The ADHD Solutions Blog

ADHD Coach credentialing is finally here!

Submitted by Beth Main on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:27

Until today, no independent credentialing existed for ADHD Coaches that have been practicing for less than five years.  The closest thing out there was Life Coaching certification.  While Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching have a lot in common, there is one fundamental difference:  Life Coaches aren't supposed to solve problems.  Clients are seen as naturally creative, resourceful, and whole.  Life Coaches help people find their own answers.  Which is wonderful, and I do that a lot.  But ADHD Coaching by definition includes education and recommending solutions.   I know a very prominent ADHD Coach who actually failed the ICF certification exam be

Beware of wolves in coach's clothing

Submitted by Beth Main on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:26

I recently enrolled in a six month program with a marketing coach.   I was very excited about the combination of marketing expertise and coaching.  As a trained and experienced coach myself, I expected this to be an individualized, supportive partnership that would be focused on my needs.   I would have someone to guide me, help me focus my efforts, help me figure out where I’m stuck, uncover self limiting beliefs, keep me motivated and hold me accountable.  And, of course, I'd be able to tap into her extensive knowledge of marketing. Boy was I disappointed.

Predicting attention-related errors before they happen

Submitted by Beth Main on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:43

I just read a really interesting article about new research that could affect future ADHD treatment.  According to the article, scientists can now see distinct changes in brain wave activity just BEFORE an attention-related mistake is about to occur.

Spring Wellness Seminar

Submitted by Beth Main on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 12:02

I'll be one of three presenters at the Spring Wellness Seminar on Saturday April 4  at the Dulles South Community Center in South Riding, VA.  Here's the lineup:

  • Positive Practice

Maybe you are worried about finances. Or your work environment isn’t encouraging. Or at home you find yourself snapping at others when you don’t really mean to. It’s easy to be negative, sarcastic, cynical, or even just plain down in the dumps. Being positive is a skill - not something we either have or we don’t. Learn ways to overcome negative habits and reshape our thoughts, words and behavior to create a healthy, positive atmosphere.

Get it in writing

Submitted by Beth Main on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 18:39

Memory problems can cause tremendous frustration for those of us with ADHD and the people who depend on us.  You never know when your memory is going to fail you.  So you should write down everything you need to remember, no matter how sure you are that you won’t forget.

When people ask you to do something for them, if you can’t do it right away, have them write it down for you.  Ask them to send you a follow-up email or put it on your calendar or white board for you.  Make it common knowledge that if it isn’t written down in one of the places you check regularly, it isn’t going to happen.  Eventually, people will get into the habit of asking you where they should write things down.

Turning Monolog into Dialog

Submitted by Beth Main on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 17:29

Many thanks  to the Harrisburg Adults with ADHD Support Group for their warm response to my ADHD and Relationship/Social Issues presentation on Wednesday night.  There was a record turnout and wonderful audience participation!  We discussed strategies for about eighteen common issues.  Monologuing is one of them. Sometimes we get so engrossed in what we’re talking about that we go on for far longer than we intended – and far longer than our audience can stay interested.  We feel driven to fully express our thoughts before they escape.  The other person doesn’t have a chance to speak.  This usually has a negative effect on our listeners, and ultimately, our relationships.

Join me on March 11 for a presentation on ADHD and Relationships / Social Issues

Submitted by Beth Main on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 10:15

I’ll be conducting a presentation on ADHD and Relationships/Social Issues at the next Harrisburg Adults with ADHD Support Group meeting.

The presentation will be interactive: I’ll review the issues, suggest strategies, and facilitate group discussion so that everyone can share their insight and perspective.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday March 11, 2009 at 6:00, at the East Shore Library.   As always, there’s no cost to attend.

Visit the Harrisburg Area ADHD Support Group’s web page for more information about the group.

Another coaching success

Submitted by Beth Main on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 20:23

It's a bittersweet evening. Another client has achieved all of his coaching goals, and it's time to say goodbye.

I'm happy and sad at the same time.  Grateful to his family for allowing me to be part of their lives for the past seven months.  Excited for what his future holds.  Proud of us both for a job well done.  I'm going to miss him.

I'm comfortable in my own skin, it's my clothing that's the problem

Submitted by Beth Main on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 12:01

Fitness.  Ah yes, I remember that.  Back in the day when I kayaked, ran, worked out at the gym, biked, and went for long hikes - all in the same week.  Every week.  Now I'm ten pounds heavier and feeling like a sausage.

My problem is that I'm content.  I don't feel like a lioness in a cage any more, so I'm not driven to exercise.  Even though I know how important it is,  especially for those of us with ADHD, it's everything I can do to get in half an hour a week.  I'm just not motivated like I used to be.

So I hired a personal trainer.  He works for a dollar a week.  What, you say?  A dollar a WEEK?! 

Get back to work!

Submitted by Beth Main on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:00

In my last post,  I wrote about Instant Boss, a free computer application that helps you stay on task by running a timer to manage your work and break periods.   You tell it how long you want to work before taking a break (say 25 minutes), how long your breaks will be (say five minutes), and how many times to repeat the cycle (say four, for a total work period of two hours). One of the pitfalls of using this system is extending a break and never getting back to work.  So this time, I’ll share some ideas for what to do on your breaks to ensure that you get right back to work when your time is up.

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