Thoughtful Health is a Brisbane clinic providing psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy and speech therapy services for children, adolescents and adults with ADHD.  

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can affect both children and adults, and cause problems with attention, organisation and concentration.

Children with ADHD are usually treated with a combination of therapy, provided by a psychologist or occupational therapist, and sometimes also with medication.  Our team of child psychiatrists, psychologist and occupational therapists can assist in the diagnosis and management of ADHD. 

Adults can also be affected by ADHD, which can impact performance at work and affect family relationships.  Our adult psychiatrists have specialist knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD.  Our psychologists can assist adults with ADHD to improve skills related to organisation, planning and executive function. 

The following information is provided by Dr Carina Capra, who is an occupational therapist experienced in the management of ADHD.  To make an appointment with Carina call us on 3463 0722.  

Children with ADHD have difficulty with Self Regulation, Sensory Modulation and Executive Functioning.  Occupational therapists are trained to assess and manage these difficulties, and will work with you and your child on practical strategies for skill development.

Occupational therapy can assist with:

• Self-Regulation: refers to an individual’s ability to identify and adjust their level of alertness. Understanding your current ability to pay attention, be safe, and interact with others is something that often comes naturally to adults. When we are tired and trying to pay attention in a long meeting, many of us make a (sometimes subconscious) decision to increase our level of alertness by tapping our feet, drinking coffee or chewing on a pen cap. For some children, including many of those with ADHD, it is difficult for them to develop this skill on their own and they need assistance to read their own bodies and choose appropriate strategies to help them focus.
• Sensory Modulation: is one of the essential elements of self-organisation. We use different strategies to self-organise and participate in meaningful life activities. The kinds of activities used to wake up and prepare for the day typically differ from those we use to prepare for going to sleep at night. We need to stay alert and awake when learning.
• Executive Functioning skills: Children with ADHD often exhibit difficulty with executive functioning skills, such as organisation, initiation of and transition between tasks, problem solving and time management.