Strategies for Finding an ADHD Coach

unsplash-image-xj8qrWvuOEs.jpg

I originally posted this in 2015 but with the exponential rise in the interest in ADHD coaching worldwide I thought it would be a good idea to update this post.

There are a lot of great ADHD coaches out there with excellent coaching programs but how do you find the best one for you?

With so many online resources in both the coaching world and the ADHD education world it can be daunting to find an ADHD coach who matches up with your coaching needs.  Now, with the explosion in interest in ADHD, there is demand for information and services. Unfortunately with the demand in services comes mis-interpretation and mis-representation, especially in the field of coaching. Anyone can call themselves an ADHD coach and here in lies the biggest dilemma. This is a big reason why fellow coach Tamara Rosier and I have started the Center for ADHD Coaching Excellence.

If you take your time and follow these strategies you can find a qualified coach that fits your needs:

Be a partner in the discovery process.  Get clear on your own goals and needs for coaching before you speak to any coach.  Research what coaching is and is not.  Research the different ADHD coaching niches.  Believe it our not there are lots of coaches who focus in very specific areas. Good resources - ICF, ACO.

Work with a real ADHD coach.  Anyone can call themselves a coach and anyone can call themselves an ADHD specialist. Ask them about their own credentials, training and experience.  A good ADHD coach has a solid balance of ADHD training, ICF approved coach training and several hundred client hours.  A good ADHD coach has taken a training course in ADHD coaching.  They are committed to ongoing professional and personal development. Ask for references from other coaches and clients.  Working with student-coaches is fine but expect to get a price break to support their development as a coach.

Coaching skills make a great coach.  There is a prevailing thought that being a successful influencer, starting a business or successfully managing one’s ADHD makes one qualified to be a coach. This is not true. Coaching skills and experience make great coaches. People confuse mentor/advisor models for coaching models. Coaching is a real profession with skills and competencies and ethical practices. Be wary of the candidate who casually adds ‘coach’ to their other offerings.

Work with a coach who is more than a great marketer.  In the enrolling process pay attention to what the coach does in addition to enrolling you in their program.  A good seller does not necessarily make a good coach.  Coaching follows an action/learning model.  Invite your prospective coach to paint a picture 3 months down the road in the coaching process - What are you doing?  What is a measurement of success?  What is effective coaching support?

Talk to at-least 3 coaches.  Match is everything in coaching where effective partnering is paramount.  Ask yourself if this coach really understands who you are and can appreciate where you want to go.  Don't let a sense of urgency rush the process.  There is no one coach who you must work with.

Talk to someone who has worked with an ADHD coach.  Are they happy with the process?  What you they like about their coach and the coaching process?

Finding an ADHD coach does not have to be an overwhelming experience.  Make a plan and take one step at a time and you will find the right coach for you.

Additional Resources -  Four Signs Your Coach is not a Real Coach