Do they have other issues such as anxiety and/or depression? The Coach will provide a safe open space for the client to share, express, and discuss the types of challenges and feelings they are experiencing. At this point the coach will partner with the client in understanding and identify the areas in-which the client would like to improve upon. Goals will be clearly defined and the coach client team will begin to identify which executive functions have prohibited these goals from being met thus far.
The coach will encourage and support the client in the area for which the coach is hired. (Just as no two Individuals or snowflakes are alike, it is also true that ADD/HD symptoms are uniquely individualized). Often in the coaching process, the coach will recognize a client’s patterns or behaviors through closely listening or observing. The coach can then (with permission) ask powerful and insightful questions in-order to help facilitate the client’s understanding and awareness of other unique executive function issues.
Once the client has become aware and identified additional areas they would like to improve on .The partnership will continue moving forward, with the coach sharing resources, educational tools, personalized feedback along with brainstorming together. The coach will help the client to problem solve in a unique and individualized manner that is customized for the client’s specific needs.
Areas of specific AD/HD Coaching value:
The coach will assist the client to navigate through their own unique process, when determining these specific common areas of need.
- Assist in helping identify strengths and areas needing improvement
- Support in goal setting
- Value of prioritizing
- Creating personalized structures to stay on track in meet goals and deadlines
- Resilience, using new strategies with tenacity
- Awareness around organizational and time management challenges
- Refocusing negative self-talk by bringing in skills to help improve self-esteem
- Creating fun and productive ways to achieve those boring daily tasks
- Encouragement
- Assisting in forward movement for an overall more efficient environment (CHADD)
- Tools for releasing overwhelm
Resources
Coaching Tools and Practices
- Guided Meditation, “ The Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA summarized research demonstrating the following benefits from varying lengths and intensities of mindfulness meditation for individuals, from kids to older adults, and with and without ADD/HD.” http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=38
- Wheel of life, “You can use the Wheel of Life as preparation for goal setting in coaching. It helps identify the areas you want to work on and is a great way of visualizing your current and desired life. Once you are working on improving your life balance, it's also a useful tool for monitoring your life balance as it changes over time.“ http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm
- Attention building skills, Life Coaching Activities and Powerful Questions Book by: Phyllis Reardon pg. 80-83
Research Through Survey
For the purpose of this research paper there was a survey taken on this subject matter. There were 10 questions in regards to ADD/HD. There where a total of 42 people from a variety of backgrounds and job titles along with coaches that participated in the survey. The intent was to gather many opinions from varied interest and education leaves as well as cross cultured individuals.
See appendage for detail on survey.
Conflicting Results
The results for questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, were overwhelmingly positive. While number 7, showed a 76.9% agreement that there is a stigma attached to ADD/HD, where does this conflict in opinion come from? If the overall majority of people taking this survey, feel that those having ADD/HD challenges, are intelligent, capable and productive members of society, then why is there a stigma attached to it?
Definition of Social Stigma.
The severe disapproval of, or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society. Stigma may attach to a person, who differs from social or cultural norms. Erving Goffman defined stigma as
the process by which the reaction of others spoils normal identity.
Deviations in Personal Traits (Wikipedia )
Coaching to Overcome the Stigma.
The very nature of the word stigma implies judgment and discrimination. What must it feel like to live in a world that views the often highly intelligent ADD/HD person as somehow unacceptable?
Often, this is where coaching can be extremely powerful and effective by:
- Allowing the client to deeply focus on their unique reality
- Providing thought-provoking questions
- Greater self-esteem
- Client learning stronger sense of self
- Development of strengths and talents
- Acceptance of and self-worthiness
- Excitement around possibilities
- Greater communication skills
- Awakening, the sleeping positive life fulfilling desires
- Sincere encouragement
- Positive Feedback
Conclusion
It is evident that coaching is of great benefit and support in the area of Adult ADD/HD. The Coach approach is holistic. By focusing on the individual as a whole and providing a safe, secure environment in-order for the client to explore and develop awareness, that in turn, develops into positive shifts in thinking that allow the client to reach their full potential. The deep and trusting relationship along with strong coaching abilities and skills, are definitely a catalyst for the client to take action in forefeeling lifelong dreams and ambitions.