Considering retraining as an ASD and ADHD life coach

[Filizz]

I am considering retraining as an asd/adhd life coach. One of my dc is autistic and I want to learn to help them navigate teen years. I also have traits myself but not as severe. My job might go to AI so I would need an alternative career. Has anyone retrained like this? How much would it cost? I would like to start now alongside normal work but if I never make a return on it it wouldn’t be a complete disaster as primarily I want to help my own child/ myself

So your evidence is… one person is a bit shit?

Look into what your local third levels offer in support services. Might be something there but I think the private sector is a bit flooded with yummy life coaches and wounded healers. The lack of accreditation makes me very wary of this particular area.

If you are lucky enough to be offered therapy, it’s often CBT which does not work with the autistic brain. DBT is preferred but there are very few DBT therapists so that may be worth looking into. I think executive function is what you’re hinting at with life & study skills - be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Anything 'coach' just seems to mean someone with no professional accreditation who's probably done a two day course that's run by scammers. So be careful.

Harsh maybe as a generalisation but it's the connotation I get when I hear this.

I would only trust a psychiatrist or medical professional with decades of training and practice to talk about my MH or my ADD. Not a 'coach' as it has no meaning as a title.

Also don't know why you think it's an especially AI proof career move.

I agree sadly and I say this as someone who works with many highly qualified, accredited coaches. The profession was totally bastardised in Covid and now everyone and their dog whoever sold something on Etsy thinks they are a business/mindset/life coach.

Not realising that properly qualified coaches are trained and have to maintain a portfolio of CPD and supervision, and abide by a strict code of ethics.

I think there is a market for this, but the place to target is professionals where companies will pay. Lots of people, especially women, cope well at work for a long time but as they get more senior (and throw in the buckets of hormones) find it more challenging as they age. Offering 1:1 coaching with this type of profile, with the aim of helping them to avoid burnout, and drive work performance could be interesting and I know someone who does this and it’s going well for them. You’d need to have a strong existing professional network though.

Hi OP, I have an ASD DD, work in a proximal field and have previously engaged ADHD coach’s for my team.

1. Life coaching isn’t enough. The only money on this space is where employers pay you to unlock the potential of their already valued employees. You need to be trained that help people function in well paid jobs
2. The market is absolutely saturated with life coaches, work coach’s and ND coaches
3. If you get in with a good company the rates are about £200 an hour less their cut