3 Ways an ADHD Coach Can Change Your Life!
What is an ADHD coach? Could it change my life that much? Is it worth my investment of time and money? Will I really learn to follow through with my commitments?
Yes, yes, and yes.
ADHD coaches are specialists in ADHD, they have expertise in the condition and experience helping clients with ADHD learn to thrive. In 2013, the ADHD Coaches Organization defined ADHD coaching as “a collaborative, supportive, goal-oriented process in which the coach and the client work together to identify the client’s goals and then develop the self- awareness, systems, and strategies—the skills—necessary for the client to achieve those goals and full potential.” ADHD coaching is kind of like research-based information meets skills training meets Oprah life coach. ADHD coaching is widely recognized and demonstrated as a leading practice to strengthen executive function*, improve quality of life, and help achieve personal goals for individuals diagnosed with ADHD.
Let’s explore the specific ways in which an ADHD coach and psychotherapist can help you:
1) To fully understand the impact of ADHD in your life
The diagnosis of ADHD is real and having ADHD can have a real impact on day-to-day functioning, relationships, and achievements. Gaining an understanding of how it affects the brain will help you change your relationship with yourself from a place of blame and shame to one of understanding and thriving. An ADHD coach will work with you to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the nature of ADHD and specifically how ADHD is impacting YOUR quality of life. At Bmindful we like to say ADHD is not an excuse, but it is an explanation.
2) To provide “Scaffolding”
As we learn in life, we build upon past knowledge and experiences. By providing a reliable support system – scaffolding – we create an environment where we can absorb new information and learn new skills easier and with less stress. Scaffolding are supports and tools that aim to help you stay focused on your goals, face obstacles, and address core ADHD-related issues like time management, organization and self-esteem. Scaffolding is one of many ways that an ADHD coach helps clients to make adjustments for Executive Functioning weaknesses (remember its not you, its just your brain).
What do some of these supports and tools look like? They are regular check-ins, being asked meaningful questions, creating plans, learning to use planners, calendars, to-do lists, time & project management tools and identifying specific opportunities to practice. Having access to a variety of ADHD-specific tools will increase confidence, reduce feelings of being overwhelmed, and allow you to be consistent in reaching your goals.
3) To identify your values
At Bmindful Psychotherapy and Coaching Centre in Ottawa we use a unique approach to ADHD coaching that involves Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This approach helps ADHD clients achieve their goals by getting in touch with their values. Values are what guide you towards what is most meaningful in your life. Your values direct how you want to behave and how you want respond to a situation, such as choosing to be loving or committing to working hard. Values are different from goals, which focus on what you want to achieve, like accomplishing a degree. It is important to have goals, but without knowing why they are your goals individuals with ADHD may feel a lack in motivation or that a goals importance simply gets lost in the ‘noise’.
ADHD clients will find that motivation is heightened when emphasis is placed on values vs. the importance of a task. That is because values are chosen by you because you want them, not because you should have them. It can help to think of values as a compass. Values point you in your chosen direction, however they are not the destination. You know you are heading north, but no matter how north you get there is always more north to go. For example you can pursue maintaining “health and fitness” throughout your life, no matter how old you are or how your body works. Simply put, we value what we care about and therefore it is easier to invest our time and effort because it is tied to our emotions. Doing values work will keep you on track, longer and easier.
Understanding ADHD + Scaffolding + Values = ADHD Coach
Its not you, its your brain, so give yourself a chance to learn about how ADHD makes your brain different from others, gain the tools and strategies to fill in the gaps, and discover what matters most to you to stay motivated. With the right ADHD coach things can be different and better than ever.
At Bmindful we offer clients a variety of options for ADHD support. In Ottawa we provide face-to-face individual and group ADHD coaching/ psychotherapy and for residents of Ontario we provide online e-counselling. Make an appointment today, take charge of your ADHD, and live the life you want deep in your heart.
Note: Research suggested ADHD is an impairment of Executive Function. EF is the brains ability to identify goals and to choose, enact, and sustain actions over time toward those goals. The most common EF processes include inhibition, focus, self-awareness, working memory, planning and problem-solving, anticipation and preparation to act, self-regulation.
