ADHD and executive functioning therapy for teens- helping teens feel focused, capable and understood

If your teen has been struggling with focus, organization, or motivation, you are not alone. Parenting a neurodivergent teen can be a mix of love, pride, and uncertainty. You see your teen’s brilliance and creativity — but you may also notice how easily they can become overwhelmed, frustrated, or shut down. You’re not alone, and there’s nothing “wrong” with your teen or with you for feeling unsure about how to help. Many families face the challenges of ADHD and at Houston Feel Good Therapy, we support families like yours — helping teens understand their brains and bodies through building confidence and practical skills, while equipping you with tools to help you better connect with your teen and communicate with confidence and compassion.

Understanding ADHD and Executive Functioning

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) affects attention, impulse control, and activity levels.Executive functioning refers to the mental skills that help us manage time, stay organized, remember details, and regulate emotions.

When these skills don’t come naturally, a teen’s world can quickly feel overwhelming — not because they’re lazy or unmotivated, but because their brain works differently. Through executive functioning therapy, teens learn how to work with their brain instead of against it.

What Parents Often Notice- You might be seeing your teen:

• Having trouble staying focused on schoolwork or following through on tasks

  
  

• Starting assignments but forgetting to finish or turn them in

  
  

• Losing things, running late, or getting easily distracted

  
  

• Struggling to manage big emotions or frustration

  
  

• Seeming unmotivated, anxious, or discouraged

  
  

These challenges can make daily life feel tense — for both your teen and your family.

What It Feels Like for Parents- You may feel:

• Frustrated by daily reminders, nagging, or arguments

  
  

• Worried about your teen’s grades, motivation, or future

  
  

• Unsure if this is “normal teenage behavior” or something more

  
  

• Tired from trying to help but not knowing what else to do

  
  

You are not failing as a parent — your teen just needs support that fits how their brain works.

Understanding Sensory Preferences

We believe there’s no single “right” way to think, learn, or feel. Every brain has its own rhythm and strengths. Many neurodivergent teens are deeply creative, empathetic, analytical, or curious — they just may need different environments or supports to shine.

Therapy is a space to normalize those differences, reduce shame, and help your teen see that who they are is not something to be fixed — it’s something to be understood and celebrated. 

We all experience the world through our senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movement, body awareness, and internal sensations. These are called sensory preferences, and they affect everything from how your teen focuses in school to how they handle stress or social situations.

For neurodivergent people, sensory experiences can feel more intense or unpredictable. Understanding these preferences helps us meet sensory needs in ways that bring calm, balance, and connection.

The 8 Senses

You’ve probably heard of five senses, but we actually have eight that shape how we feel and function:

1. Sight (Visual) – What we see

   
   

2. Sound (Auditory) – What we hear

   
   

3. Smell (Olfactory) – What we notice through scent

   
   

4. Taste (Gustatory) – What we taste

   
   

5. Touch (Tactile) – What we feel on our skin

   
   

6. Movement (Vestibular) – Our sense of balance and motion

   
   

7. Body Awareness (Proprioception) – How we know where our body is in space

   
   

8. Internal Awareness (Interoception) – How we sense hunger, emotions, or temperature inside our body

   
   

When one of these systems is extra sensitive or under-responsive, your teen may become overstimulated or seek out certain sensations to feel grounded again.

Sensory Seeking vs. Sensory Avoidant

Some teens are sensory seekers — they crave movement, sound, or touch to help their body feel “just right.”Others are sensory avoidant, meaning too much noise, light, or texture can quickly become overwhelming.

Examples might include:

• A sensory seeker who chews on pens, taps their pencil, or loves spinning and jumping.

  
  

• A sensory avoidant teen who covers their ears in noisy places, dislikes certain fabrics, or needs breaks after social or school activities.

  
  

Neither is good or bad — it’s simply how their nervous system stays in balance. Once parents and teens understand these patterns, it becomes easier to see behaviors as communication, not defiance.

Why Sensory Understanding Matters

When families understand sensory preferences, everything begins to make more sense.

• Teens feel seen and respected for who they are.

  
  

• Parents feel more confident responding with empathy instead of frustration.

  
  

• Communication improves because everyone shares a common language around what helps during stressful moments.

  
  

This understanding creates empowerment — for your teen, for you, and for your relationship together.

When Executive Functioning or Sensory Challenges Show Up

You might notice your teen having trouble:

• Starting or finishing homework

  
  

• Remembering steps in a routine

  
  

• Managing time or transitions

  
  

• Melting down after school or social events

  
  

• Avoiding noisy or crowded spaces

  
  

• Struggling to organize their space or emotions

  
  

These are not signs of laziness or lack of effort. They’re signs that your teen’s brain processes information differently — and with the right support, those challenges can become opportunities to build new skills and confidence.

How Therapy Helps

In our sessions, we work together to:

• Help teens understand and honor how their brains and bodies work

  
  

• Build emotional regulation and self-advocacy skills

  
  

• Support parents in responding with empathy and effective strategies

  
  

• Strengthen family communication and connection

  
  

We blend neuroscience, attachment theory and ______ to support teens and parents with tools and strategies that reduce conflict and create more calm, connected family dynamics.

How ADHD Therapy and Executive Functioning Support Can Help

In ADHD counseling for teens, we create a supportive, judgment-free space where your teen can:

• Understand their ADHD and how it impacts daily life

  
  

• Learn organization and time management strategies that actually work for them

  
  

• Build emotional regulation skills for frustration, anger, and stress

  
  

• Improve focus and follow-through at school and home

  
  

• Strengthen self-esteem and motivation

  
  

A Path Forward for Your Teen and Your Family

Whether your teen has a formal ADHD diagnosis or you are noticing some patterns of behavior that overlap with ADHD, therapy can make a real difference. Being neurodivergent isn’t a flaw or a problem — it’s just a different way of experiencing and understanding the world. Through therapy, we help you and your teen embrace those differences, build practical tools for daily life, and create space for self-acceptance and confidence.

You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out today to learn how ADHD therapy for teens at Houston Feel Good Therapy can help your teen feel more confident, capable, and in control. Our team at Houston Feel Good Therapy is here to help. To schedule an appointment or consultation, call or text us at 832-966-0214 or email at admin@houstonfeelgoodtherapy.com. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!

**Collaborated with Maribel Hernandez LPC-Associate, NCC, Play Therapist in training**