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When is it the right time to hire an ADHD Coach?
I meet many parents who are searching for support for both themselves and their child. Often, they come to information about ADHD coaches and wonder whether coaching could work. Will it be expensive and will that expense truly bring about lasting change? These are valid questions, especially in times of economic hardship.
This blog is not about convincing anyone that coaching is worth it. Obviously I am going to say that because I’m a coach, I myself have two coaches and I’ve seen incredible result. However, it is important to know when it’s the right time for coaching. Unlike counselling or other talking therapies, coaching supports someone to understand the obstacles, to empower them and to take action. It takes a certain level of curiosity from the client and a desire for change. This is when coaching can be really powerful and help to bring about a different future
However, there have been clients who have just not been in the right place for coaching and, ethically, good coaches will cease sessions or redirect them to a different type of support. This is not uncommon and as coaches we are ethically duty bound to ensure that we remain in service to the client.
So when is it the RIGHT time to hire a coach?
Willingness: for teens and young people this is important. There’s little point dragging a reluctant teen to coaching if they’d rather be left alone! So, knowing how the sessions might benefit them is vital. Many I have coached are unsure at first but after the first initial meeting are happy to return and excited at the prospect of finally changing something that has made them feel stuck for a long time. Parents wanting coaching tend to be less reluctant and almost always embrace the support they’ve been searching for for a long time.
Self-aware: a client doesn’t need to know who they are inside and out, rather they should be curious about how they act and how they think and wonder about why they respond to things in the way they do. This isn’t essential at the beginning but often comes halfway through the sessions and is often the best part of the process.
Pro-active: It’s always helpful when the client is open to change and happy to follow any action steps that they have thought of. Again, coaching is not a dictatorship, some think that an ADHD coach will reveal all and think of the solutions for them. This is far from the case, instead the client is joined in thinking and supported as they themselves arrive at their own conclusions or action steps. Quite honestly, this is why I work with young people and their parents. When a young person steps into education, they are often told what to do at all times. Coaching with an adult who respects their autonomy and encourages their independence quite literally blows their mind, and in feeling heard they grow so much.
So even if you think that your teen possibly fits the bill, how can you be sure coaching is worth the investment? Well for the first three sessions, I charge nothing. The initial meeting with parents, followed by a meeting with the young person, ending with a planning and strategy meeting to establish the client’s goals - all free. I do this because it has to be the right fit and we can only establish this once these chats have taken place. Not all coaches do this but it sits well with my ethos.
If any of this resonates with you or if you think you might know someone who would benefit from the kind of support I offer, then book a free 30 minutes with me and let’s talk about how I could help: https://calendly.com/belshawlouise29/30min
OR join my next exciting masterclass aimed at supporting parents and their ADHD teens:
After great reviews, we are back on Tuesday 2nd September 19:30. For a second virtual ADHD Masterclass to support your children and teens through change. Puberty and secondary school bring huge shifts for any child, but for those with ADHD, these changes can feel like a perfect storm of hormones, emotions, and executive function challenges.
This webinar will unpack what’s going on beneath the surface, from neurology and dopamine changes to the way self perception, friendships, and comparison can impact their confidence. Sign up here: Sign-up Link
Remember, you can also access my popular ‘Back to School’ transition kit for just 99p, for a short time only: https://www.the-adhd-teacher.co.uk/store/p7/ADHD_transition_toolkit.html
Have a great week!
Louise
I meet many parents who are searching for support for both themselves and their child. Often, they come to information about ADHD coaches and wonder whether coaching could work. Will it be expensive and will that expense truly bring about lasting change? These are valid questions, especially in times of economic hardship.
This blog is not about convincing anyone that coaching is worth it. Obviously I am going to say that because I’m a coach, I myself have two coaches and I’ve seen incredible result. However, it is important to know when it’s the right time for coaching. Unlike counselling or other talking therapies, coaching supports someone to understand the obstacles, to empower them and to take action. It takes a certain level of curiosity from the client and a desire for change. This is when coaching can be really powerful and help to bring about a different future
However, there have been clients who have just not been in the right place for coaching and, ethically, good coaches will cease sessions or redirect them to a different type of support. This is not uncommon and as coaches we are ethically duty bound to ensure that we remain in service to the client.
So when is it the RIGHT time to hire a coach?
Willingness: for teens and young people this is important. There’s little point dragging a reluctant teen to coaching if they’d rather be left alone! So, knowing how the sessions might benefit them is vital. Many I have coached are unsure at first but after the first initial meeting are happy to return and excited at the prospect of finally changing something that has made them feel stuck for a long time. Parents wanting coaching tend to be less reluctant and almost always embrace the support they’ve been searching for for a long time.
Self-aware: a client doesn’t need to know who they are inside and out, rather they should be curious about how they act and how they think and wonder about why they respond to things in the way they do. This isn’t essential at the beginning but often comes halfway through the sessions and is often the best part of the process.
Pro-active: It’s always helpful when the client is open to change and happy to follow any action steps that they have thought of. Again, coaching is not a dictatorship, some think that an ADHD coach will reveal all and think of the solutions for them. This is far from the case, instead the client is joined in thinking and supported as they themselves arrive at their own conclusions or action steps. Quite honestly, this is why I work with young people and their parents. When a young person steps into education, they are often told what to do at all times. Coaching with an adult who respects their autonomy and encourages their independence quite literally blows their mind, and in feeling heard they grow so much.
So even if you think that your teen possibly fits the bill, how can you be sure coaching is worth the investment? Well for the first three sessions, I charge nothing. The initial meeting with parents, followed by a meeting with the young person, ending with a planning and strategy meeting to establish the client’s goals - all free. I do this because it has to be the right fit and we can only establish this once these chats have taken place. Not all coaches do this but it sits well with my ethos.
If any of this resonates with you or if you think you might know someone who would benefit from the kind of support I offer, then book a free 30 minutes with me and let’s talk about how I could help: https://calendly.com/belshawlouise29/30min
OR join my next exciting masterclass aimed at supporting parents and their ADHD teens:
After great reviews, we are back on Tuesday 2nd September 19:30. For a second virtual ADHD Masterclass to support your children and teens through change. Puberty and secondary school bring huge shifts for any child, but for those with ADHD, these changes can feel like a perfect storm of hormones, emotions, and executive function challenges.
This webinar will unpack what’s going on beneath the surface, from neurology and dopamine changes to the way self perception, friendships, and comparison can impact their confidence. Sign up here: Sign-up Link
Remember, you can also access my popular ‘Back to School’ transition kit for just 99p, for a short time only: https://www.the-adhd-teacher.co.uk/store/p7/ADHD_transition_toolkit.html
Have a great week!
Louise
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