Clinical Reference

ADHD Treatment Plan Example for Therapists

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Reviewed by the WellNotes Clinical Team

What goes in an ADHD treatment plan?

An ADHD treatment plan for therapy records the diagnosis and who made it, the specific problems at home, school or work, baseline data such as rating scales or homework completion, measurable objectives, and psychosocial interventions such as parent training, CBT and school supports, along with coordination with the prescriber when medication is part of care.

How is ADHD treated, and what does the therapist plan cover?

NIMH describes standard ADHD treatment as medication and psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, parent training and school interventions. In most cases a physician or other prescriber manages medication, and the therapist's plan covers the psychosocial side: behavior management at home, organization and planning skills, school coordination and the emotional effects of ADHD on the client and family.

Objectives should target specific, observable problems (following first instructions, homework completion, arriving on time) rather than "attention" in general. For children, caregivers carry out much of the plan, so many objectives are written for them.

See the treatment plan template for the general structure and the child and family therapy note template for documenting the sessions that follow.

ADHD treatment plan template

For children, add who carries out each objective (child, caregiver, teacher). For adults, focus on the functional problems the client names.

Clinical assessment

Diagnosis or presenting problem
diagnosis, provisional or confirmed, and who made it
Key symptoms and impact
symptoms in observable terms and how they affect work, school, home or relationships
Baseline measures
scale names, scores and dates
Risk status
result of the most recent risk screen
Strengths and supports
what the client brings to treatment

Long-term goals

Goal 1 to 3
the broad change, in words the client would use, with a target timeframe

Short-term objectives

Objective
what the client will do, how often or how much, measured how, by when
Linked goal
which long-term goal this objective serves

Interventions

Intervention
modality or technique, frequency, and who delivers it
Linked objective
every objective needs at least one intervention

Progress indicators and review

Measures
which scales or logs, and how often
Review date
the date your payer or setting requires, or sooner if things change
Client participation
how the client contributed to the plan, and signatures if required

ADHD treatment plan examples

All examples are fictional and de-identified. They show structure and level of detail, not clinical advice for a real client.

Example 1: Child with ADHD, combined presentation (behavioral parent training)

9-year-old client and caregivers referred by the pediatrician, who diagnosed ADHD and manages medication.

Clinical assessment
ADHD, combined presentation, diagnosed by the pediatrician. Caregivers report homework taking over two hours with frequent arguments, needing four or more reminders for routine tasks and two lost recess privileges at school this month. Parent and teacher rating scales elevated for inattention and hyperactivity. No safety concerns. Strengths: curious, loves building sets and soccer; caregivers motivated and consistent with each other.
Long-term goals
1. Finish homework with fewer arguments. 2. Follow household routines with fewer reminders. 3. Fewer behavior incidents at school.
Short-term objectives
1. Caregivers will use specific praise and a daily 10-minute child-led play time on 5 days a week within 3 weeks. 2. Client will start homework within 5 minutes of the timer on 4 of 5 school days within 6 weeks, per caregiver chart. 3. Client will complete the morning routine with 2 or fewer reminders on 4 of 5 days within 8 weeks. 4. Teacher daily report card goals met on 3 of 5 days within 10 weeks.
Interventions
1. Behavioral parent training, weekly caregiver sessions with the child joining for practice (therapist and caregivers). 2. Token system for homework and morning routines (caregivers). 3. With consent, daily report card set up with the teacher (therapist, teacher, caregivers). 4. Child sessions on frustration tolerance and asking for breaks (therapist). 5. Coordinate with the pediatrician about progress (therapist).
Progress indicators
1. Caregiver tracking charts reviewed weekly. 2. Daily report card ratings reviewed every 2 weeks. 3. Repeat parent and teacher rating scales at 12 weeks. 4. Plan review at 90 days.

Example 2: Adult ADHD (organization and time management)

Adult client with ADHD diagnosed in adulthood, prescribed medication by a psychiatrist, seeking therapy for work and household organization.

Clinical assessment
ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation, diagnosed by a psychiatrist last year. Missed three work deadlines this quarter and received a written warning. Late on two bills a month. Reports frustration and low self-confidence. Risk screen negative. Strengths: creative, well liked by colleagues, partner supportive.
Long-term goals
1. Meet work deadlines consistently. 2. Keep household bills and appointments on track. 3. Feel more confident about managing ADHD.
Short-term objectives
1. Client will use one calendar and task list, reviewed each morning, on 5 workdays a week within 4 weeks. 2. Client will break each work project into dated steps and meet 90% of step deadlines within 8 weeks. 3. Client will set up automatic payments or reminders for all recurring bills within 3 weeks. 4. Client will identify and challenge self-critical thoughts after setbacks using a thought record, twice a week, within 6 weeks.
Interventions
1. CBT for adult ADHD with organization, planning and time management skills, weekly. 2. Cognitive restructuring for self-criticism. 3. Partner session to agree on shared household systems. 4. With consent, coordinate with the psychiatrist on progress and any concerns about focus.
Progress indicators
1. Weekly review of calendar use and deadline log. 2. Bills paid on time, reviewed monthly. 3. Self-rating of confidence monthly. 4. Plan review at 90 days.

ADHD treatment goals and objectives you can adapt

  • Following instructions (child): "Client will follow first instructions in 60% of opportunities, up from about 30%, per caregiver tracking, within 8 weeks."
  • Homework (child): "Client will complete homework in 45 minutes or less with one break on 4 of 5 nights within 6 weeks."
  • Caregiver skills: "Caregivers will give specific praise at least 5 times a day and use the agreed time-out steps consistently within 4 weeks."
  • School: "Daily report card goals met on 4 of 5 days for 3 consecutive weeks by week 12."
  • Organization (adult): "Client will review the task list each morning on 5 workdays a week within 4 weeks."
  • Emotional effects: "Client will use a planned coping step when frustrated, per self-report, on most days within 6 weeks."

Documenting ADHD sessions against the plan

Progress notes should show the plan in action: which skill was taught, what the caregiver or client practiced, the tracking data reviewed and the next step. Goal-based formats such as the GIRP note work well because each note starts from the objective being worked on. Record medication only as reported by the client or caregiver, and note any coordination with the prescriber.

Common ADHD treatment plan mistakes

  • A goal of "improve attention" with nothing observable to measure.
  • Leaving caregivers and teachers out of a child's plan when they carry out most of the interventions.
  • Writing medication changes into a therapy plan instead of recording coordination with the prescriber.
  • No baseline, so progress at 90 days cannot be shown.
  • Ignoring the self-esteem and family stress that often come with ADHD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good therapy goals for ADHD?

Goals that target specific, observable problems: finishing homework with fewer arguments, following routines with fewer reminders, meeting work deadlines or paying bills on time. Pair each with a measurable objective and a tracking method such as a caregiver chart, daily report card or deadline log.

What psychosocial treatments are used for ADHD?

NIMH lists cognitive behavioral therapy, parent training and school interventions alongside medication as standard ADHD treatments. A therapist's plan usually covers these psychosocial parts and coordinates with whoever prescribes medication.

Who should be involved in a child's ADHD treatment plan?

The child, caregivers and, with consent, the teacher or school counselor. Caregivers usually carry out home strategies and the school carries out classroom supports, so the plan should name who does what.

How do you measure progress in an ADHD treatment plan?

Use repeat parent and teacher rating scales at set intervals together with the tracking the plan creates, such as compliance charts, homework times, daily report card ratings or a deadline log. Review the data at each plan review.

Sources

This page is educational reference material for clinicians. It does not replace clinical judgment, supervision, or the requirements of your licensing board, payer and organization.

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