The Four Pillars of ADHD Skill-Building

Dr. Anders Osborne, Ph.D. ADHD Specialist & Educator | 30+ years educating educators and parents of ADHD youth and teens Founder, I Teach To Reach ADHD Coaching LLC & Thriving With ADHD™

 

The Four Pillars of ADHD Skill-Building is a practical framework developed by Dr. Anders Osborne, Ph.D. to help parents, educators, and families teach the executive functioning skills ADHD youth and teens need to thrive.

 

The Four Pillars

 

ConnectWell™ — Social Skills & Communication

ImpulseMastery™ — Emotional Regulation & Self-Control

OrganizeMe™ — Time Management & Structure

FuelRight™ — Nutrition That Supports Regulation

The Four Pillars

ConnectWell™ — Social Skills & Communication

ConnectWell™ focuses on helping ADHD youth and teens develop social awareness, communication skills, and relationship-building strategies at home, school, and with peers.

Skills emphasized:

  • Conversation skills

  • Reading social cues

  • Managing peer conflict

  • Strengthening parent-child communication

ImpulseMastery™ — Emotional Regulation & Self-Control

ImpulseMastery™ teaches ADHD youth and teens how to recognize emotional triggers, slow reactions, and build regulation skills before behavior escalates.

Skills emphasized:

  • Emotional awareness

  • Frustration tolerance

  • Anger management

  • Impulse control

OrganizeMe™ — Time Management & Structure

OrganizeMe™ provides clear systems for helping ADHD students manage time, tasks, routines, and follow-through without overwhelm.

Skills emphasized:

  • Task initiation

  • Time estimation

  • Daily routines

  • Homework and school organization

FuelRight™ — Nutrition That Supports Regulation

FuelRight™ addresses the foundational role of nutrition in supporting focus, mood, and emotional regulation for ADHD youth and teens.

Skills emphasized:

  • Brain-supportive nutrition

  • Blood sugar stability

  • Energy regulation

  • Supportive daily habits

How the Four Pillars Work Together

The Four Pillars work together as an integrated system. Improvements in one area often strengthen the others, helping ADHD youth and teens build confidence, regulation, and independence over time.

 

  • Progress in one area often strengthens the others:

    • Better regulation supports better organization

    • Stronger routines support emotional control

    • Improved communication reduces conflict and overwhelm

    This integrated approach helps ADHD youth and teens build skills in context, not in isolation

  • Where the Four Pillars Are Used

    The Four Pillars framework is the foundation of Dr. Osborne’s work across multiple settings, including:

    • The ADHD Dad Toolkit / Dad Hub

    • Parent mentoring and education programs

    • Youth and teen skill-building courses

    • Books, guides, and downloadable resources

    • Educator training and consultation

    This ensures consistency, clarity, and continuity for families and professionals alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages is the Four Pillars framework designed for?
The framework supports ADHD youth ages 8–12 and ADHD teens ages 13–18.

Is this approach behavior-based or skills-based?
It is skills-based. Behavior is viewed as information, not the target of intervention.

Does this replace therapy or medication?
No. The Four Pillars framework complements therapy, medication, and school supports, and also supports families who choose non-medication approaches.

Is this framework used with parents, educators, or both?
Both. The framework is designed to be used collaboratively across home and school environments.

Final Thought

ADHD youth and teens do not need to be “fixed.”
They need skills, structure, and supportive adults who know how to teach them.

The Four Pillars of ADHD Skill-Building exist to make that possible.

 

Dr. Anders Osborne, Ph.D.

ADHD Specialist & Educator
Founder, I Teach To Reach ADHD Coaching LLC
Assembling the pieces between the non-divergent world and the brilliance of being ADHD.