Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Children with ASD and ADHD
A Parent's Guide
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective therapeutic approach designed to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) develop emotional regulation, improve problem-solving skills, and manage challenging behaviours.
This guide explains how CBT benefits children with ASD and ADHD, providing practical strategies for parents to reinforce these skills at home.


How CBT Helps Children with ASD
Children with ASD often experience difficulties with anxiety, social communication, and rigid thinking patterns. CBT is adapted to meet their specific needs, helping them develop strategies to navigate daily challenges.

1. Managing Anxiety
Many children with ASD experience heightened anxiety due to sensory sensitivities, changes in routine, or social interactions. CBT helps children:
✔ Identify Anxiety Triggers – Recognising what situations or events cause distress (e.g., loud noises, unexpected changes).
✔ Use Relaxation Techniques – Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or visual imagery to calm down.
✔ Reframe Negative Thoughts – Teaching children to shift from "I can't do this" to "I can try my best."

2. Improving Social Skills
Children with ASD often struggle with understanding social norms and non-verbal cues. CBT supports social skill development by:
✔ Role-playing Conversations – Practicing greetings, turn-taking, and asking questions.
✔ Using Social Stories – Simple, structured narratives that explain social situations in a way the child can understand.
✔ Recognising Facial Expressions – Learning to identify emotions in others through structured activities.

3. Reducing Rigid Thinking
CBT encourages cognitive flexibility, helping children adapt to change and consider different perspectives by:
✔ Practicing "What If" Scenarios – Exploring multiple ways to solve a problem.
✔ Introducing Small Changes Gradually – Slowly adjusting routines to help children build adaptability.
✔ Using Visual Supports – Creating visual schedules to ease transitions.

4. Enhancing Emotional Regulation
CBT equips children with tools to understand and express their emotions in a healthy way:
✔ Emotion Charts – Teaching children to label and rate emotions.
✔ The “5-Point Scale” – Helping children gauge emotional intensity and appropriate responses.
✔ Self-Calming Strategies – Using sensory tools (fidget toys, weighted blankets) to self-regulate.


How CBT Helps Children with ADHD
CBT helps children with ADHD manage impulsivity, stay organised, and develop focus through structured strategies.

1. Enhancing Focus and Organisation
Children with ADHD often struggle with attention and time management. CBT provides strategies like:
✔ Breaking Tasks into Steps – Using checklists or timers to maintain focus.
✔ The Pomodoro Technique – Working in short bursts with breaks in between.
✔ Creating a Visual Schedule – Establishing a predictable routine to reinforce organisation.

2. Managing Impulsivity
CBT helps children develop self-control by:
✔ Practicing "Stop and Think" Exercises – Encouraging children to pause before responding.
✔ Teaching Self-Monitoring Techniques – Using journals or apps to track behaviour.
✔ Using Physical Reminders – Wearing a wristband or having a cue word as a reminder to pause before acting.

3. Building Emotional Resilience
Children with ADHD often experience frustration and difficulty managing emotions. CBT helps them:
✔ Recognise Emotional Triggers – Identifying what situations lead to frustration.
✔ Use the “Zones of Regulation” Framework – Categorising emotions into colour-coded zones (e.g., blue = sad, red = angry).
✔ Develop Positive Self-Talk – Replacing negative thoughts with empowering statements like “I can handle this.”

4. Developing Problem-Solving Skills
CBT teaches structured approaches to problem-solving:
✔ The “S.T.O.P.” Technique – Stop, Think, Observe, Proceed.
✔ Making a Decision Matrix – Listing pros and cons to evaluate choices.
✔ Practicing Scenario-Based Problem-Solving – Playing out different solutions to a common challenge.

How Parents Can Support CBT at Home

1. Reinforce Coping Strategies
Encourage your child to use CBT techniques in everyday life:
✔ Create a calm-down corner at home with sensory tools and emotion charts.
✔ Use visual schedules to provide structure and predictability.
✔ Remind them to pause and reflect before reacting in frustrating situations.

2. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Help your child stay motivated by:
✔ Praising effort over results (“You worked hard to stay focused!”).
✔ Using reward systems like sticker charts for practicing self-regulation.
✔ Encouraging self-reflection (“How did you feel about that?”).

3. Practice Social Scenarios
Role-playing and structured activities help children develop social confidence:
✔ Act out difficult conversations (e.g., asking for help, making a friend).
✔ Play games that encourage turn-taking and cooperation.
✔ Watch videos or read books about social interactions and discuss them together.

4. Model Adaptive Thinking
Demonstrate CBT principles through your own behaviour:
✔ Reframe setbacks positively – “I made a mistake, but I can learn from it.”
✔ Use self-talk out loud – “I feel frustrated, but I’m going to take deep breaths.”
✔ Show flexibility in problem-solving – “That didn’t work, let’s try another way.”

By implementing these strategies at home, parents can reinforce the skills learned in CBT sessions, empowering their children to manage their emotions, improve social interactions, and develop lifelong coping skills.

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Belong Health's Resource Hub
To further support your child's development, visit our Resource Hub for additional activities, tips, and tools tailored for various needs and diagnoses.

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Explore Home Therapy Packs
Our guides provide practical strategies to support children facing these challenges. To further enhance your approach, consider our Home Therapy Packs, designed to engage children and improve focus at home.

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Medicare
You can get a referral from your/your child’s GP for OT/SP on a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan this gives you 5 sessions for OT per calendar year with a $60 rebate available on each session. A Helping Children with Autism/PDD/ or an eligible disability package (20 sessions between allied health professionals, as set up by a Paediatrician/Psychiatrist) which gives your child under 16 years a $75 rebate per session for the 20 sessions, you can use up to 10 sessions per Health Professional (up to 10 for OT/SP) and you will need a separate referral letter from your child’s Paediatrician for each Allied Health Professional you are seeking services from. 
For Psychology you can request a Mental Health Care Plan (Registered Psychologist) from your GP for 10 individual and 10 group Psychology sessions per year.  Medicare rebate is $96.65 per session.

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Your Private Health fund may cover up to 75% of the cost of OT, SP or Psychology sessions if this is included in your cover, be sure to call them or check your policy for details.

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We are Medicare and Private Health fund registered for OT, SP and Psychology.

EPC/Team care arrangements/Chronic disease (CDM) and Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) or GP management plans and Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP) for Psychology and self-referrals are all acceptable.

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We are an NDIS Registered Provider
Whether you or your child have NDIS funding that is NDIS Managed, Third Party Plan Managed or you are Self-Managing your funds, you are able to use your funding to cover the full cost of therapy services plus travel costs. You will need provide us with your/your child’s NDIS number and plan details ahead of your first session. Once you have booked a session or contacted us, our team will be in touch to discuss our service agreement and provide you with our services price list. 

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