If you know anything about me, you know I love my work. I’ve been an ADHD Coach for over twenty years, and there hasn’t been a day that I wake up and dread going into my office. Unfortunately, not many people can say that.
Recently, I was interviewed by a brilliant and enthusiastic college student about ADHD and what it’s like to be an ADHD Coach. It was fun to reflect on what is meaningful and important and why I love being an ADHD Coach.
That interview reminded me why I get up each morning and have worked as an ADHD Life Coach for all these years.
And I thought that maybe you would be curious about what it is about ADHD Coaching that makes it such an amazing profession… if you have ever thought of training to be an ADHD Coach or working with one.
The 27 Things You Need to Know About ADHD Coaching:
- ADHD Life Coaches are never bored. Instead, each day is interesting due to the many hats coaches wear and the variety of clients they work with.
- ADHD Life Coaches can set their own schedule. When and how you connect with clients depends on when you want to be available.
- ADHD Life Coaches are respected team members in treating ADHD.
- Every day as an ADHD Life Coach is a day when you can help someone and experience the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference.
- ADHD Life Coaches can be as creative as they want, often using out-of-the-box ideas to solve client disorganization, time management challenges, etc.
- You will laugh at least once every day as an ADHD Life Coach. Let’s face it…people with ADHD have a great sense of humor…
- ADHD Life Coaches are constantly learning new things…about ADHD, about new resources for persons with ADHD, and about being the owner of a coaching business.
- ADHD Life Coaches believe their clients are fully creative, resourceful, and whole…just as they are! They know there are areas in their lives that clients want to change, and coaches believe that by working together, the client will be able to create a new solution that works.
- ADHD Life Coaching is not limited to a geographic area. Coaching can be done in person, over the phone, or via virtual imaging tools like Zoom.
- ADHD Life Coaching includes lots of adventure. Being a professional ADHD life coach includes traveling to meetings and conferences to understand ADHD further and connect with peers and colleagues.
- Being an ADHD Life Coach means being a member of an elite group of people…other ADHD Life Coaches who understand your passion for helping others with ADHD.
- What happens or is said between a coach and a client is confidential.
- ADHD Life Coaches teach others about ADHD, often doing presentations or talks about ADHD in their community and at conferences worldwide.
- You get to be yourself as an ADHD Life Coach. Coaching is a job where you get to be yourself. You get to bring your authentic self – who you are – to the coaching partnership.
- ADHD Life Coaches aren’t perfect and don’t have it all figured out. This allows you to be yourself and authentically understand your client’s challenges.
- ADHD Life Coaches have one of the most advanced holistic understandings of ADHD to work with various ADHD challenges.
- Even though they don’t need a teaching degree, ADHD Life Coaching sometimes includes much teaching around ADHD resources. For instance, ADHD Life Coaches help their clients know about Disability Laws, academic and workplace accommodations and modifications, neurobiology of the brain, ADHD treatment, common co-existing conditions, growth, and developmental stages, conflict resolution, etc.
- ADHD Life Coaches help clients discover their source of motivation and inspiration to tap into these when they need encouragement.
- ADHD Life Coaches understand what their clients are going through because they have had their own experience with ADHD…whether that is being diagnosed themselves or someone they love has been diagnosed.
- ADHD Life Coaches learn to be great at the skill of strategizing a plan of action with their clients.
- Working with an ADHD Life Coach, clients reach their goals quicker, with less effort, and have those changes last.
- An ADHD Life Coach has two outcomes for their clients. Increased awareness and supporting their client to move closer toward their goals.
- ADHD Life Coaches maintain contact and check in with clients throughout the process to ensure they are progressing and keep their enthusiasm and momentum up.
- ADHD Life Coaches are accountability partners and help clients take ultimate ownership and self-responsibility, so they want to follow through, reach their goals, and continually make positive changes.
- An ADHD Life Coach will not just let a client’s dreams or goals fizzle. Instead, they are trained to challenge their clients to continue progressing toward their goals even when the going gets tough.
- ADHD Life Coaches will be there with their clients every step of the way with the “hows”. They help clients navigate past roadblocks along the way, give them the nudge they need when they’re stuck in a rut, cheer with them when they meet their goals, and challenge them to live the lives they deserve.
- An ADHD Life Coach never doubts they are making a difference.
What about coaching interests you? I’d love to hear from you. Email me using the dialogue box below.
And if you’re considering training to become an ADHD Life Coach, I invite you to visit the International ADHD Coach Training Center at https://iactcenter.com/.
I love the idea of being an ADHD Life Coach! I have worked with students for over 40 years and have applied my training in brain research and the learning process to develop materials, strategies, and interventions to help students with ADHD and other challenges. I opened my Center 4 ADHD(center4adhd.com) last year and am working with students to learn about their brains, understand their learning style, and strengthen focus and attention through a neurofeedback program. Thank you for sharing this information. Kathy
Hi Kathy! YAY!!! So great to hear from you and sounds like ADHD Life Coaching would be a perfect addition to your skillset.
I love coaching with my ADHD coach training. Hi Laurie. This is a great list to reflect on during a hard day. But even a hard day is a day I love my work. I added a master’s in counseling to my skills and offer even more services now. Our ADHD lives are so complicated. Thank you for your excellent leadership creating the new training program. I keep my old copy of the first book of advice you published in the waiting room. You’re creative, resourceful, and whole. WooHoo.
Hello Maureen! Thank you for your comment…what a pleasure to read this…I am humbled. I am glad that even after a long day you love this work and that your client’s are benefiting from your combined expertise 🙂 It is always my pleasure to serve this community. Stay awesome! ~ Laurie
dear Laurie, your practical and pragmatic down to the bottom line right away approach is really correct for my mind set(set but able to re-form into better off…..)I appreciate you….and look forward to some pleasant and insightful talks…..thank you for your help (Norwegian=tak voor hjelpen or maybe swedish or dutch),dan murray
Thanks Dan!
I started suspecting I had ADHD at least 20 years ago, but not having a coach, or knowing how to find one, I struggled with getting the diagnosis, as well as knowing what to do about it. As it happens, one of my daughters and her daughter also have it! I have a counseling degree, but I would rather teach people about ADHD and coach people dealing with it, and be a resource that was not available to me all those years ago.
I can’t wait for classes to start so you can learn even more about ADHD and learn to make a difference for people struggling with ADHD with coaching, Patricia! ~ Laurie