So…if you wound up here, you probably were wondering: “What is an ADHD Coach?” or “How is an ADHD Coach any different from a therapist?” Or “Is this just another one of those things people make up so they don’t have to admit they don’t have a job?”
Okay so…rude. And no. But I understand the confusion, so I’m going to do my best to try to answer some of the most common questions people have about ADHD coaches.
What does an ADHD coach do?
If you’re like me at all, you might connect the word “coach” to some negative connotations. In fact, there is a rather toxic undercurrent in the coaching industry as a whole. Usually, when you mention a “coach,” people tend to envision a Tony Robbins type who’ll yell at you about fixing your mindset, and about how you really just need to try harder and think better, and then you’ll make millions of dollars. I get it. It’s why I almost didn’t call myself a “coach.”
ADHD coaches, though, aren’t here to just tell you that you’re not trying hard enough; instead, our job is to help you figure out systems and routines that work with your brain in a way that you may not have been able to figure out yourself. For example, I might help you figure out a morning routine that works for you. Or I may show you how to track your energy. This is more about helping you understand yourself than it is about making you listen to me.
There will certainly be times wherein a mindset change is in order, but it won’t be about thinking like a millionaire, or learning to be “more positive,” whatever that means. It would be more about understanding that productivity looks different for ADHD brains, and ensuring that you don’t automatically start ripping on yourself on those imperfect days.
An ADHD coach is a cheerleader, a consultant, and a solutionist. And they take the time to hang with you as you figure this stuff out. So “coaching” is really the best way to describe it.
Does ADHD coaching work?
The two most popular answers to this kind of thing are, generally, therapy and medication. Coaching isn’t something many mention, so of course it gets a little nerve-wracking. What’s the point of doing this if it doesn’t work? Is it guaranteed to work?
And the answer is: no. But nothing is guaranteed. There are so many factors that play into it, that you can’t truly know until you try.
Coaching generally will work if you give it the time and effort it requires. You also have to trust your ADHD coach, and the two of you have to connect. If any of those things are out of line, it can get in the way of your success.
That said, a few studies have been conducted over the years that showed that ADHDers with a coach did see a marked improvement in a number of skills, including goal achievement, learning strategy, and satisfaction with school and work. So coaching can be very effective.
Okay but how is an ADHD coach different from a therapist?
There are a number of factors, but the main differences are that:
- A therapist generally has multiple areas of study, but an ADHD coach specializes in ADHD.
- ADHD coaches focus more on application and usage. We absolutely will listen to concerns and questions, but sessions are less about thinking, and more about doing.
- Piggybacking off of that, therapists will focus on your issues on a broader spectrum, while ADHD coaches will guide you more according to how to work with your ADHD. And…
- Therapists are generally more closely connected to academia, with a Masters or equivalent in psychology. ADHD coaches may or may not be certified, and may or may not have academic titles.
Does this mean that your ADHD coach is less knowledgeable or trustworthy? Nope. All it means is that there may be a little less of the ol’ book-learnin’ involved. But this can wind up being a positive, in that your ADHD coach may be able to lend more practical knowledge to the situation that someone who merely studied the condition may not.
How do I find an ADHD Coach?
Well…you found me pretty easily. And if you’d like to work together, you can absolutely check out how I work, and then get on my calendar.
But if you’re still in the research stages, there are a few things to take into consideration when you’re looking for an ADHD coach. Namely:
Do you need an ADHD coach?
Not everyone needs coaching. Some people need therapy, some need medication, and some are probably doing way better than they think they are (with ADHD brains, that’s incredibly common – good ol’ Imposter Syndrome).
If you want to know if an ADHD coach is right for you, ask yourself the following:
- “Do I have the time for fairly regular meetings with a coach?”
- “Do I feel like I’m struggling to keep track of things, and do I think it’s because of my ADHD?”
- “What do I think is holding me back from feeling more organized? Is it that I don’t have the right tools? Or could it be something else?”
- “Am I ready to commit to learning new processes and routines, even if that means I may feel uncomfortable sometimes?”
- “Do I do well with having someone to be accountable to? Or does that make me feel more resentful?”
When you ask those questions, be honest with yourself. There’s nothing wrong with finding out that coaching isn’t a good idea for you. You totally have other options!
What do you want from your Coach?
If you’re sure you need a coach, then you want to be clear on your goals, and on how you expect your coach to get you there. Not that you have to have the methods figured out, but you do want to know things like how often you’d like to meet with your coach; what kind of philosophies you’d like your coach to have, and how you’d like to be able to communicate with them for a few examples.
What kind of person would you like your coach to be?
Do you want a person who is more serious, or more fun? Do you prefer a morning person or a person who has later appointments? Do you want someone who deals with people of all ages, or someone who deals just with adults/children/teenagers? Do they meet in-person or virtually? Should your coach have ADHD, too, or would you prefer that they don’t? Imagine the kind of person you could see yourself connecting with, and then try to take a good look at the prospective coaches you find to see if they match what you need.
A big thing that many don’t take into account is how they’d prefer their coach to respond to missteps. Some people prefer someone who’ll yell at them to drop and give them 20 if they miss a day; some prefer a coach who’ll gently remind them of things a day before. I, personally, tend to be of the “tomorrow is a new day; we all mess up” variety. You want to know that the person you work with will have the temperament you need to get you through the tougher aspects, not just the stuff you excel at.
Ok then…how much does an ADHD coach cost?
It varies. You can find coaches out there anywhere from pro bono to $1500 a month. It truly depends on the person. I, for example, am $150 per session, or $600-$750/month, but I’ve seen some people charging upwards of $300 a session. The best way to find out is simply to ask. Do keep in mind, though, that insurances don’t generally cover ADHD coaching, so whatever you pay will be out of pocket. I also tend to recommend that on the short side people give coaching three months (it’s usually more like six months to a year), so try to remember that whatever you pay will be a longer term commitment than once or twice if you want results.
In the end, an ADHD coach can be helpful. It can be rewarding, and interesting, and educational to work with someone who gets your brain. You just want to be sure that the decision is for you, and that the person you choose is going to work WITH your mind, not against it.
And of course, if I seem like the right person to help get your days where you want them, you can absolutely book with me, or even test out what I know with my mini-course designed to help you get things done.
