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The Total Focus Program:

A Practical Review

By Dr. Emily Kensington

As a doctor who specializes in treating ADHD, I was asked to review The Total Focus Program, which is advertised as an effective, easy-to-use method for teaching parents how to communicate, motivate, and manage children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).

As a mother of a son who suffers from ADHD, I know that children with ADHD present various challenges for both parents and therapists.

The Total Focus Program peaked my interest because I am always interested in anything that may help suffering children thrive, grant parents peace of mind, and provide stressed families with some peace and quiet.

How The Total Focus Program Works

So what do you get for your money? A ton of parenting resources including audio CDs with age appropriate lessons for children up to age 10 and for ages 10 and above, a 138-page workbook, school success charts, behavioral plans, mood measuring cards, and other supports such as a phone hotline for parents who require more immediate assistance.

The first step is an audio lesson provided by Dr. Robert Myers (Dr. Bob) that teaches parents about ADHD and allows them to step into the shoes of their child suffering with ADHD. It teaches parents how children with ADHD see the world, how to best communicate with them effectively, the pros and cons of medication, how to get a proper diagnosis and school supports.

In a nutshell, it is everything you need to know about ADHD and the behavioral challenges associated with it.

The 138-page workbook contains instructions that help your child focus, relax, complete school work, take responsibility, improve memory, improve social skills, and control impulsive outbursts. All laid out in an easy to follow, concrete fashion.

In addition, teachers can use the handy school success charts and daily student rating cards to track a child's progress and help them improve school performance.

Other lesson topics include: Let's Get Focused, 3 Secrets for School Success, Problem Solving Made Easy, Secrets of Making Friends, I CAN at Home, Learning to Slow Down and Think, and Improving Attention and Concentration

Also included are handy tear-out reminder sheets and motivational tools in the workbook for your child.

What I Found Most Useful

What I found most helpful with my own son was the effective techniques for calming a hyperactive child. They are priceless for parents who want to quell potentially dangerous impulsive behavior and simply want some peace and quiet.

The Results

I frequently recommend the Total Focus Program to parents who cannot afford expensive therapy sessions. At an informal six-month and one year clinical follow-up, parents reported to me that these techniques improved their childrens' ability to concentrate, stay on-task, and control impulsive behavior.

As a result, parents reported newfound opportunities to have a rewarding relationship with their child as a result of using this program.

In short, their experience was positive as mine.

The Cost

Most ADHD treatment consists of a combination of behavioral therapy and medication.

Compared to costly ongoing therapy, the cost of The Total Focus Program is only $327, or 3 monthly payments of $109.

A good child behavioral therapist can cost well over $200 PER SESSION. This program costs roughly the price of one session and includes a multitude of methods and techniques that can only be learned after MONTHS of sessions.

I recommend this program all the time to parents who cannot afford expensive therapy sessions.

No problem, you say, because you have health insurance? Well, those insurance co-payments of $25-$45 per visit quickly add up.

More importantly, the Free 30-Day Trial makes it a no-brainer for struggling parents, in my opinion.

Phone Support

Another enormous benefit that many overlook is the phone support hotline. Many high-priced therapists are not available via phone, so this type of assistance is a huge benefit for parents in need of immediate support.

Yes, It Requires Effort

Remember: The Total Focus Program is only a tool. And like any tool you have to use it correctly in order to be effective.

There are no magic “fixes” and you have to dedicate time to the program and use the methods as indicated. Change generally comes gradually, not overnight.

The Costs Of Not Acting

So is this program right for your family? For my clients I recommend using the following common sense approach to help guide their decision-making process: What is the cost of not acting versus taking corrective action?

Imagine your home life if you take no action. It likely includes little peace and quiet and constant calls from school counselors.

Now image your family life after taking corrective action: good report cards, healthy functioning, enjoyable time spent with your child. Which would you prefer?

As a therapist, it's a pleasure to witness parents being able to enjoy a rewarding relationship with their children which was impossible prior to using The Total Focus Program.

Remember: No matter what others say, ADHD can be managed and overcome!