What is ADHD Coaching?

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Susan Macintosh, One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.

“Have you heard about something called ADHD coaching and wondered what it was? Maybe you’ve wondered: “What is ADD Coaching? Can an ADHD coach help me? How do I find a good ADHD coach? Why would ADD Coaching be good for me? Is this just another kind of therapy?” Let’s see if we can find answers to these questions for you.

Coaching is defined by the International Coach Federation as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” ADHD coaching employs a special skill set to empower persons impacted by ADHD to manage their attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

An ADHD coach could be described as a well trained, professional “best friend” who totally believes in you.. Even if all you can see is what’s not working in your life, your coach sees what is working, what’s good, and what’s possible for you. Your ADHD Coach can help you understand your unique brain wiring, your strengths, and how you can use that knowledge to your great advantage, unlocking extraordinary potential. Your Coach is there to help you grow a life that is full of satisfying successes, stimulating experiences, and many moments of joy, allowing the real you to shine. Life becomes fun again!

The time you spend with your coach is all about you. Your coach will provide a safe and nurturing environment, listening to and hearing your concerns. Your coach can help you through the maze of other helping professionals, explaining their roles, and assisting you to communicate most effectively with them. Your coach will help you understand and support your treatment program and save you precious time and wasted energy. Your Coach listens to your troubles and concerns then supports you in finding your own unique solutions. Your conversations together will be supportive, not judgmental. Coaching is about learning and exploring to help you reach personal goals and build a life you’ll love. Your coach is a collaborative partner who will help you learn to minimize and/or manage weak areas so that you can focus on what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. You will cover topics that include health, education, life skills, tools and strategies and ways to keep on track. An ADHD Coach will help you design your life to be one which will give you satisfaction, variety, and success. Your ADHD coach can help you overcome the frustration, confusion, and discouragement you may have felt around your ADHD and, with understanding and appreciation, support you in designing and enjoying a new life of possibilities and potential.

So, how do you find a good ADHD coach? What is a good ADHD Coach? A simple Google search, using key words, will bring up credentialed, ADHD specialist coaches and their web sites. It doesn’t really matter where your Coach is located geographically, as you will probably be phoning or skyping them. What is important is that you find a coach who is well trained by a credentialed ADHD coaching school. You should feel comfortable talking to your Coach, and feel as though you will be able to establish a good working relationship. Here’s a tip for knowing which coach is right for you: Choose the coach who makes you feel the best about yourself and who helps you feel excited about your goals. You may even find that you feel some new confidence that your goals are within reach when they may have felt impossible before. Sometimes it may take a couple of conversations to discover the right Coach for you, so don’t be afraid to interview more than one. A good coach will tell you if they don’t feel that they are a good fit with you, and may be able to refer you to other coaches that they feel might be a better fit. A good Coach is concerned about supporting your best interests at all times.

So, at the end of the day, an ADHD Coach is “better than your best friend”! Your Coach is there for you and for the life you want to create, to help you clarify what it is that you really want, to help you to learn how to manage ADHD challenges, to build upon your natural gifts and interests, and to encourage you to reach your goals and enjoy a life well lived. It is the one relationship that meets you appreciatively and where you lead the way. It is an extraordinarily rewarding and fun partnership where the benefits and rewards are all yours to enjoy.”