MEGAN KENNEDY-WOODARD

ADHD COACHING

CHILD, TEEN, ADULT, & FAMILY

FIND YOUR GRACE AND PURPOSE

OXFORD, LONDON, ONLINE

More About ADHD and ADHD Coaching:

Awareness is key. Under-diagnosis increases the risk of life-long problems. When a person with ADHD is provided with the appropriate multi-modal interventions, difficulties become more manageable and they can go on to live a fulfilling, productive and improved life, thriving in work, family and personal pursuits.

When you meet someone with ADHD, it is essential to understand that you have met exactly one person with ADHD.

ADHD is a spectrum of traits, symptoms and characteristics that are unique to that individual. Their lived experiences will shape their emotions, behaviour, challenges and strengths, and it is essential to give space and understanding to this. They will have developed coping strategies and skills to do their best to exist in a neurotypical world, some of which are helpful and others that may lead to further difficulty. It is both hard and beautiful to be a person with ADHD. Understanding that we are all capable, important, and deserving of compassion and encouragement will help people with ADHD lean into their unique skills and abilities,  allowing them to thrive.

ADHD Coaching

An ADHD Life Coach is fundamentally a champion of an individual with ADHD. They have a deep understanding of the uniqueness that each client brings to the coaching session. Coaches aim to increase their clients’ self awareness and self-efficacy, clarifying and supporting them so that they can achieve their goals. Coaching gives space for clients to acknowledge their talents, strengths, motivators, learning styles, and values so they can achieve their goals and live with grace and purpose. 

Coaching helps clients  identify  experiences and acknowledge challenges that have kept them from successes and goals. Coaches are not therapists; they will identify issues that can be more appropriately processed through another resource and /or service. Coaches do not give medical advice. Coaches do not give advice, rather they help guide the topics that clients bring to the coaching sessions.

Coaches can help with difficulties like:

Overwhelm, burnout, masking (overcompensating for ADHD traits), organisation, communication, trouble getting started or completing tasks (time blindness), motivation, unhelpful coping mechanisms, impulsivity (shopping, gambling, substance mis-use), self-esteem and confidence,

ADHD coaches bring a specialised level of insight through the lens of ADHD. Coaches may have ADHD or personal experience through loved-ones who have ADHD. They have an understanding of the structural neuro-differences of people with ADHD.  They have an understanding of lived experiences of ADHD and non-medical insight into multi-modal treatment pathways.

Coaches help their clients:

Identify goals, strengths and behaviours

Overcome barriers 

Identify unhelpful behaviours

Reach potential

Gain positive self-regard and confidence

Develop boundaries and support social behaviour

Make decisions (though this is always client-led)

Provide a safe space for reflection

Feel empowered to identify and follow their hopes and dreams with grace ad purpose

Coaches ask creative questions, help formulate plans and believe deeply that their clients are capable, creative and deserving of the opportunity to realise their purpose.

ADHD

ADHD is a a chronic condition that affects how an individual behaves, learns and interacts with their environment and can affect their concept of themselves. It can impact relationships, emotions, and life choices. It is a physiological, functional, structural, and chemical difference in a person's brain. ADHD is diagnosed by specialists who gather information about a clients’ behavioural history and current experiences. It is often missed or misdiagnosed (especially  in women) as it can present as other mental health disorders, including bi-polar, anxiety, or depression. Sometimes people with ADHD also suffer comorbid conditions and are more likely to engage in risky behaviour or substance misuse. The condition can  cause feelings of inadequacy, a need for perfectionism, or people pleasing. The experiences of ADHD are unique to each person.  People with ADHD are valuable contributors to society and are often creative, resilient, brave and strong. 

ADHD awareness is on the rise.  Though it has been referenced throughout history, it has only recently been recognised as a unique set of symptoms and traits leading to its inclusion in the DSM psychiatric guide. Increase in diagnostic awareness has meant that diagnosis has increased. People are more aware of their symptoms or those of their loved ones and are increasingly seeking support.  Educational institutions are proactive in spotting signs of ADHD. This awareness in the mainstream lexicon means that people are now more able to get the diagnosis and support they need.

Many with ADHD have gone undiagnosed and have learned to Mask (cover-up or learn coping strategies) in order to live what appears to be a more neurotypical life. This requires an incredible amount of energy and effort. The coping strategies may begin to adversely affect people with ADHD; for example, they might self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, be labelled as lazy or difficult in school or work,  or suffer financially because of lack of impulse control or organisational skills. The concept of a Tipping Point is the stage when an individual may no longer be able to cope with the pressures of daily life. This is a very difficult time, but it can lead to seeking the support they need. People often describe this period as the point in which things become too much. They feel overwhelmed and lack self-efficacy.

The daily life of a person with ADHD is different  from those who are neurotypical.  They exist in a world that may not understand how they behave or think or feel.  ADHD can be overwhelming. There is a sense of always trying to fit normative formulations and narratives of others. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy or failure. Children with ADHD are more likely to be  criticised  frequently. On average, children with ADHD receive a full 20,000 more negative messages by age 10 which can lead to fear of punishment, task or challenge avoidance, or worries about failing. Young people need to be supported in order to gain skills to navigate a world that may stigmatize their behaviors, emotions, and actions.

The narrative that there is something wrong with individuals with ADHD can lead to difficulty in adulthood. Adolescents may experience higher rates of anxiety and depression or other commorbid disorders, leading to greater mental suffering. Risk taking and impulsivity are common for teenagers; they are more likely to experiment with substances, incur injury or pregnancy or criminal liability. Executive functioning difficulties may increase when adolescents go out into the world. The home structures of support are no longer in place, leading to difficulty at university or transitioning into adulthood.

As adults, people with ADHD will have developed coping strategies to survive. This may include Masking that can lead to burnout, feelings of failure or inadequacy, self-medicating and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Relationships, finances and work are affected. A lifetime of criticism may lead to Rejection Sensitivity Disphoria, causing greater risk of further problems.

Changes in hormones during menopause can increase symptoms of ADHD.  Senior screening has increased in recent years, as retirement can mean the removal of structure and routine, highlighting ADHD symptoms and characteristics.   Though early diagnosis is best, diagnosis later in life can help seniors live well.

Megan Kennedy-Woodard, Co-Director and Coaching Psychologist