ADHD Evaluation and Treatment for Children, Teens, and Young Adults
Most families exploring ADHD are trying to answer two questions: is this actually ADHD, and what do we do about it? A comprehensive evaluation answers the first by ruling out the conditions that mimic ADHD — anxiety, learning disorders, sleep problems, and others. Treatment addresses the second through executive functioning coaching, behavioral strategies, and parent training. EBPC provides both in Calabasas and via telehealth across California.
Do we need an evaluation?
An evaluation is worth considering if:
No one has systematically assessed attention, learning, and emotional functioning together
School has raised concerns but hasn't tested
Your child is bright but performing well below what you'd expect
You want to know whether something else — anxiety, a learning disability, giftedness — explains the picture
An evaluation may not be necessary if:
Your child had a thorough school or private assessment recently
The diagnosis is already established and you're seeking treatment
The concern is clearly behavioral and not about attention or learning
You don't need a diagnosis to start treatment. If behavioral difficulties are the main issue, we can begin there. See our Child & Teen Behavior Problems services page for more information.
What does an ADHD evaluation include?
Clinical interview with you and your child, standardized rating scales from parents and teachers, direct testing of attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive functioning, and screening for the conditions that commonly co-occur with or resemble ADHD. You receive a written report and a feedback session explaining what it means and what to do next.
See our Neuropsychological Testing page for more information.
What does ADHD treatment involve?
Executive functioning coaching — planning, starting tasks, organizing materials, tracking assignments, and managing time. Concrete and skills-based.
Behavioral strategies — structuring the home environment so that following through is easier: homework routines, reward systems, and clear expectations.
Parent training — ADHD affects the whole household. Parents learn approaches that reduce conflict around the tasks that reliably become battles.
Coordination with prescribers and schools — we work alongside your physician or psychiatrist if medication is part of the plan, and with schools on accommodations.
What to Expect from Therapy at EBPC, Inc.
1.Diagnostic Evaluation: 90 Minute Initial Session
Our care always begins with a robust diagnostic intake. We use clinical interviews and empirical questionnaires to get a complete picture of your child's cognitive strengths and developmental background.
2.Collaborative Target Setting: Session 2.
Together with the client and family, we isolate precise, measurable treatment goals. We want everyone aligned on exactly what success looks like.
3.Active Skill Building: Ongoing Outpatient Care.
Therapy sessions are interactive and action-oriented. Clients practice tools in session and receive brief "between-session" challenges to try out in school and at home.
4.Progress Tracking & Transition: Graduation.
We actively monitor symptoms to see what is working. Once goals are consistently met and coping skills are automated, we gracefully taper sessions toward independent graduation.
A Note on Telehealth: In addition to welcoming families to our comfortable, private office in Calabasas, CA, our clinicians provide fully HIPAA-compliant teletherapy across California and multiple cross-licensed states.
FAQs
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No. We're psychologists, so we provide evaluation and therapy. We coordinate closely with your child's physician or psychiatrist if medication is being considered.
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It is both over- and under-diagnosed depending on the population, which is precisely the argument for a thorough evaluation rather than a brief screening.
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Yes. We evaluate and treat young adults.
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In some cases yes. Reports include specific recommendations formatted for school teams and, where relevant, for standardized testing accommodations. However some schools may require their own testing for learning accommodations that may co-occur with ADHD.