ADHD & the Focused Mind: A Guide to Giving Your ADHD Child Focus, Discipline, and Self-Confidence

Winner of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Parenting Title
One of the "100 Best ADHD Books of All Time" (BookAuthority.org)

As a young boy, his difficulty in concentrating was diagnosed as ADHD. In school, his mind always seemed to wander until he found an activity that he liked. By using that one activity, his mother was able to reach past her son's ADHD and teach him focus and self-discipline. That boy, Michael Phelps, went on to win twenty-two Olympic medal and break thirty-nine world records in swimming. World class athletes like Phelps all share an underlying skill: The ability to clearly focus on the task that is in front of them. Acquiring this very skill to overcome ADHD is the subject of ADHD & the Focused Mind. Written by three experts in their fields—a pediatric neurologist, a psychiatrist, and a martial arts instructor—this breakthrough title provides a unique program for instilling the ability to focus in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The book begins by explaining the basics of ADHD, including its common signs and what researchers have discovered about it. The remaining chapters detail the components of the program, including its principles, its goals, and the practical ways in which these goals can be achieved. The authors recognize that all children are different, so the program has the flexibility to work within a child’s comfort level while still attaining the necessary level of focus. The text concludes with a discussion of medications for ADHD, and how to decide what’s right for your child.

Some of the most successful people in the world have ADHD, but just like star athletes, they have discovered that developing their own unique ways of focusing enables them to get ahead. ADHD & the Focused Mind provides coaching techniques that can profoundly improve the life of any child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Peter Johnson received his BA in English Literature from Hayward State University, California, and began his quest for growth and learning. He holds the rank of Seventh Degree Black Belt in Karate, and has been teaching martial arts since 1993. Peter’s philosophy is that martial arts is not simply about acquiring physical skill, but more importantly is about acquiring a drive for excellence in all areas of life. He has contributed to a comprehensive Martial Arts and Character Development program for children and families at his school in San Bruno, California. With his experience in the Martial Arts and his Certified Elite Instructor status in Tae Bo Fitness, Peter's approach to training creates a blend and balance of body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Sarah Cheyette, MD graduated cum laude in Cognitive Neuroscience from Princeton University, and received her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles. Following specialty training in Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Pediatric Neurology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, she settled with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area and established a private practice. She currently has a pediatric neurology practice at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where she focuses on the treatment of ADHD. Visit her website at https://sarahcheyette.com/.

Dr. Benjamin Cheyette, MD, PhD is a graduate of Princeton and received his professional degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , followed by specialty training in psychiatry at the University of Washington in Seattle. Currently, he is a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, where he sees patients, teaches medical students and psychiatric residents, and runs a scientific laboratory exploring the molecular origins of psychiatric illness. In his clinical practice, he treats patients with ADHD.