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Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder.
Evidence-based, multimodal ADHD care includes behavioral therapy, executive-function and skills training, medication management, and family support through intensive programs designed for real life. ¹
What is ADHD?
Understanding the Condition
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning it reflects how the brain develops and functions rather than a character flaw or lack of discipline. It involves persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning across multiple settings.
ADHD is not about being distracted sometimes or having too much energy. It’s a clinically diagnosable condition that affects children, adolescents, and adults across every demographic. It impacts executive function, including the brain’s ability to plan, prioritize, start tasks, manage time, and regulate emotions. Left untreated, it can undermine school performance, career trajectory, relationships, and self-esteem.
For many people, the hardest part isn’t attention. It’s emotion. ADHD frequently involves emotional dysregulation, with feelings that arrive fast and hit hard, along with a heightened sensitivity to criticism or perceived rejection that many describe as deeply painful. This is sometimes called rejection sensitivity. ADHD is also widely under-recognized in girls, women, and adults, whose symptoms more often show up as inattention, internal restlessness, and disorganization rather than visible hyperactivity. This is why so many are identified later in life.
ADHD isn’t a motivation problem — it’s an executive-function problem. The brain knows what it needs to do but struggles to initiate, sustain, and organize the steps to get there. Treatment builds the skills and structures that bridge that gap.
The good news: ADHD is one of the most studied and treatable conditions in mental health. The landmark NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study (MTA) established that a combination of behavioral therapy, skills training, and medication management produces the strongest outcomes. ³ At Innerspace, every treatment plan is built around that evidence.
Inside the Experience
The ADHD loop.
ADHD isn’t random. It follows a recognizable pattern. You intend to do something, but the brain shifts to something else. Tasks pile up, and shame and self-criticism begin to build. To escape those feelings, the task may be avoided altogether. That avoidance makes the next start even harder, and the cycle continues.
Treatment intervenes at every step. Skills training builds systems for getting started. Behavioral therapy addresses avoidance. Medication, when indicated, supports the brain’s ability to sustain attention. The loop weakens as each link gets addressed.
If this pattern feels familiar, talk to someone who treats it.
What It Looks Like
Signs and symptoms.
ADHD shows up differently from person to person and can also look different at different ages. Recognizing the patterns is the first step toward effective treatment.
These patterns can suggest several conditions, not just ADHD. This is not a diagnostic tool. Only a licensed clinician can determine what’s going on. Tap any that feel familiar.
From Our Clinical Team
ADHD responds best to a multimodal approach that combines medication, therapy, and practical skills training. That’s why we build every ADHD treatment plan around behavioral strategies, executive-function coaching, and medication management when indicated. Structure and skills are what help the progress stick.
Gloria Akunna, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
DNP, PMHNP-BC · Specialty: ADHD & Behavioral Health
Who We Treat
Specialized care at every stage of life.
ADHD presents differently at every age, and effective treatment should adapt with it. Our four programs tailor clinical methods to each developmental stage, from elementary school through adulthood and the perinatal period.
Children
Ages 8 — 13
When early intervention matters most
Behavioral therapy and parent management training are first-line for younger children. We build executive-function skills, address academic challenges through LearnWell, and coach families on structure that works.
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AdolescentS
Ages 14 — 17
When demands outpace coping skills
Academic and social demands surge in high school while the executive-function gap widens. We combine behavioral therapy, skills coaching, and LearnWell academic support so treatment and school reinforce each other.
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AdultS
Ages 18+
It’s never too late to get support
Many adults weren’t diagnosed as children and spent years assuming they were lazy or careless. A large share of adults with ADHD aren’t identified until adulthood. Treatment at any age builds the skills and systems that change daily life substantially.
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PerinataL
Pregnancy & Postpartum
When ADHD challenges intensify
Hormonal changes, sleep disruption, and the demands of new parenthood can significantly worsen ADHD symptoms. Our PMAD-trained clinicians help manage executive-function challenges during this vulnerable period with safe, evidence-based approaches.
our approach
From your first call to lasting change.
Every client follows the same four-step process, with the third step tailored to the condition we’re treating.
01
Free Screening
A confidential 15-minute conversation to understand what’s going on and determine whether our program is the right level of care. No pressure, no diagnosis.
02
Personalized Assessment
Meet with a clinician and psychiatrist for a thorough evaluation. We build a treatment plan around your specific condition, history, and goals rather than using a generic protocol.
03
Immersive Treatment
Engage in your tailored program in person, virtually, or through a hybrid format with our coordinated clinical team. For ADHD, this means a skills-based treatment plan combining behavioral therapy, executive-function coaching, and medication management when indicated.
04
Lasting Change
Coordinated care with families, outpatient providers, and schools ensures progress continues beyond treatment. We help you build a maintenance plan that lasts.
Treatment Structure
Two levels of intensive care.
For ADHD, we recommend the program tier that matches the severity and impact on daily functioning. Your free screening determines the right starting point.
Partial Hospitalization
PHP for ADHD
5–6
hrs/day
Daily structured behavioral therapy, executive-function coaching, and skills groups
5 days per week, 25–30 hours weekly
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management as needed
Parent and family training sessions integrated throughout
Typical duration: 4–6 weeks before stepping down
Recommended for: severe ADHD significantly disrupting school, work, or relationships
Intensive Outpatient
IOP for ADHD
3
HRS/DAY
Structured behavioral therapy and skills coaching in group + individual format
3–5 days per week, 9–15 hours weekly
Medication management as needed
Parent and family training integrated as appropriate
Typical duration: 8–12 weeks
Recommended for: moderate ADHD or step-down from PHP
The Evidence
Why multimodal treatment works.
The NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study (MTA), the largest ADHD treatment trial ever conducted, found that combining behavioral therapy with medication produces the highest success rate and improves areas of life that medication alone does not reach. ³ ⁷
68
%
Combined Treatment Success
In the MTA, about 68% of children receiving combined treatment with behavioral therapy and carefully managed medication reached a successful response, with symptoms near or within the normal range. It was the highest success rate of any group studied. ⁷
56
x
Medication Alone
Medication management on its own reached a 56% success rate, which was effective but meaningfully lower than the 68% seen with combined care. That difference is why behavioral therapy and skills training are core parts of our model rather than optional add-ons. ⁷
4
+
Domains Beyond Symptoms
Across anxiety, academic performance, parent-child relationships, and social skills, combined treatment outperformed routine care in areas where medication alone did not. These real-life gains reflect the added value of skills and support beyond prescription alone. ³
Figures from the NIMH MTA study (success rates per Swanson et al., 2001). Individual outcomes vary based on ADHD presentation, comorbidities, and engagement with treatment. Only a clinical evaluation can determine an appropriate treatment plan. See References below for full citations.
Why It Matters
The impact of proper treatment.
ADHD treatment isn’t just about improving attention. It’s about building a life that works with your brain instead of against it. That means being able to finish what you start, show up on time without panic, trust your own follow-through, and feel competent instead of constantly behind.
Outcome 01
Greater
Focus
Attention & Follow-Through
Evidence-based ADHD treatment helps individuals sustain attention, complete tasks, and manage time more effectively, creating more space for the goals, relationships, and activities that matter most.
Outcome 02
Stronger
Daily Functioning
School, Work & Relationships
As skills develop, many people experience fewer missed deadlines, less disorganization, better communication, and more consistent performance at school and work. This can reduce the daily friction that ADHD creates.
Outcome 03
Renewed
Self-Understanding
Identity & Self-Compassion
ADHD often generates years of shame, self-criticism, and the belief that something is fundamentally wrong. Treatment helps reframe that narrative by building self-understanding, self-advocacy, and confidence through a clearer understanding of how the brain works and what it needs.
In a mental health crisis right now? Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in case of emergency. For non-urgent screening, the form below or 732-332-8270 are the right starting points.
Ready to Begin
ADHD is treatable. The right approach matters.
Reach out and a licensed clinician will respond within one business day to begin your free screening. There’s no pressure, and no diagnosis is required.
Phone line open 24/7 — call any time
One business day response from a licensed clinician
Or call us directly: 732-332-8270
Common Questions
Questions about ADHD treatment.
Direct answers to what people most often ask before reaching out.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not an illness that gets “cured.” But it is highly manageable. With evidence-based treatment — behavioral therapy, skills and executive-function training, medication when appropriate, and family or academic support — most people experience meaningful improvement in attention, organization, and daily functioning.
The goal isn’t to eliminate ADHD but to build systems and skills so it no longer controls the life you want to live.
ADHD is one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions. Twin studies estimate broad heritability at roughly 70–80%. ⁵ It involves differences in the brain circuits that regulate attention, impulse control, and executive function — particularly those using the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Other contributing factors can include premature birth, low birth weight, and prenatal exposures.
ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, too much screen time, sugar, or lack of discipline. Understanding the neurodevelopmental basis helps families move past blame and toward effective support.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (sometimes still called ADD) involves difficulty sustaining attention, organizing tasks, and following through — without significant hyperactivity. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation involves restlessness, interrupting, and acting before thinking. Combined Presentation includes significant symptoms of both.
A person’s presentation can change over time, especially as children grow into adolescence and adulthood. Hyperactivity often becomes more internal with age.
Diagnosis rates have risen, which has prompted legitimate questions. But research suggests the picture is more nuanced: some populations may be overdiagnosed while others — particularly girls, women, and adults — have historically been underdiagnosed because their symptoms present differently.
What matters is a careful, comprehensive evaluation. A proper ADHD assessment looks at symptoms across multiple settings, rules out other explanations (anxiety, sleep disorders, learning differences), and confirms genuine functional impairment before any diagnosis is made.
Not necessarily. Medication is one effective tool, and for many people stimulant or non-stimulant medication produces significant improvement. But the landmark MTA study and clinical guidelines support a multimodal approach. ³ Behavioral therapy, executive-function and skills training, and family or academic support are central.
For young children (under 6), the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends behavioral treatment as the first-line approach before medication. ⁶ Our psychiatrists evaluate each person individually and never treat medication as a substitute for skills.
Adult ADHD often looks less like hyperactivity and more like chronic disorganization, missed deadlines, difficulty starting or finishing tasks, time blindness, forgetfulness, and emotional reactivity. Many adults were never diagnosed as children and spent years assuming they were lazy, careless, or not trying hard enough.
Many adults with ADHD aren’t identified until adulthood.⁴ Treatment can be just as effective in adulthood as in childhood — skills, structure, and the right support change daily life substantially.
ADHD is a long-term condition, so the goal is durable skills and systems rather than a fixed endpoint. Our IOP typically runs 8–12 weeks, and our PHP typically runs 4–6 weeks before stepping down.
Many people then continue with periodic outpatient therapy, skills coaching, or medication management to maintain progress over time. Your free screening gives a more specific sense of timeline.
Not necessarily. For many people — especially children — behavioral therapy and skills training are effective on their own. For others, medication combined with behavioral approaches works better. Our board-certified psychiatrists evaluate each patient individually and make recommendations based on what’s clinically appropriate — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
We’re in-network with most major commercial insurance plans — including Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, United Healthcare, Horizon BCBS, Amerihealth, and Oxford. We do not accept Medicare or Medicaid.
During your free screening, our intake team will verify your specific plan’s benefits and explain any out-of-pocket costs upfront. No surprises.
That’s exactly what the free screening is for. A 15-minute call with our intake team will help clarify whether your patterns suggest ADHD, a different condition (anxiety and ADHD often overlap or mimic each other), or something else entirely.
If we’re not the right fit, we’ll help you find someone who is. There’s no pressure to commit to anything.
Sources
References & Citations
All statistics on this page are sourced from peer-reviewed clinical research and authoritative healthcare organizations. Individual treatment outcomes vary; the figures below reflect aggregated population data and are not predictions for any individual.
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and Statistics on ADHD. CDC. An estimated 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3–17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD (2022 National Survey of Children’s Health). An estimated 15.5 million adults (6.0%) have a current ADHD diagnosis (Staley et al., 2024). cdc.gov
2
Danielson ML, Claussen AH, Bitsko RH, et al. (2024). ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. National survey establishing that approximately 1 in 9 U.S. children have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. tandfonline.com
3
The MTA Cooperative Group (1999). A 14-Month Randomized Clinical Trial of Treatment Strategies for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(12):1073–1086. The landmark NIMH multisite trial. For ADHD-adjacent outcomes — anxiety symptoms, academic performance, parent–child relations, and social skills — combined treatment was consistently superior to routine community care, whereas medication management alone was not. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4
CHADD National Resource Center on ADHD. General Prevalence of ADHD. Supported by CDC Cooperative Agreement NU38DD000003. Current combined estimate of adults and children with ADHD is approximately 22 million people. Many adults with ADHD are not identified until adulthood. chadd.org
5
Faraone SV (2005). Molecular Genetics of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Biological Psychiatry. Twin and family studies establish ADHD as highly heritable, with broad heritability estimates of approximately 70–80%. Also: Thapar A et al. (1999), Stevenson (1992). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6
American Academy of Pediatrics (2019). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 144(4):e20192528. Recommends behavioral therapy as first-line treatment for children under 6, and combined medication + behavioral therapy for ages 6 and older. publications.aap.org
7
Swanson JM, Kraemer HC, Hinshaw SP, et al. (2001). Clinical Relevance of the Primary Findings of the MTA: Success Rates Based on Severity of ADHD and ODD Symptoms at the End of Treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(2):168–179. End-of-treatment success rates: Combined 68%, Medication Management 56%, Behavioral 34%, Community Care 25%. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Clinical Review: This page was last clinically reviewed on June 3, 2026, by Gloria Akunna, DNP, PMHNP-BC, whose clinical practice includes ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), with medical co-review by Dr. Elizabeth Lobel, MD. We review our clinical content regularly to reflect current evidence-based research.
Recognized By
