Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects somewhere between two and five percent of the adult population, and recent reports indicate that nearly three million American adults have prescriptions for medication to treat ADHD. Most people have heard of ADHD at this point, as it’s reported prevalence has been on an upward trend since the late 90’s; it’s inattentiveness, distractedness, fidgetiness, disorganization, and a general inability to sit still. To an extent, those are the “basic” symptoms, but there’s a lot more to it, and its effect differs from person to person based on a lot of different variables.
ADHD Coaching is a tailored method of treating each person’s individual experience of symptoms. In some cases, yes, it’s about increasing on-task behavior; but in most instances, it’s working on the social issues, anxiety, depression, and the negative self-perceptions that are often associated ADHD. Coaching borrows a lot from insight oriented therapy models like Cognitive Behavior Therapy, but my coaching style is more about action than insight. Don’t get me wrong, having an understanding of why we do the things we do is an important step to change, but coaching focuses less on “why,” and more on what, when, and how. For more of the “why” stuff, we usually employ a traditional therapeutic model.
Coaching is about collaboratively setting goals, and designing objectives every week to move toward those goals. Sometimes in the early stages of treatment, between session calls or texts or emails are employed to really get the ball rolling and stimulate the clients motivation, as motivation is one area often thought of as affected by ADHD. Research has shown, however, that it isn’t a lack of motivation that people with ADHD often suffer from, but rather difficulty sustaining motivation to pursue long-term goals. Within the coaching paradigm, the structured style of long-term goal, and short-term objective setting keeps the client engaged, and therefore motivated. Very quickly, the client starts meeting those short-term objectives, and see real advancement towards long-term goals, and what’s more motivating than bearing witness to your own progress?
If you have any questions about ADHD coaching, or would like to schedule a screening, reach out to me through the contact page.