ADHD Coaching: What's It All About?

by Dana Rayburn, Adult ADD Coach
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If you or someone you love has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
you know the chaos and frustration ADHD causes. But there's hope. With
the help of an ADHD coach, people with ADHD can calm the chaos by
learning how to manage both their life and their brain.

What is an ADHD Coach?
An ADHD coach is a professional trained to guide and support a person
in overcoming the challenges of living with ADHD at work, at school,
and at home.

Specifically, ADHD coaches help their clients:

Create structures and tools to stay on track
Improve organizing skills and design organizing systems
Plan projects, get clear on tasks and manage time
Increase self-awareness
Set and reach their goals
Improve crucial lifestyle habits such as diet, sleep, and exercise
Improve relationship and communication skills

How Does Coaching Fit With My Other ADHD Treatment?
ADHD coaching nicely supplements the treatment you get from your
physician(s) and counselor. Since you'll talk to your coach often, he
or she will have a realistic opinion about how well your ADHD symptoms
are being controlled. Your coach can help you identify apparent problems
with your medication or other treatment so you can take useful feedback
to your doctor or counselor.

Is ADHD Coaching Different from Therapy?
ADHD Coaching is not psychotherapy. Instead of focusing on a person's
past and emotional healing, coaching focuses on taking action so a person
can move to where he or she wants to go in life. Some people work with
a coach while they work with a therapist or counselor.

How Does Coaching Work?
ADHD coaching is a close, ongoing partnership. Most clients work with
their coach for at least six months and often much longer. In a typical
relationship, coaches meet with their clients by telephone three or four
times each month.

Coaching sessions cover what's going on in the client's life with emphases
on challenges, opportunities, and strategies for success. Most coaches
provide support and accountability between sessions by e-mail or phone
and give homework that helps the client accomplish his or her objectives.

Does Telephone Coaching Really Work?
Yes, in fact telephone coaching works particularly well with ADHD. Most
people find telephone coaching less distracting than meeting face to face.
Plus, it makes it easier to select a coach since the coach doesn't have to
live in your area.

How do I Select an ADHD Coach?
Most coaches offer a get-acquainted interview or a sample coaching session
at no charge. Use it to find out if you like the coach's personality and to learn
if the coach has the training and background to help your situation. It's a good
idea to talk with at least three coaches before making your choice. When
evaluating your choices, listen for clues that the coach understands ADHD
and how to work with it. Ask about involvement in an ADHD coach training
program, membership in ADHD organizations and participation in ADHD
conferences. Ask what they read about ADHD and how they keep current
in the field.

Here are some questions you could ask:

What training have you had to be a coach? And, specifically, to be an
ADHD coach?
How long have you been a coach?
What did you do before becoming a coach?
How do you decide what to work on with your clients?
What do you expect from your clients?
What kinds of clients do you work really well with?
What type of client situations do you NOT like to work with?
What would you do if I had a situation you didn't know how to handle?
How would you approach coaching a client in my situation?

Are ADHD Coaches Certified?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) certifies coaches in general coaching
skills. There currently is no certification specifically for ADHD coaches.
However, many ADHD coaches list initials after their name showing they
have graduated from an ADHD coach-training program.Here's a list to help
you decipher the initials you'll see after a coach's name:

MCC—Master Certified Coach the highest credential issued by the ICF.

PCC—Professional Certified Coach the mid-level credential issued by the ICF.

ACC—Associate Certified Coach the basic credential issued by the ICF.

ACT—ADHD Coach Training showing that the coach is a graduate of the
Optimal Functioning Institute's comprehensive training program for
ADHD coaches.

CAC—Certified ADDCA Coach showing the coach is a graduate of the ADHD
Coach Academy's comprehensive training program.

How Much Does Coaching Cost?
Coaching fees can vary greatly. Experienced coaches, for instance, charge
more than newly trained coaches or coaches in training. On the other hand,
ADHD group coaching, where a coach meets by telephone with a small group
of clients at one time, is less expensive than individual ADHD coaching. At
present, coaching is not covered by health insurance.

Is Coaching Always Successful?
No, it's not. Working with a Coach isn't easy and it certainly isn't a magic
fix. It requires a commitment of time and money. But many of those
who accept coaching with an earnest desire to improve find their lives
do change for the better.

Can You Give Some Examples of What to Expect from Coaching?
I sure can! To illustrate some of the changes coaching can inspire, here
are two case studies from my own practice. (To respect confidentiality,
client's names have been changed.)

Tim and the case of the overwhelmed business owner
Tim, 42, began coaching soon after he was diagnosed with Inattentive
ADHD. His construction business was spinning out of control. He struggled
to manage his schedule, client projects, and paperwork. Customer service
was neglected, invoices were sent late, and his assistant was
threatening to quit.

The first thing we did was to clarify Tim's values and goals so he knew
where to focus. He learned what distracted him and what overwhelmed
him. We set up routines to keep him on schedule and on top of his
paperwork and commitments. He learned to delegate. We made simple
business procedures that he could easily follow.

After six months of coaching, Tim's profits had increased and his crews
were measurably more productive. He was more relaxed, exercising
regularly, and once again excited about his business. His assistant was
happily taking on more responsibility and settling in for a long career.

Susan and the challenge of taking control
When she started coaching, Susan was a 32-year-old corporate middle
manager. Her Hyperactive ADHD was taking its toll and she was exhausted.
Her home was a mess, she wasn't exercising, and she was behind at work.
She wanted to learn to manage her work and family responsibilities more
easily so she and her husband could start a family.

Susan's first step was identifying her strengths and weaknesses. She
learned to think before making commitments and how to plan projects.
She also worked on improving her communication skills with her managers
and colleagues. She learned how to run better meetings, how to delegate,
organize her office, and plan her time. At home we set up routines and
systems so she could manage the household chores.

Like life, however, coaching doesn't always turn out as planned. Susan
was fired from her job. It took a few months before she found a job that
better suited her strengths and personality. The fresh start turned out to
be a blessing. Susan discovered she could stay on top of projects and keep
her office organized. She was able to think before making a commitment
or sharing her ideas. She started biking to work in the summer and gave
ski lessons in the winter so exercise became a natural part of her work.
At home, she began to relax and not stress out her husband. The most
exciting moment was when they had a dinner party and realized they didn't
have to spend two days cleaning the house first!

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