Thrive with ADHD
Struggling to manage attention, concentration, or distractibility? You're in the right place.
AMP is a drop-in space designed for students who experience attention difficulties to connect with each other and with CAPS experts. You may benefit from AMP if you have questions about organization strategies, want tips to improve focus and time management, or are curious about options for ADHD evaluation and treatment – you don’t need to have a diagnosis to attend.
In this group, you will:
- Build your toolkit of resources and strategies to help improve attention capacity and productivity.
- Connect with other students to share experiences and tips as you navigate executive functioning difficulties.
- Learn the available options for ADHD evaluation, treatment, and support services
Group Meeting Details
- AMP will meet a few times per semester. Sign up to get notifications of our next AMP workshop.
- Facilitators: Ishani Deo and Shana Burgos-DeStephanis
- Cost: Free
- Drop in at a time that works for you. No enrollment required.
How to Join
- AMP is a drop-in group space, so find a location and time that works for you!
- If you have questions about AMP, or if your department would like to bring the program to your location, please contact one of the facilitators: Ishani Deo (ideo@arizona.edu) and Shana Burgos-DeStephanis (shanab@arizona.edu)
AMP Instructional Videos
Need more support? The AMP instructional videos are a series of mindfulness- and CBT-based strategies to help improve your attention capacity and productivity. Watch them at your own pace to build skills around managing your attention.
Welcome to AMP! Learn how to get the most out of these videos.
Week 1 Skills
Week 1 Mindfulness Skill: Mindful Eating.
Joel illustrates Mindful Eating.
Week 1 Mindfulness Practice Instructions.
Joel presents your Week 1 Homework assignment of daily mindfulness practice. Watch for recommendations about how to fit this into your schedule!
Week 1 CBT Skill: Establishing an Organizational System.
We review how to establish an Organizational System, which includes a Calendar and To-Do Lists
Helpful Links for Practicing Mindfulness on Your Own:
- Vanderbilt Mindful Body Scan (5 min)
- Mindful Body Scan (15 min)
- Kabat-Zinn Body Scan (intensive, 30 min)
Week 2 Skills
Week 2 Mindfulness1/2: Working with Distractibility.
In this video, Joel explains the inevitable experience of distractibility. He facilitates an activity to help you assess your attention span. Here's a link to the other video he references, to try the skill on your own. Follow Joel’s instructions to get the most out of this exercise!
Week 2 Mindfulness 2/2: Anchors of Awareness.
In this second video, Joel explains the point of the exercise at the end of Week 2, Video 1. He also introduces the mindfulness concept of three anchors of awareness: breath, body, and sound. Here's a link to the self-practice video that is referenced.
Week 2 CBT: Breaking Down Big Tasks & Prioritization.
In week two, we’re diving into some advanced organization and planning skills to make your Calendar and To-Do lists work even better for you. This video covers: Managing Overwhelming (or really big) Tasks & Prioritizing Tasks.
Week 2 CBT Bonus: Optimizing Your Environment.
This shorter video includes tips for establishing the best internal and external environments for attention and productivity.
Week 3 Skills
Week 3 Mindfulness 1/2: Mindfulness of Emotions.
In this video, Joel explains how emotions are involved in procrastination and attention. Learn strategies for how to use mindfulness of emotions to focus more intentionally.
Week 3 Mindfulness 2/2: RAIN Guided Meditation.
In this video, Joel guides a RAIN meditation. Watch Video 1 of 2 this week for an introduction to this practice.
Week 3 CBT: Working with Your Thoughts.
Watch this video to learn how to identify and harness the power of your thoughts.
Week 4 Skills
Week 4 Mindfulness 1/2: Mindfulness and Procrastination.
In this video, Joel explores how to work with procrastination using mindfulness strategies.
Week 4 Mindfulness 2/2: Mountain Meditation Practice.
Joel facilitates a Mountain Meditation Practice. (Watch the Week 4 Mindfulness Video 1 of 2 first for context).
Week 4 CBT: Connecting with Emotions and Values.
In this video, we explore: (1) how to connect with emotions for motivation and (2) identifying personal values.