative thoughts, and strategies for managing emotional dysregulation. Mitchell also emphasizes the importance of combining therapy with medication for optimal results and highlights the challenges in accessing trained clinicians.
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ADHD Produces Both Depressive And Misleading Positive Thoughts
- Adults with ADHD show more depressive-style automatic thoughts even without clinical depression, plus paradoxically frequent overly optimistic thoughts that fuel procrastination.
- Both negative and wrongly-timed positive thoughts are treatment targets because either can reinforce ADHD habits.
Keep Ready Coping Cards For Urges
- Carry coping-card statements to cue adaptive responses in the moment: define first step, wait on urges, buy time by saying "let me get back to you."
- Use short, task-focused prompts to interrupt automatic impulsive choices.
What A Typical CBT Session Looks Like
- Typical CBT for adult ADHD is manualized individual therapy: 12 weekly one-hour sessions with agenda, symptom review, medication check, skill review, and a new skill plus homework.
- Expect iterative practice; sessions teach skills but the real change happens when you apply them between sessions.
