ADHD coaching

ADHD Coaching is a specialized type of life coaching that uses specific techniques geared toward working with the unique brain wiring of individuals with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Professional coaching is not a substitute for traditional, multimodal treatment for ADHD such as medication, diet, exercise, and therapy.

Function

Coaches work with clients to help them better manage time, organize, set goals, as well as start (and finish) projects. There is also an element of education, as each client learns better how their ADHD affects them. Coaches put emphasis on finding individual strengths, and using those strengths more often, while finding "work-arounds" for dealing with challenges. Coaches help clients build confidence and see that living with ADHD does not have to mean that you can’t live the life you want. Coaches also help clients get a better grasp of what reasonable expectations are for them as individuals, since people with ADHD "brain wiring" often seem to need external mirrors for accurate self-awareness about their potential despite their apparent "limitations."

While some ADHD Coaches work with clients in person, many do phone coaching only, which (in theory) allows clients to find the best coach for themselves, regardless of location. A good fit between client and coach (as well as between coach and coach training) is essential, and there are advantages to working over the phone, for both client and coach.

History

The first comprehensive ADD Coach Training was developed by Madelyn Griffith-Haynie. Graduates from her Optimal Functioning Institute use A.C.T. by way of indentifying their credentials. This is not to be confused with ACT (no periods) which is a different training. Fact|date=March 2007

In 2005 several ADHD coaches formed the [http://www.adhdcoaches.org ADHD Coaches Organization] a nonprofit organization for the support and promotion of ADHD Coaches and Coaching. The organization has grown rapidly and offers a variety of benefits to its member coaches. Members are listed in a [http://www.adhdcoaches.org/content/acomembersearch.html searchable database] that is available for use by anyone looking for a coach. In addition, there is information about [http://www.adhdcoaches.org/content/education.html training programs] offered for ADHD coaches, although this list is not all inclusive.

[http://www.edgefoundation.org The Edge Foundation] was founded in 2007 to provide coaches trained in the special concerns of high school and college students with ADHD. It has a database of coaches who have met stringent screening to ensure they are experienced with youth. The Edge Foundation also provides scholarships for coaches to ensure that all students with ADHD are able to access coaching assistance.

Finding an ADHD Coach

ADHD coaches have training specific to the needs of the ADHD client but many also coach clients who have not been diagnosed. The best way to find a coach who is a good fit is to interview several coaches to get an idea of the different styles and personalities of each coach. Choose a coach you feel comfortable talking with who also gives you a sense of security so you feel free to be honest about what is happening in your life. The coach should be supportive, non judgmental and able to understand the problems you discuss.

To start your search for a coach that’s right for you, visit the [http://www.adhdcoaches.org ADHD Coaches Organization] if you are an adult, or [http://www.edgefoundation.org The Edge Foundation] if you are a student.

Coaching for High School and College Students with ADHD

The high school and college years can be a particularly challenging time for a young person, especially for one with ADHD. The transition into adulthood and independence means increasing responsibilities and expectations. Students with ADHD often have to work harder and longer than other people do in school, and have to make an extra effort to communicate with their family and friends. Youth with ADHD can feel even more alienated and at sea than most teens, putting them at risk for dropping out, drug use and risky behavior. Statistics indicate that without effective intervention while young, ADHD sufferers are twice as likely to commit a crime, six times as likely to be substance abusers, four times as likely to have auto accidents, nearly twice as likely to be divorced, twice as likely to be unemployed, and only one-third as likely to graduate from college.

An ADHD coach can make the difference between success and failure for a high school or college student. When combined with other more traditional approaches, including medication and therapy, coaching will help students with ADHD to achieve their full potential in academic, social and other life pursuits. A coach can help provide a steady guidance during a time where a young person’s job is to break away from their parents and forge out on their own. The same young adult that won’t listen to their parents’ advice may be able to hear what they need to do from an ADHD coach.