ADHD and what makes up the pathway to a diagnosis as an adult can be ripe with hard childhood memories of struggling in school, at home, and in social situations. On the other side of that coin, having a late diagnosis of ADHD as an adult can also bring relief. Finally being able to point to something that underscores a lifetime of struggles. There is a sense of control and autonomy that is felt when it comes to most late diagnosed adults and has felt out of reach their whole life.
Usually the next question for someone who has been diagnosed is, what now? It can be a mystery as to what treatment looks like, if medication is right for them and what lifestyle changes may be needed to help treat their ADHD.
The proverbial fork in the road that tends to present itself to late diagnosed adults is a medicated or non medicated option. What should be more widely known, and what most newly diagnosed adults find out is that there are many factors at play to help improve their new found disorder such as diet, exercise, mindfulness, journaling, visual schedules etc.
A newly emerging option for those with ADHD has been introduced to the disorders lexicon being, strength-based coaching rather than your family doctor being the one walking you through diagnosis and treatment.
Behind every successful athlete is standing a great coach. The same applies here. A coach will guide their clients through customized treatment based on their own account and challenges they have been dealing with throughout their whole life.
The reason for the rise in strength-based coaching popularity makes complete sense. We are social creatures by nature, we thrive in communities, and to put it simply, things are less scary when we have a partner. A coach is a great partner and will provide comfort throughout the process.
What Does Strength-Based Mean?
If your mind is drifting to a time when you were in a job interview and they asked you that terrible question, “what’s your greatest weakness?” and surely, directly after they asked you “what is your greatest strength?” you are in the right place , sort of.
A strength-based approach to ADHD coaching is building upon a person’s already existing strengths. Taking their innate positive attributes and focusing on making them more prominent. This approach is not only effective, but it’s efficient. By focusing on skills or traits that are already strong it allows the coach and client to arrive at results faster and easier. It’s a great and less forceful way to introduce someone to their new treatment plan.
For example, if some struggles with time management and it is one of their core frustrations, yet they have an amazing verbal recognition a coach would laser in on the good, rather than the bad first. An actionable task they could give them is to have someone orally provide them with instructions, or receive to-do lists verbally rather than written; this will help with retention and ultimately execution of those instructions and tasks directly relating to better time management. The coach is going for the big win-win here.
This team effort style of talk therapy is also very familiar to most students or adults who have been newly diagnosed as between 50-60% of adults ages 18-45 have sought out therapy before for one reason or another. Strength-based coaching can also pull double duty as helping adults with ADHD symptoms can mitigate or even eliminate contributing factors such as emotional issues, career struggles, financial mismanagement which can all point to anxiety and depression.
Besides the preventive mental maintenance that can occur, a coach sets an accountable environment for their client to succeed in. Having a coach to not only encourage and support them, but more importantly ensure they are looking in the mirror and meeting their goals. Their expertise can be such a beacon of confidence and reassurance especially in someone who has been recently diagnosed as an adult.
Last but not least one of the best benefits of having an ADHD coach is someone who can provide some structure in your life. Living your life with ADHD is often described as lacking structure and focus. A coach will set limits, timelines, and provide a list of new skill sets and tools you can tap into.
When considering whether strength-based ADHD coaching is the right option for you, the best deciding factor is to book a consultation. Test out the waters without having a big commitment. Most consultations are free and can provide a vast amount of insight in a short amount of time. It also sets the stage for an extremely important element when choosing a coach, if it’s the right fit. Ensuring you can relate to and communicate well with your coach will make all the difference in your treatment. Consider it a try out or an audition and don’t be afraid to ask questions to see if the chemistry is right.
If pursuing an ADHD coach sounds like the right fit for you please book a free 20 minute consultation with me here. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what we can achieve together.