Different by Design: Seeing ADHD Through a New Lens

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As both a mom and a clinical mental health counseling intern at Oaks Family Care Center, I’ve walked through the confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes heartbreaking moments that come with raising or working with a child who struggles to focus, manage emotions, or feel like they truly fit in. I’ve also seen how powerful it is when a child begins to understand their brain—and feel understood by the people around them.

That’s why I decided to take part in a professional training series on ADHD through PESI. This journey has been deeply personal and incredibly eye-opening. My goal is to become the kind of counselor who not only knows the science, but also speaks the language of compassion—especially to families who are exhausted, misunderstood, and just looking for hope.

This training focuses on evidence-based, neurodiversity-affirming approaches to care. That means we’re learning not to “fix” a child with ADHD, but to understand them. To celebrate their strengths, support their challenges, and create a space where they don’t have to carry shame for being wired differently. And let’s be honest—how many of our kids have felt the sting of being told they’re too much, too loud, too distracted? I hope my own reflections and takeaways from this series can give you tangible tools and insights to help you and your child navigate life with ADHD.

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If you’re a parent navigating the ups and downs of raising a child with ADHD, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. Parenting a neurodivergent child can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing. But with the right knowledge and tools, it can also become a deeply rewarding journey of connection, growth, and empowerment.

In this first module, we focus on shifting the lens through which we view ADHD—from one of dysfunction to one of understanding and strength. ADHD isn’t a behavioral problem to “fix,” but a neurological difference to understand. Children with ADHD are not broken; they are wired differently. And once we learn how their brains process information, regulate emotion, and respond to stress, we can begin to truly support them.

ADHD is closely tied to executive functioning, emotional regulation, and in many cases, past trauma. That’s why traditional methods that focus solely on discipline or rigid expectations often backfire. Instead, we need strategies that honor how the ADHD brain functions—offering structure, yes, but also flexibility, compassion, and tools that work with a child’s natural wiring.

Some tangible ways to support a child with ADHD include:

• Visual schedules that reduce anxiety by providing predictable routines

• Movement breaks that allow for physical release and re-regulation

• Body doubling (doing tasks alongside someone) to increase focus and task completion

• Sensory tools like fidgets, noise-reducing headphones, or weighted blankets to calm the nervous system

These aren’t gimmicks—they’re evidence-based supports that create a safer, more regulated environment for your child to learn, grow, and thrive. When we embrace a neurodiversity-affirming mindset, we stop asking, “How do I make my child act more ‘normal’?” and start asking, “How can I create a world where my child feels safe, seen, and successful?”

At Oaks Family Care Center, we believe in partnering with parents, not judging them. We meet you where you are—tired, worried, hopeful—and walk with you and your child toward a better future. Because every child deserves to feel understood, valued, and capable of success. And to every parent wondering if they’re doing enough—please hear this: You are doing more than you know. Your love matters. Your presence matters. And your child’s future is filled with promise.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

— Jeremiah 29:11