Would an ADHD ‘Systems’ Coach be helpful? Thinking of a career change…

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone. I’ve been a solo parent to my daughter (nearly 11, ADHD) for her whole life. I’ve also spent 10+ years as a professional Project Manager, and recently realised I’m almost certainly neurodivergent myself.

For years, I’ve had to use my "work brain" to keep our home from falling apart. I’ve built systems for school mornings, dealing with meltdowns and how to navigate every day life as a neurodivergent parent.

I’m currently in a part-time job that drains me, and I’m dreaming of starting something new. I want to help other parents not by just "talking" (we're all exhausted enough!), but by helping them install actual "Operating Systems" in their homes to stop the firefighting.

My question is: If you were looking for help, would you value someone who has the "lived experience" of parenting with a child with ADHD, but brings a professional Project Manager's toolkit to the table? Or does it sound like just another thing on a "to-do" list?

I don’t have a website or a business yet—I’m just trying to see if this "PM for ADHD Homes" idea has legs before I dive in. Honestly, I'm scared to "out" myself as ADHD professionally, but I feel like I have so much to offer.

What do you think? Is this something the community actually needs?

The only thing is that what works can be bespoke to thr individual, do you'd need to think whether you want to give people tools to use, or tools to try and see if they work. The latter is more like coaching.

I've been coached, lots of coaches give worksheets, weekly calendars etc.

Hey,

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

I think it would be a two fold process, just listening and understanding each individuals problem. How they go about their day, what measures can be implemented to help with their adhd but also what holistic treatments are out there which can also help. I’ve tried some amazing things which have helped both myself and my daughter.

I’m a full time single parent and found ways to be able to live a fairly decent life despite of of our adhd. I’d like the opportunity to be able to help people in similar situations as us.

I’ve been told not to bother as it’s a flooded industry out there. However I think it’s different if it’s coming from someone who has a good understanding of how our brain functions because I feel the same way!

😊

I think as full time job it's tricky. To earn a FT I think you'd need a background in psychology or counselling.

There's a lot to be said for being a parent though. If I'm looking for a coach I either want strong academic qualifications in psychology and therapy plus relevant Adhd and coaching training. Or strong lived experience. An example of that (a coach I worked with ) is EverADHD. She was personable and professional. Shared models of AdHD so grew my understanding. Very coaching based. Finding my own bespoke strategies. Sharing what worked for other clients. No assumptions made.

Someone I steer away from is newly qualified coaches who got diagnosed, then quite quickly trained as a coach. I'm quite advanced in my own growth and I feel like I'm helping them !! As I have so many strategies.

I think it’s a good idea. Market is flooded with offerings and I only look at people with formal qualifications. I am also thinking about using access to work support so I don’t pay for it directly…

I don’t have any specific qualifications, I have first hand experience and I’m a parent to a child with adhd and anxiety.

I’ve learned through trial and error how to work around adhd, how to be a good parent and get the best from your child.

I know it’s flooded with people offering advice, the majority of the stuff I’ve seen if BS (sorry!) but I watch the stuff and think that would not help me. They talk about rejection sensitivity, forgetfulness etc but there is nothing of substance that actually helps people to overcome those crippling problems on a daily basis.

I’d genuinely love to help people who do have adhd, but it wouldn’t come from any qualifications.