Acknowledgment and celebration

Individuals with ADHD have often received more criticism and corrections over time than their neurotypical peers and may, thus, be particularly prone to a negativity bias. For this reason, acknowledgment and celebration are cornerstones of working with adults having ADHD. Drawing on decades’ worth of research, beginning with the “Broaden and Build” theory of positive emotions, approaches to acknowledgment and celebration offer clients with ADHD powerful antidotes to negative schema while simultaneously affirming and expanding client capacity. Building on a foundation of unconditional positive regard, coaches and therapists can make use of skills in three categories to support the development of self-regard for adults with ADHD: (1) ways practitioners can affirm clients, (2) use of collaborative processes to invite clients toward affirming the self, and (3) support for clients in building a repertoire of ways to continue to affirm and expand the sense of self. These varied approaches help the adult with ADHD feel seen in a positive light and begin to see themselves more positively, ultimately cultivating self-efficacy for behavior change and expanding well-being, broadly, and the sense of self and self-worth.