ADHD coaching - thoughts?

[bubblicious353]

Hi, (I posted this in ND Mumsnetters too, but noticed it doesn't appear in Active, so re-posting here for traffic)
I've name changed for this as it's very identifying. I'm currently training to be an ADHD coach and I'm finding it fascinating. But I'm not sure who my clients will be as I don't actually know many ND adults (I don't plan to work with children) and I'm not much of a self-promoting type. I wondered if I could do some research here to find out what people know about ADHD coaching and what more they might like to know. So if anyone would mind answering the following questions I'd be really grateful.
A) have you heard of ADHD coaching and do you know what it entails?
B) have you heard of Access to work? Did you know it is a free government funded scheme that can help with all kinds of support (including) coaching which may help you to succeed at work?
C) would you find it helpful if someone helped you to apply for Access to Work support?
D) any other questions!
Thanks so much in advance for any responses.

But I need suggestions 😂 I wouldn't need coaching if I had the ideas myself

No I haven't - I have other health conditions which make medication quite a challenge, so I've agreed with my psychiatrist to see what can be achieved without meds first. I'm so glad medication has helped you - I think we only really realise how difficult life is when we realise how life could be without all this anxiety and panic!

Well I am looking for a practice client, would be 6 sessions, but obviously would be caveated with the fact that I am not the most experienced ADHD coach but have lots of career/HR etc experience as well. And am a Mum with teenagers!
Do message me if you might be interested. (Free obviously!)

I'm inclined to agree - I need someone to take me by the hand and tell me how to sort my life out 😂

Are you not concerned that the suspected number of prison inmates with (undiagnosed) ADHD might suggest a lot of adults are not coping?

I'm sure that lots of adults aren't coping.

I guess that I'd say that the work managing ADHD would be most effective if it was given before someone ended up in prison.

Also purely practically as a private practitioner I'm not sure how much access you would have to the prison population during or after incarceration.

Working with late diagnosed women seems a more practical income stream.

I just wanted to suggest teens as I think there might be a possible client group there,

Building a client base can be hard and just because some groups would definitely benefit from a service doesn't mean they either want it or can pay for it.

@bubblicious353 “Generally its 12 sessions, and you work yourself out of a job, its' not an ongoing thing.”

Do you seriously think that you can solve ADHD in 12 sessions?

I take it you don’t have ADHD?

@Sofabum You're correct, I def need to get over the self promotion fear. Or I need to get into a company and be their 'go to' person, which I would feel more comfortable with.

@SeaBlueSky Of course we aren't solving it! But we are giving targeted support. Therapy is also hugely helpful in some cases, as well as medication. Coaching is a short term crutch which some people can find very useful. You can have more than 12 weeks, or do 12 weeks per year.

@RumbleMum I also feel quite sad at times. I spent my life feeling I was weird and difficult, and there was something wrong with me. I probably am fortunate in some ways that my coping mechanisms was achieving qualifications to achieve validation. I would not be in the job/industry if I knew I had adhd.

I hope other options do help you.

Sorry to derail thread OP…

@breathinbreathout No I'm not personally wanting to go into prisons, but I know there was recent research that used coaches and reduced re-offending to 1% from 25%. So it has been shown to be useful in that community.
I'm not that keen on teens as I have several myself and could do with seeing more adults in my life 😂

Not really what you asked, but just to say I have heard of ADHD coaching but am looking into it for my teenaged daughter. I would have thought this would be an excellent area for business. I have had a parents information session put on by the (private) clinic that DD was diagnosed by, which was extremely informative and I'm going to be signing my daughter up for a few one to one sessions, focusing on developing independence and learning strategies to help with organisation and time keeping. It's good to know there is a gov scheme out there for when she is a bit older but I certainly don't want to be waiting until then to get her the help.

I don’t agree that adults with ADHD manage because they are older. If anything it’s the opposite , as an adult you need to have more executive function to deal with adult responsibilities.

That's great that you are looking for support for her. I imagine coaching teens could be challenging unless they are fully engaged with the process (my adhd teen can't think of anything worse 🥴 )

OP from your description it sounds like coaching goes like this:

coach: what’s your biggest struggle with motivation?
me: getting motivated to keep on top of household tasks and not me stepping over bags of shopping I never unpack and having no sofa to sit on because I pile things on there too that I’m too exhausted to find space for.
coach (trained not to give suggestions): what can you do to motivate yourself?
Me: um…listen to music/my favourite podcast, set a timer to beat, do a little bit everyday, treat myself to a TV show after. Except I try all these things and it works for a day then by the next week it’s all a mess again.
coach:
Me:

coach collects money at the end of the 12 weeks.

I have heard of ADHD coaches but it's not a regulated term so I am very sceptical. I can definitely see the value in coaching to help someone understand and accommodate their own ADHD, but I can also see it being very lucrative for grifters or people thinking "I know organisation strategies, I can help people!" - ADHDers are perpetually optimistic and susceptible to sales strategies.

I would not use one personally unless they came recommended by someone that I know/trust and who has similar struggles to me or if I felt I had a good sense of their competence and understanding of ADHD through their social media, podcast etc. All of which is quite a different job to the coaching part.

I know about access to work but I'm not in the UK.

I would want to know if you have ADHD yourself or what your experience of everyday life with ADHD is, and the long term impacts of your strategies.

Um ok. So it would follow the first part but then we would look at ways to break it down, create small habits that are easy to repeat and can become more habitual. We would offer accountability and try to build on the strategies each week. We could check in on the shopping day to see how you'd got on. We'd look at leaning into your strengths (self awareness, clearly!) and your motivations (not falling over shopping bags and mess) and try to work with that (can you take shopping straight into kitchen, work thru one bag at a time?) Build tiny new habits that build up into more sustainable solutions.. if someone wants suggestions we can offer them but they come better when they come from you. But if you aren't keen then that's fine, it's not for you. But clearly it does suit some people 😊

Everyone on my current cohort (15) has ADHD. I don't (as far as I know!) but have close family diagnosed. I have very relevant transferable coaching skills and a lot of corporate experience

I would use it and pay for it personally, it’s something I’ve been meaning to look into. Actually I think I have picked up a couple of flyers and business cards of coaches which are - of course- now lost somewhere in my house.

Id suggest if you want to get to ADHD types put a QR card on your flyers - you need to remove every barrier (no matter how small) from us actually arranging an appointment. So don’t just give me a flyer - give me a flyer with a QR code, that links to a website that explains in really simple bullet points what’s on offer and let’s me book a first appointment or consultation phone call or whatever right there on the website. If I have to email you, wait for a reply, coordinate our diaries etc etc the odds are I’ll have moved on to some other idea.

Thank you that is really helpful insight, I'd never thought of a QR code! I still need to actually build a website (😭) but making it very clear and easy to navigate will be my priorities

I have ADHD. Never heard of ADHD coaching but do have an access to work work coach via EIP. She's wasting her time atm as I have physical disabilities waiting surgery as well as MH so she just just phones every couple of months, we have a quick chat and then put another date in the diary.

Pretty pointless imo.

I think someone without ADHD would struggle to understand and coach effectively.

I have ADHD. My house is tidy (ish), I’m usually on top of laundry, I have a successful business, I have a million and one plans in place, this week so far I’m smashing it. Next week who’s to say. If I could stick to the plans put in place it wouldn’t be an issue. Someone without ADHD pointing out the fairly obvious ways to not struggle with the things that I struggle with isn’t going to help long term.

I don’t. I don’t even drink caffeine.

I find my ADHD coaching invaluable, but I pay for it myself. Access to Work when you’re in work is a bit more complicated.

I'm looking for a coach for my Dd20.
She had a serious reaction to the ADHD drugs, so has spent the last 18 months trying to manage the condition on her own. The result is that she's just about to drop out of uni.
Any advise very welcome.

You said it in a way I was struggling to explain. I really bristle whenever I hear of ADHD coaches, because it seems exploitative to me.

Every ADHD drug? Theres loads.