Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD: A Skill-Building Workbook to Help You Focus and Succeed

by Debra Burdick LCSW, Lara Honos-Webb PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

Get focused, the mindful way! In Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD, a clinical social worker offers powerful skills based in mindfulness and neuroscience to help you succeed in all areas of life—at home, in school, with friends, and beyond!

As if being a teen wasn’t tough enough, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make everyday life even more difficult—from struggling in school to relationship troubles with family and friends. When you just can’t focus, life can get lost in the balance. And to make matters worse, you might also feel stressed or have trouble sleeping and eating well. So, how can you gain focus and start feeling better right away?

In Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD, a clinical social worker offers fast, easy mindfulness skills to help you successfully navigate all the areas of life, including making good choices, completing tasks, increasing academic success, excelling at sports, driving safely, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and more. By paying attention to the moment, you’ll find yourself less distracted and better able to focus on what’s going on right now—whether it’s an algebra test, a job interview, or an important conversation with a friend.

The mindfulness activities in this workbook will also help you build self-awareness and practice self-reflection—key skills to succeeding in life! These skills will help you start feeling more focused, less stressed, and gain confidence in your ability to reach your goals. So, what are you waiting for?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626258051
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Series:	Instant Help for Teens Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	152
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Debra Burdick, LCSW, also known as “The Brain Lady,” is an international expert on mindfulness and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She is author of ADHD Non-Medication Treatment and Skills for Children and Teens; Mindfulness Skills for Kids and Teens; Mindfulness Skills Workbook for Clinicians and Clients; and several mindfulness CDs. She teaches all-day workshops, including 100 Brain-Changing Mindfulness Strategies for Clinical Practice, Childhood ADHD: Advanced Non-Drug Treatments and Strategies that Change the Brain, and Mindfulness Toolkit for Kids and Teens.

A licensed clinical social worker and board-certified neurotherapist, Debra recently retired from private practice to focus on writing and speaking. She incorporates mindfulness skills in all areas of her life and work, and has extensive experience helping children and adults with ADHD, including her own daughter.

An expert author on www.selfgrowth.com, Debra’s work has been featured on radio (Attention Talk Radio, ADHD Support Talk Radio, and Doctors of the USA), in print media (The Wall Street Journal, Connecticut newspaper The Day, and Self-Improvement), and on TV (Parenting Powers and Restoring Health Holistically).

Visit www.thebrainlady.com for more information.

Foreword writer Lara Honos-Webb, PhD, is a worldwide attention deficit disorder (ADD) expert, and offers ADD coaching. She is a clinical psychologist and author of The Gift of ADHD, The Gift of ADHD Activity Book, The Gift of Adult ADD, The ADHD Workbook for Teens, and Listening to Depression. She has published more than twenty-five scholarly articles. Learn more about her work at www.addisagift.com.

Debra Burdick, LCSW, also known as “The Brain Lady,” is an international expert on mindfulness and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She is author of ADHD Non-Medication Treatment and Skills for Children and Teens; Mindfulness Skills for Kids and Teens; Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD; Mindfulness Skills Workbook for Clinicians and Clients; the Mindfulness Skills for Kids card deck and games; and several mindfulness CDs/MP3s. She teaches all-day workshops, including 100 Brain-Changing Mindfulness Strategies for Clinical Practice, Childhood ADHD, and Mindfulness Toolkit for Kids and Teens.

A licensed clinical social worker and board-certified neurotherapist, Burdick recently retired from private practice to focus on writing, speaking, and her grandchildren. She incorporates mindfulness skills in all areas of her life and work, and has extensive experience helping children and adults with ADHD, including her own daughter. Burdick’s work has been featured on radio (Attention Talk Radio, ADHD Support Talk Radio, and Doctors of the USA), in print media (The Wall Street Journal, Connecticut newspaper The Day, and Self Improvement), and on television (Parenting Powers and Restoring Health Holistically). Visit www.thebrainlady.com for more information.
Lara Honos-Webb, PhD, is a worldwide attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) expert, and offers ADHD coaching. She is a clinical psychologist, and author of The Gift of ADHD, The Gift of ADHD Activity Book, The Gift of Adult ADD, The ADHD Workbook for Teens, and Listening to Depression. She has also published more than twenty-five scholarly articles. Learn more about her work at www.addisagift.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

A Letter to Teens with ADHD ix

A Letter to Parents of Teens with ADHD xi

A Letter to Professionals xiii

Section 1 Being Mindful About Your ADHD 1

Activity 1 What Is Mindfulness and Why Should You Care? 2

Activity 2 Being Mindful of How ADHD Shows Up in Your Life 6

Activity 3 What Do You Need Help With? 11

Activity 4 Setting Your Intention 15

Section 2 Mindfulness at Home and School 21

Activity 5 Mindfulness of Your Contribution to the Family 21

Activity 6 Organizing Your Space 26

Activity 7 Getting Things Done on Time 30

Activity 8 How Long Can You Stay On Task? 34

Activity 9 Are You Hyperactive? 37

Activity 10 You Can Improve Your Concentration 43

Activity 11 Organizing Your Schoolwork 47

Activity 12 Calming Your Test Anxiety 51

Section 3 Getting Along with Yourself and Others 55

Activity 13 How's Your Mood Today? 56

Activity 14 Relaxation Breath to Calm and Improve Your Mood 60

Activity 15 Changing the Channel on Negative or Anxious Thoughts 63

Activity 16 De-stressing Instantly 68

Activity 17 Noticing Your Surroundings and Situation 73

Activity 18 Body Surfing to Calm and Center Yourself 77

Activity 19 A Core Mindfulness Practice 82

Activity 20 How Does Your Behavior Impact Others? 86

Activity 21 Taming Your Inner Critic 90

Activity 22 What Do You Like About Yourself? 95

Activity 23 Why Do You Feel Irritable or Conflicted Around Your Parents? 102

Activity 24 Becoming Responsible and Independent 108

Activity 25 What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? 113

Activity 26 What Makes a Good Friend? 119

Activity 27 Why Do You Want to Hang Out with This Person? 126

Activity 28 Social Skills for Connecting and Hanging Out 132

Section 4 How to Live a Healthy Life 139

Activity 29 How Much Sleep Do You Need? 140

Activity 30 Your Bedtime Routine 143

Activity 31 Sleep Meditation to Calm Your Mind and Body 149

Activity 32 Paying Attention When You Are Eating 154

Activity 33 Making Healthy Choices About Drugs and Alcohol 159

Activity 34 Driving Mindfully 167

Section 5 Creating Success 173

Activity 35 Setting Your Intention to Succeed 174

Activity 36 Mentally Rehearsing for Success 179

Activity 37 Finding a Part-Time Job 184

Activity 38 Role-Playing the Interview 190

Activity 39 What Is Expected of You at Work? 195

Activity 40 Planning for Your Future 200

An Ending Note to Teens 207

Acknowledgments 208

References 209

About the Author 213

Instructions for Online Resources 215

Interviews

Burdick resides in Enfield, CT.

Editorial Reviews

Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD nails it! Any teen—indeed, any person—who has ADHD can gain enormously by using this practical, reader-friendly, immensely valuable workbook.  The author knows her stuff, having worked in the real world of teens and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for years. I give this book the highest recommendation. It will reduce stress, build skills, and dramatically improve the life of every person who uses it.”
—Edward Hallowell, MD, coauthor of Driven to Distraction


“Mindfulness at its core is about building attention, increasing self-awareness, and creating new choices in responding. This makes a mindfulness-based approach a perfect fit for those who have unique brain functioning and learning styles such as in ADHD. Debra Burdick’s invaluable book provides teens, and those that work with them, with an excellent blueprint for applying curiosity and kindness to one’s ADHD characteristics, weaknesses, and strengths. The book goes to the heart of typical teen struggles such as schoolwork or making friends, and through structured questions and practices guides the teen reader to simultaneously become more self-accepting and more resourceful in dealing with daily challenges.”
—Lidia Zylowska, MD, associate professor in the department of psychiatry at University of Minnesota, founding member at UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and author of The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD


“Debra Burdick has done it again! Another step-by-step, easy-to-follow book—and this time, for teens with ADHD. Burdick takes us from home and school all the way to employment and long-term success with her mindfulness activities. This book is a must for all those working with teens, and also for all teens, whether they have ADHD or not.”
—Susan Epstein, LCSW, parenting expert and business coach for therapists, coaches, and healers; author of Over 60 Techniques, Activities, and Worksheets for Challenging Children and Adolescents



“I’ve seen first-hand how mindfulness can help people with ADHD. In her new book, Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD, Debra Burdick gives you some powerful techniques to help teens with ADHD succeed in all areas of their lives. The book is full of practical tools that teens can use in a variety of situations. I highly recommend it.”
—Charles A. Francis, author of Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple


“In my practice in sleep medicine and child neurology, I’ve seen first-hand the power that cultivating mindfulness can have. This is an excellent resource for learning mindfulness, which is divided up nicely into segments that a teen with ADHD can easily follow to help them in all areas of their life.”
—Jose Colon, MD, MPH, founder of Paradise Sleep, and award-winning author of books on sleep for women, children, and infants



“As a former high school teacher, I have seen many methods to support teenagers with ADHD, and at the core of all successful techniques is mindfulness. Debra Burdick has compiled an amazing toolkit for parents and teachers to use with their teens to help them focus, become more aware, and ultimately increase their self-confidence. These activities will be a part of their lifetime daily care habits, and good for everyone to use.”
—Julie Kleinhans, youth empowerment and education mentor, and creator of Successful Kids Revolution and Mind Focus Generation



“Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD is a fabulous tool for both parents and teens. Debra has organized a step-by-step process which takes the overwhelm out of living with ADHD. This book is a must-have for all teens.”
—Heather Chauvin, founder of Mom Is In Control

From the Publisher