Children with ADHD often take longer in child-centered play therapy because of their unique challenges with self-regulation, attention, and impulse control. Several key factors contribute to the extended timeline:
Delayed Self-Regulation Development – ADHD affects the brain’s executive functioning, making it harder for children to regulate emotions, behaviors, and impulses. Child centered play therapy relies on the child’s ability to engage in self-directed play, which can take longer to develop in children with ADHD.
Difficulty Sustaining Attention – Children with ADHD may struggle to stay engaged in the play process, shifting between activities rapidly without deepening their symbolic or thematic play. This can slow therapeutic progress as they require more time to develop sustained play narratives.
Increased Need for Co-Regulation – In child centered play therapy, the therapist provides a secure and accepting environment where the child learns self-regulation through interactions. Children with ADHD often require extended co-regulation before they internalize self-soothing and emotional control strategies.
Challenges in Processing and Internalizing Therapist Responses – ADHD can impact working memory and processing speed, meaning children may need repeated experiences to integrate the therapist’s reflections, limits, and emotional validations.
Higher Levels of Frustration and Impulsivity – Children with ADHD may struggle with frustration tolerance and impulse control, leading to more frequent testing of limits. It takes time for them to internalize the therapist’s structure and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Social and Emotional Skill Development – Many children with ADHD have delays in social-emotional development, requiring more sessions to practice and generalize skills like perspective-taking, frustration management, and relational engagement.
Need for Repetitive Play Themes – In child centered play therapy children often work through emotional struggles using play. Kids with ADHD may take longer to develop and repeat therapeutic play themes because of their difficulty with sustained focus and deep engagement.
Over time, with consistent and responsive play therapy, children with ADHD can develop better emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, and relational skills, but they often need a longer course of therapy to reach these milestones compared to neurotypical peers.
If you are wondering if child centered play therapy is the right fit for your child, please reach out to schedule a free parent consultation at 832-521-8809.
