ADHD books for therapists

Helping people overcome mental health issues and learning disabilities like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a rewarding but challenging job. With growing research on the disorder, the scientific understanding of the underlying principles of ADHD improves. This allows therapists to tap into a larger pool of resources to define better intervention mechanisms for their patients.

If you’re looking for books that can expand your knowledge of ADHD, check out our list.

The best ADHD books for therapists

Taking Charge of ADHD – Russell A. Barkley

Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., is one of the most recognized ADHD experts globally. His main areas of expertise are clinical neuropsychology, child and adolescent psychology, and clinical psychology.

His book centers around hyperactivity and impulsivity as the main ADHD symptoms. Russell Barkley believes the inattentive ADHD variant should be a separate condition, so it deserves special attention and specific treatment options.

The original book from 2010 was replaced by the second edition, so you’ll find more updated information in it.

Driven to Distraction – Ned Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey

“Driven to Distraction” explores child and adult ADD (reframed into inattentive ADHD) through real-life examples. It focuses on well-known symptoms like inattentiveness and the constant pursuit of stimulation. Hallowell and Ratey offer vast knowledge on diagnoses, coping strategies, and ways to help children and adults deal with ADD.

Edward M. Hallowell, M.D is an adult and child psychiatry expert with an extensive background in ADHD. He’s the founder of the Hallowell ADHD Centers across the US, which help patients take charge of adult ADHD and offers treatment programs for kids affected by the disorder.

In this book, he partnered with John Ratey, M.D., a best-selling author and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Ratey has published over 11 books and more than 60 peer-reviewed papers, so his contribution to this book is invaluable.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Dysfunction – Mary V. Solanto

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a valuable addition to ADHD treatment. In this book, Mary Solanto shares various psychotherapy lessons and step-by-step guides to help therapists manage the disorder in adults.

The book teaches clinicians how to help patients improve crucial skills like organization, time management, and executive functioning. Besides science-based CBT strategies, the book offers in-session exercises, ADHD workbooks, and other materials that help mental health professionals create and execute effective strategies.

The author is Mary Solanto, an NYU Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Her extensive in-depth research into the behavioral aspect of ADHD has greatly contributed to the understanding of ADHD and is summarized in this practical book.

Integrative Treatment for Adult ADHD: A Practical, Easy-To-Use Guide for Clinicians – Ari Tuckman

If you’re looking for a comprehensive ADHD treatment strategy, you should read Ari Tuckman’s book. It gives clinicians an integrated approach that combines CBT, coaching, medication, and education to help adults manage ADHD.

The book rethinks traditional treatment techniques, giving therapists a novel approach to ADHD management. It also breaks common misconceptions surrounding the disorder and uses analogies and real-life examples to show how the model works in practice.

The book is the work of Ari Tuckman, PsyD, who is an ADHD expert and certified sex therapist. Tuckman has written four books and regularly contributes to ADHD publications like ADDitude and Attention Magazine. Moreover, he’s held hundreds of presentations around the U.S. and nine foreign countries. Tuckman also has a podcast, “More Attention, Less Deficit,” downloaded over two million times.

Finally Focused – James Greenblatt M.D. and Bill Gottlieb

Unlike most AHDH books, “Finally Focused” revolves around natural ADHD management techniques. Greenblatt firmly believes in treating individuals rather than symptoms through prescription medication, and this book reflects this.

It highlights the important bonds between a healthy lifestyle and ADHD symptoms. The book addresses various deficiencies, allergies, and sleep habits as some of the main determinants of one’s symptoms. If you’re looking for a holistic approach to helping your patients or their loved ones deal with ADHD, you’ll find plenty of useful knowledge in this book.

Over the past 30 years, James Greenblatt, M.D. has helped thousands of children and adults deal with ADHD effectively. He’s a certified psychiatrist using a unique research-backed combination of medical and natural therapeutics to help patients deal with many different mental disorders.

Speechify

Speechify is a text to speech reader that uses AI to create speech from any digital or printed text. 

Clinicians often don’t have much free time. If you’re among them, you can take advantage of Speechify to multitask and listen to articles, emails, social media posts and more while doing other work. You can take notes more easily and summarize new knowledge without hassle.

Speechify offers multi-platform support, allowing you to use it wherever you are. You can add a Safari or Chrome extension to your browser to have web literature spoken to you. The app is also available for iOS, Android, and macOS, so you can use it on the go. 

Finally, Speechify offers over 30 voices and supports more than 20 languages. This makes it a great platform for listening to and reviewing international materials.

If you want to see how these features work in action, you can try Speechify for free.

FAQ

Can therapists recognize ADHD?

Yes, trained therapists can recognize most ADHD symptoms. However, a definitive diagnosis should be made by a neuropsychologist.

What is the most common therapy for ADHD?

Besides medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven itself effective at reducing ADHD symptoms and helping patients perform daily tasks more easily.

What kind of therapist do I need for ADHD?

You should look for a certified CBT therapist. Depending on the symptoms, you can also benefit from a therapist specializing in dialectical behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

While the symptoms depend on the ADHD type, the most common ones include restlessness, hyperactivity, lack of focus, and forgetfulness.