Cultivating Compassion: Experiences of Children and Families with ADHD in Mentalization Informed Psychodynamic Therapy

Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often experience significant interpersonal and emotional regulation challenges that impact both individual functioning and family systems. Mentalization-Based Treatment for Children (MBT-C) offers a relational, psychodynamic approach aimed at strengthening reflective functioning within families. The present study used Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) to examine the processes and perceived outcomes of mentalization-informed therapy for children with ADHD and their caregivers. Participants included six children (ages 8–11) with ADHD or subthreshold symptoms and their families. Data consisted of 18 session transcripts collected across early, mid, and late phases of treatment. Analysis yielded six domains: Clinical Intervention, Clinical Profile, Interpersonal Interaction, Methods of Coping, Themes of Play, and Progress and Outcomes. Findings highlight the centrality of interpersonal difficulties in ADHD, the importance of therapist stance and metaphor in fostering mentalization, and the value of engaging caregivers as active participants in treatment. Both children and parents demonstrated increased reflective capacity, improved self-regulation, and enhanced relational understanding over the course of therapy. These findings support the relevance of mentalization-informed approaches for youth with ADHD and underscore the importance of family-based interventions that extend beyond symptom reduction to address interpersonal functioning.