Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) April 02, 2012
The Being Well Center, which specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADD/ADHD for patients around the world, recently conducted a survey and found that 81% of ADD/ADHD college students enrolled in its Confidence@College program are on track to graduate from higher education institutions. This statistic is impressive when compared to a 2009 study conducted by the National Center for Higher Education Management which found that, on average, only 55% of college students are on track to graduate (within six years). It is even more striking when put in the context of the data from The National Longitudinal Study-2, which revealed that only 28% of students who started college with diagnosed disabilities, including ADD/ADHD and dyslexia, actually complete their degree.
The Being Well Center’s Confidence@College program attributes the marked difference in its success rates to an emphasis on the proper diagnosis and ongoing, individualized treatment and support services for ADD/ADHD college students who need comprehensive care to succeed. The Being Well Center has customized its Confidence@College program to provide individualized success plans and ongoing support to college students affected by ADD/ADHD and other learning and behavioral disorders.
In 2010, the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors found that more than 90% of directors report that the recent trends toward greater number of students identified with severe psychological problems continues. The rising numbers of students with educational and psychological needs has placed an unprecedented demand on higher education institutions that are eager to maintain and increase student retention rates. Dr. Craig Liden, founder and director of The Being Well Center, comments, “while most colleges and universities now offer support services to students with ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, language disorders, and mental health problems, accessing them requires students to accept their difficulties, take initiative and advocate for themselves. These are huge barriers for many at-risk students and less than 25% of eligible students actually seek services. Even when they do get involved, the depth and breadth of the services available often are inadequate to meet the students’ needs. As a result, entering freshmen flounder and oftentimes fail to establish and adhere to schedules for studying and healthy daily routines, to make wise choices in their social life, and to handle the inevitable stresses that college life brings.”
The Being Well Center has pioneered a treatment program, Confidence@College, tailored to college students who may struggle with the independence and academic demands of college. Confidence@College employs a personal approach to supporting each student. Students enrolled in Confidence@College first undergo an extensive evaluation of their temperament, readiness skills, attentional abilities, executive functions, neuromaturational status, and attitudes, along with a survey of stresses present in their environment. Participants then work closely with the BWC’s team of doctors, physician’s assistants, educators, counselors, dieticians, and speech therapists to determine a multi-modal success plan that will promote the individual’s strengths and support their weaknesses. Once students leave for college, a close connection to a counselor is maintained through the BWC’s GuideU™ technology services.
“Even though our college patients reside in locations that span the globe,” observes Director of Clinical Services, Jane Reck, “modern technology allows us to act like a personal guide for each and every one. We meet regularly with our Confidence@College patients. We know when they have papers due. We know if they’re struggling to get to class on time. We’re aware of their social struggles. We encourage them to stay the course and create strategies that allow them to do their best.” For students and parents alike, this level of awareness and connectedness is a welcome relief. Reck continues, “College kids may balk at having Mom or Dad check up on them every week, but, the BWC Confidence@College counselors become trusted guides that lead students down their unique path toward success. We don’t enable but guide students to independently take charge of their lives. In the long run, we make sure that a parent’s considerable investment in a college education is a success for everyone.”
Reflecting on the discrepancy between the BWC’s 81% anticipated graduation rate versus the 55% national average, Dr. Liden concludes, “Attention Deficit Disorder is an all-day, all-life condition. It doesn’t stop affecting a student’s performance after high school graduation. Confidence@College is the logical next step for students who have received support services through IEPs and 504 Plans during secondary schooling or, more importantly, for parents who have concerns about their child’s ability to succeed at college. The Being Well Center brings more than 30 years of experience treating ADD/ADHD successfully in nearly 10,000 patients. With this background and philosophy combined with the reach of modern technology, it’s no surprise that Confidence@College is an increasingly popular program at The Being Well Center. We have the graduation rates to prove the success of Confidence@College.”
About The Being Well Center
For over 30 years, Craig Liden, MD, has been pioneering the evaluation and treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder across the lifespan at The Being Well Center. The BWC’s philosophy of customizing life strategies and medication regimens to each individual patient has enabled close to 10,000 people to overcome the challenges of ADD/ADHD. The BWC offers specialized programs for people struggling with weight loss and for college students overwhelmed by the social and academic rigors of college. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, The Being Well Center also hosts a community for people affected by ADD/ADHD through Facebook, Twitter, and The Being Well Center blog: http://www.beingwellcenter.wordpress.com. For more information: http://www.thebeingwellcenter.com
Dr. Craig Liden is available for workshops, presentations, and speaking engagements. Call The Being Well Center at 724.443.4120 or visit http://www.thebeingwellcenter.com for more information.
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