ADHD Coaching

A Practical Guide for Adults with ADHD

This guide provides information to those who would like to know

more about ADHD Coaching.

Some countries have official guidelines for treating ADHD and can provide
suitable treatment for adults; even some coaching. In other countries,
recognition of both ADHD and the various treatments may be rare.
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The most common treatment for ADHD is pharmacological. Access to other
options differs per country. ADHD Coaching can be effectively applied on its
own or used as part of a Multimodal Treatment-package involving various
methods. For example; medication and ADHD Coaching, or psychotherapy and
ADHD Coaching. Two or all three of these variations can be used at the same
time as part of a treatment plan.

What is ADHD Coaching?

ADHD Coaching is a form of Life Coaching where the coach is specialised in
ADHD. It has emerged as a profession during the last 25 years and professional
organisations who provide credentials for ADHD Coaching are also growing.

ADHD Coaching is a psycho-educational and psycho-social methodology where

clients learn about themselves, their diagnosis and how it affects their
functionality in daily life. It may be more pragmatic compared to other
interventions.

In comparison to psychotherapy its focus is the present and the future, rather
than the past. The ADHD Coaching process is clearly distinguished from
interventions and methods such as psychotherapy, mentoring, supervision,
counselling and teaching.

The client learns how to apply individually customised tools and coping
strategies to lessen the consequences of symptoms. ADHD Coaching is
solution-focused and strength-based. ADHD Coaching aims to support the
client towards finding strategies, building skills and empowers them to
manage ADHD symptoms and traits better; it also explores and identifies the
client’s areas of strengths and passion.
 ADHD Coaching
A Practical Guide
According to The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) ADHD
Guidelines:

Coaching is an intervention that aims to help people with

ADHD identify and draw on their personal strengths as well
as to negotiate their problems and cope with life on a daily
basis. The coaching relationship has a collaborative focus
with the coach and client working together in partnership.
The aim is to change old behaviour patterns by developing
new ones, as well as to identify personal goals and generate
strategies to counter potential obstacles to achievement and
success.
Who can benefit from ADHD Coaching?
Many adults can benefit from ADHD Coaching. Adults who have been
diagnosed with ADHD or not been diagnosed yet, but who identify themselves
as sharing similar traits and challenges as someone with ADHD. Other family
members can also benefit.

Experience and qualifications of an ADHD Coach

An ADHD Coach can have had specialised professional ADHD Coach training,
or may have received training as a generic life-coach and in other ways have
acquired additional knowledge and experience within the field of ADHD and
ADHD Coaching. Refer to the possible questions, at the end of this document,
which you could ask an ADHD Coach to verify their qualifications and
experience.

The client-coach relationship

The coach-client relationship is a collaborative partnership where the client
and coach work together towards pursuing the client’s goals. It is built on
mutual trust and respect where the ADHD Coach regards the client as always
being resourceful, capable and whole.

ADHD Coaching can only be beneficial when clients voluntarily participate in

the process. The coach follows the client’s agenda during ADHD Coaching
sessions and throughout the coaching relationship. The ADHD Coach,
together with the client, agree on appropriate strategies and effective systems
that will assist the client in achieving their goals.

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A Practical Guide
The ADHD Coaching conversation should take place in a calm and safe
environment. It is structured and totally adapted to the client. It is important
that the client and the ADHD Coach are a good match, so that they can
communicate well and work together.

If the coach or the client do not find the coaching relationship beneficial the
coaching relationship should be terminated. A well-educated ADHD Coach
should also know when it is necessary to refer the client to other relevant
professionals and also know when to ask for supervision. The ADHD Coach
should work towards the client’s autonomy so that the client is not dependent
on the coach.

The coaching agreement

Before ADHD Coaching sessions start, a coaching agreement should be
established where the coach and client together:

state the overall goals, plans and purpose for the sessions.
agree on duration, frequency and cost.
decide how the sessions are held; over the phone, meeting in person, over
video-conference (or a combination of these).

In each coaching session, there should be an agreement on what the goal for
that particular session is. This goal should be initiated by the client and not by
the coach. The coach is there to support the client to articulate and clarify the
goal for the session.

What can you expect from an ADHD Coach?

An ADHD Coach should be:
Non-judgmental and neutral, with the client’s best interest and wishes at
heart.
Highly knowledgeable of ADHD and co-existing conditions.
Up to date on new research regarding ADHD and share only evidence-
based information.
An active listener with a deep understanding of how ADHD may impact the
client.
Ethical at all times and follow rules of conduct (such as confidentiality).
Encouraging and supporting the client with strategies to keep momentum
and stay motivated on the client’s objectives.

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A Practical Guide

What to expect from ADHD Coaching?

When working with an ADHD Coach the clients can expect to learn more about
themselves and their ADHD, meaning how symptoms and traits are manifested
and presented individually in the client.

ADHD Coaching is a collaboration between client and coach to find new

strategies and routines tailored to each person, enabling them to achieve the
desired outcomes. ADHD Coaching can also be about the client’s wish for
clarifications and strive towards change in behaviour, communication skills,
thinking patterns and, also, exploring options. Whatever the client’s goals and
aspirations are - the ADHD Coach is there for the client as a valuable support in
finding their own solutions that can work for them.

An ADHD Coach may also provide other services that are not ADHD Coaching,
such as:
Lecturing, training and workshops regarding ADHD.
Supervision, case management, consultation, advice/training for care-
providers working with people who have ADHD.
Sharing general information to schools, employers, managers and
colleagues regarding appropriate accommodations for ADHD.

Would you like to work with an ADHD Coach?

If you would like to go ahead with learning more and also find the right ADHD
Coach for you; here are some questions you can ask a prospective ADHD
Coach. You can contact more than one and ask them the questions that are
relevant to you and see if you can communicate well together.

Suggested questions you could ask the ADHD Coach

About the coach:
1. What education have you completed in relation to ADHD and ADHD
Coaching?
2. How long have you been working as an ADHD Coach?
3. How many clients have you previously worked with as an ADHD Coach?
4. What is your personal/private experience of ADHD?
5. What made you decide to become an ADHD Coach?
6. Are you working independently or are you accountable to someone else?

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Other suggested questions you could ask the ADHD Coach

About the coaching:
1. How do you work with clients? Meet in person? Over the telephone? Video
calls?
2. Do you specialise in a particular area of ADHD Coaching or have a specific
age group you often work with?
3. What can I expect from you as my ADHD Coach?
4. What do I commit to as your client?
5. What are your commitments to me as my ADHD Coach?
6. What ADHD-related organisations are you affiliated with?
7. How do you stay up-to-date on research and continuous education
regarding ADHD and ADHD Coaching?

About the terms:

1. How much do you charge per session?
2. How do I pay and what is the payment scheme?
3. What happens if I need to terminate our agreement before time?
4. How many sessions do you usually recommend and what frequency?
5. What if I have to cancel one session at short notice?
6. What happens if I miss a session without notifying you in advance?
7. How do you keep client information confidential, safe and secure?

This practical guide to ADHD Coaching is endorced by:

The World Federation of ADHD

ADHD Europe

ADHD Coaches Organization

Created: December 2022 This document was produced, and approved, by the
Next revision: December 2024 Board of ADHD Europe. Page 5