Treating Huckleberry Finn: A New Narrative Approach to Working with Kids Diagnosed ADD/ADHD [Hardcover]

David Nylund (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 078795229X | ISBN-13: 978-0787952297 | Edition: 1

Treating Huckleberry Finn offers a drug-free alternative to treating rambunctious children. Author David Nylund's SMART approach is a five-step strategy to understanding, nourishing, and learning to control the millions of youngsters who have been unfairly branded with the diagnoses of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"David Nylund asks the interesting philosophical question, 'If Huckleberry Finn was on Ritalin would he have tried to help the runaway slave Jim escape?' Treating Huckleberry Finn should be read by both professionals and families looking for an effective alternative to medication-only treatment for ADHD." (Lawrence H. Diller, M.D., author, Running on Ritalin)

"If you believe that Ritalin and behavior therapy are the only hope for kids diagnosed with ADHD, then read this book and feel challenged. If you are one of those professionals concerned about the biological fundamentalism currently gripping the field, then read this book and feel confirmed." (Scott D. Miller, cofounder, Institute for the Study of Therapeutic Change)

"A much-needed corrective to the one-sided medical model treatment. This is the only book that actually seems to care enough to ask children what they think about being labeled ADD or ADHD and medicated on Ritalin or other drugs. I applaud David Nylund's positive approach and his practical strategies for helping parents, educators, and mental health practitioners relate to children with troubling behaviors in a way that fully preserves their integrity as whole human beings." (Thomas Armstrong, author, The Myth of the A.D.D. Child and ADD/ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom)

"For those interested in thinking outside the box regarding ADD/ADHD this book presents a practical yet creative and uplifting approach which has the potential to liberate children and families, therapists and educators from the constrictions that the diagnosis often imposes." (Jennifer Freeman, co-author of Playful Approaches to Serious Problems)

"I doubt that Huck would read this book. He'd rather light out for the Territory ahead of the rest. But I' m sure that if he met David Nylund along the way, he'd be glad to have him as a traveling companion. This book is proof that David has been exploring the Territory, so I know he's out there I'd like to listen to when he and Huck meet up." (from the foreword by Gene Combs, M.D.)

"Reports of the death of talking therapy for "ADHD" have been greatly exaggerated! In this engaging, well-written volume, Nylund provides a raft of valuable ways for working with children and families, whether on Ritalin (or similar) medications or not. Professionals-and parents-should not miss this important, highly recommended book!" (Michael Hoyt author of Some Stories are Better Than Others)

From the Inside Flap

What would happen if Huckleberry Finn were in school today? Huck was a fidgety, restless, and ornery kid who would rather be exploring caves and smoking his pipe than sitting in a classroom learning the multiplication table. Today he would be labeled a troubled kid and diagnosed with a severe case of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To calm him down, Huck would be sent to the school nurse for his regular dose of Ritalin.Author David Nylund is one of a growing number of behavioral healthcare professionals who are convinced there is no scientific evidence that attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder actually exist. In Treating Huckleberry Finn, he presents a proven strategy for working with youngsters who, like Huck Finn, exhibit problematic behavior such as fidgeting, distractibility, hyperactivity, difficulty listening, paying attention, and following directions. This approach helps kids thrive by harnessing their innate abilities and talents. Nylund's SMART approach--which gets results even with the most rambunctious, high- spirited, and unfocused children--consists of five basic steps: Step One: Separating the problem of ADHD from the child; Step Two: Mapping the influence of ADHD on the child and family; Step Three: AttAnding to exceptions to the ADHD story; Step Four: Reclaiming special abilities of children diagnosed with ADHD; and Step Five: Telling and celebrating the new story. In addition to debunking the myths surrounding ADD and ADHD and outlining a strategy that is results oriented, Treating Huckleberry Finn offers behavioral healthcare professionals, teachers, and parents:

• Assessment tools that highlight a child's strengths rather than deficits
• Creative teaching methods for engaging children with learning problems
• Strategies to empower children diagnosed with ADHD

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (August 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078795229X
• ISBN-13: 978-0787952297
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,556,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Eye-Opening Journey, November 6, 2000

By 

rosemary m. madruga (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Treating Huckleberry Finn: A New Narrative Approach to Working with Kids Diagnosed ADD/ADHD (Hardcover)

David Nylund's book "Treating Huckleyberry Finn" is written in a simple and straightforward style which helps the reader in understanding an extremely complex issue.

As a new therapist I found the book extremely helpful in providing tips for assisting clients labeled ADHD; with great insights for both parents and teachers of these clients. Mr. Nylund's SMART approach to treating this issue is extremely helpful. The case examples presented help demonstrate both the philosophy and various techniques of the SMART therapy approach.

I found the book easy to read and very thought provoking. ADHD is a multi-facated issue and Mr. Nylund does a great job of asking challenging questions regarding the issue. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose life is challenged and blessed by having high energy children and adolescents in their life.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh approach to an everpresent problem, September 11, 2004

By 

B. Hedden (Northern VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Treating Huckleberry Finn: A New Narrative Approach to Working With Kids Diagnosed ADD/ADHD (Paperback)

As a graduate student in a counseling program, I found this book to be a great read. Nylund does a great job of explaining his SMART approach to working with children labeled ADHD. While I do agree that ADHD is a real problem for some children, I do feel that too many children are diagnosed with this disorder, resulting in the overdiagnosis and labeling of children at very young ages. With this overdiagnosis comes over-medication of children as well. I think that Nylund's approach offers an alternative for those children and their families who may wish to to tackle ADHD from a different perspective by focusing on the strengths of the child and family instead of treating the ADHD from the deficit model. Great book! I plan to utilize this approach in my work as a counselor.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Parent's Perspective, October 11, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Treating Huckleberry Finn: A New Narrative Approach to Working with Kids Diagnosed ADD/ADHD (Hardcover)

I have just read Treating Huckleberry Finn and want to share with other parents that David Nylund has provided help in clarifying the issues regarding the diagnosis and pressures to medicate. Parents have too few resources to help them make these often times life changing decisions.

David provides clear, creative as well as practical suggestions for helping children use their strengths to tackle the problems of ADHD--