BRIEF SURVEY FOR ADHD COACHES!

Anonymous, online survey of coaching methods. Chance to win a gift card!

Your participation is appreciated in this important research.

ADHD Coaches can access the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/adhdcoach

For any questions, contact: ADHDCoachingResearch@gmail.com

ACO is not conducting this study, but is advertising it for the researchers.

Please share this survey invitation with other ADHD Coaches!

Thank you!

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May We Have Your Attention For Just A Moment Please?

ACO Circle has added some things for you, and more to come!

FYI Coaches
Where our ACO Member Coaches share useful tips.

Coaches Perspective
Where our ACO Member Coaches talk about how they see things in the coaching industry.

If you would like to share a few coaching tips
Or share your perspective on coaching please contact Terri Reinhard at editor@adhdcoaches.org

ACO’s Circle newsletter is looking for writers
If you would like to write about ADHD Coaching or ADHD Coaches for Circle Newsletter, please Contact Terri Reinhard at editor@adhdcoaching.org

Coaches In The News
Has Someone been talking about you?  We want to know about it, so we can talk about you too! If you or someone you know in the ADHD Coaching Industry “has made the news” please send to editor@adhdcoaches.org

Advertise in Circle
It’s a great way to get your message out or promote your Coaching business. Click here for more information.

Circle publishes on the last Thursday of each month. Articles and advertisements must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month.

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From the FAQ Page of the ACO Website

Home / FAQ

I thought Coaching was only for mentally healthy people. Isn’t ADHD a mental health disorder?
Yes and no. It is important to note that ADHD, while still designated a mental health disorder, is now known to be a genetically related, neurologically based brain difference (which, to provide some perspective, also describes left-handedness— another genetically related, neurologically based brain difference). That being said, psychological and physiological challenges such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders often co-occur with ADHD. Coaches are not medical professionals and do not work with their clients on mental health issues (unless, or course, the coach is also a licensed therapist or MD). A coach, however, can and often does refer clients to competent doctors and therapists to help the client address their psychological and physiological health needs. For coaching to be effective, clients must have addressed or be addressing these issues and be ready, willing, and able to participate in the coaching process.

How does Coaching differ from Therapy?
Traditionally, therapy focused on the past, on emotional healing, and on resolving deficits and weaknesses to help restore a person to functioning. In contrast, Life Coaching is a forward looking process for people who are already functioning well. In Life Coaching, the relationship between the coach and client is collaborative and egalitarian, and the focus of the collaboration is on constructing solutions, improving performance, attaining goals, and maximizing the client’s personal and professional potential.

How does ADHD Coaching differ from Life Coaching?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines Life Coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” In the ICF model, coaching is a process and coaches do not educate or share information with their clients. ADHD Coaching differs from Life Coaching in that it focuses both on the process of helping clients identify and achieve their goals, and on the pragmatic issues of doing so while living with ADHD. Additionally, since understanding ADHD is crucial to learning to live well with it, ADHD Coaches may share information regarding ADHD and related topics and information regarding tools, resources, and referrals as needed or requested by the client.

How is Coaching delivered?
There are many options for who you can work with and how you may receive coaching support. You may choose to work with a coach regardless of their location. Coaching sessions may be provided in-person, by telephone or online through a secured virtual meeting platform. Many coaches also offer e-mail and texting support between sessions. The terms for conducting sessions, length and duration of sessions, and opportunities for check-in and support between sessions will vary amongst coaches.

How long does ADHD Coaching take?
Depending on your goal(s), a 3-month contract is usually the minimum amount of time for coaching goals to be realized. This time frame can be divided up into weekly sessions, biweekly sessions or a combination. Your coach will work with you in a manner that best fits your schedule. For sustained growth and long term change or for more complex goals, six to twelve month commitments are typical.

How do I know if ADHD Coaching will work for me?
You will want to be able to trust and connect with your coach, and feel understood when you talk. The best way to determine that level of rapport is to talk to a coach. Many coaches offer a free consultation call where you can do just that. Explain what goals you would like to reach in coaching, what you would like to change, and what your expectations are. The coach will tell you if ADHD coaching can realistically meet your expectations. Use our Find A Coach Directory to aide in your search.

What kind of training does an ADHD Coach have?
A Professional ADHD Coach must have at least 60 hours of specific Life Coach training from an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited or compliant program plus at least 35 hours of specific ADHD Coach training from a recognized source.

What kind of certification does an ADHD Coach have?
ADHD Coaching, as with all Life Coaching, is self-regulated. Certification is therefore encouraged but not legally required. The Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC) offers the only independent ADHD Coaching Specialty Certification in the world. Many ADHD Coaches hold certifications from recognized Life Coach certifying bodies such and the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) as well.

How can I convince my spouse (parent, child, etc.) to get ADHD coaching?
There are many reasons why people will not seek help. For the most part, they are embarrassed. They may see coaching as just another thing they will fail at – the fear of the unknown. Another reason could be that the person is depressed and will need medical help before coaching will work. Sometimes a family doctor or other professional can approach this subject easier than a spouse or parent.

For adults, provide them with literature on ADHD coaching. Ask them to read about coaching on our website. Browse the bookstore on our website of the many books written by experts on ADHD and coaching. It may help for them to read the profiles of the coaches in our Find-a-Coach database and have a discussion with them on their approach to helping adults with ADHD. But give the person with ADHD space and time to think about ADHD coaching for themselves. They will be more successful if they are ready for coaching.

Children do not have the lifetime of disappointments that afflicts so many adults. Children need to know that you, the parent, have done your best to help. They need to know that there are trained people called coaches. Explain to them that coaches work with them to correct those things that have given them great difficulty. Give them your love and support as they go through this wonderful journey of exploring what will help them improve and succeed.

The post July 2018 FYI, Coaches appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

Membership Benefit Highlights

As a member of the ADHD Coaches Organization, you enjoy access to:

•    Our very popular members-only listserve where members can talk shop and tap into the collective experience and knowledge of their fellow members.

•    Free access to monthly ACO Case Collaborations.  This networking opportunity meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month and collaborates on ADHD coaching approaches for different challenges and themes.  Attendees earn 1 ICF CCEU. Click here to learn more about ACO Programs opportunities.

•    Low-cost ADHD Coaching Edge workshops providing virtual workshop opportunities to develop ongoing coaching skills and business growth. Attendees earn up to 2.5 CCEUs per workshop.  Click here to learn more about ACO Programs opportunities.

•    Reduced rates for our annual International ADHD Coaches conference.

•    Unlimited online access to the Journal of Attention Disorders – a first rate peer-reviewed journal on our topic (this alone is worth your entire membership dues!).

•    Unlimited online access to Dr. Russell Barkley’s The ADHD Report (this too is worth almost as much as your membership dues!).

•    Access to the members-only ADHD Coaching Technology Facebook Group.

•    The ACO’s ADHD Awareness Toolkit, containing templates for use in developing and promoting ADHD Awareness events in your own area (an excellent way to bring attention to you and your business as well!).

•    In addition, members who meet the educational requirements for Professional ADHD Coaches, can get a listing in the ACO’s online Professional ADHD Coach Directory – the largest directory of vetted ADHD Coaches available anywhere. The directory is searchable by name, niche, state/province, country, key words, and several other options.

Evan Kirstein
Membership Chair
Membership@ADHDCoaches.org

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Programs Invites You to
Join Your Tribe in Case Collaberations!

A free benefit of membership in the ACO

Free access to monthly ACO Case Collaborations.  This networking opportunity meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month and collaborates on ADHD coaching approaches for different challenges and themes. Attendees earn 1 ICF CCEU.

Coaching can be a lonely profession, especially if you are seeing most your clients virtually.  ACO Programs Committee has a solution for that!  Come and join other coaches every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am ET for our Case Collaborations. Our Case Collaborations are a wonderful way to connect with other coaches through rich discussions around a variety of coaching topics.  Our Motivation Magic Collaboration in May was very well attended.  If you missed it, you can find the recording here.

Being part of a tribe has many benefits.  First and foremost, it provides us with a sense of energy and renewed commitment to coach from a place of excellence.  Learning from, and sharing with other coaches is a powerful way to energize your coaching skills. Together we are stronger to help one another learn and grow as coaches. Our participants walk away with new questions, ideas, strategies, and tips to incorporate into their coaching skill set. Case Collaborations are also a good place to bring client issues related to our topic.

Our Upcoming Topics:
July: Switching Gears: Supporting Our Clients with Transitions
August: NO CASE COLLABERATIONS
September: Coaching Clients to Identify and Overcome Obstacles
October: Stop Getting in Your Own Way: Coaching Clients around Self Sabotage
November: Helping our Clients Explore and Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques

We encourage you to make time in your schedule to be with us. We are linked by a common passion. Come help your tribe grow, one collaboration at a time.  We look forward to seeing you the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am ET

To sign-up for a Case Collaborations click here.

Click here to learn more about ACO Programs opportunities.

Kristine Shiverick
Programs Chair

The post July 2018 Programs appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

APSARD BLOG POSTS: DON’T MISS ‘EM

The American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) is an organization for all coaches to be familiar with.  A small but growing number of ADHD coaches have been attending APSARD’s Annual meeting for the past several years. Some coaches are also APSARD members now.

The mission and vision of the organization (see below) stress its commitment to incorporating “a broad spectrum of allied mental health experts” and to advance and disseminate research and evidence-based practice to improve the quality of care provided to individuals with ADHD.

•    APSARD Mission
APSARD is an organization consisting of a broad spectrum of allied mental health experts working to improve the quality of care for patients with ADHD through the advancement and dissemination of research, and evidence-based practices. APSARD will fill unmet education and training needs for healthcare professionals helping patients with ADHD, from childhood through adulthood.

•    APSARD Vision
To be the premier professional society for the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge and best clinical practices for ADHD and related disorders.

One way in which APSARD disseminates research is, of course, through its annual conference, typically held in January in Washington DC.  Another way is through occasional “Ask the Expert” webinars,” like the July 9, 2018 webinar on the psychopharmacology of ADHD across the lifespan. These webinars, when offered,  can be found at the “Ask the Experts” link under “Resources” on the Apsard website. They are fee to members and have a small fee for non-member participation.

Perhaps the easisest and least expensive way to access information related to research and evidence-based practice from APSARD is through the organization’s  blog. You don’t have to be a member to access the APSARD Blog. You can access it directly at this weblink.

I make a practice of looking at the blog each month or so to see what new items might be posted. In May, for example, the following three engaging topics were addressed in APSARD Blog posts:

•    5/25/18: Friendships and Social Networks of Adolescents With ADHD
•    5/21/18: Brain Stimulation and Impulsivity in Adult ADHD
•    5/2/18: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Adult Outpatients Seeking an ADHD Evaluation

In March, Blog post topics included other information I found stimulating:

•    3/28/18: Powerful Interview: A Must Listen to Help Keep Young Adults Out of Prison
•    3/23/18: Internet Communities and Self Medication Among Young Adults with ADHD
•    3/1/18: US Radio Interview on ADHD, Late Sleep and Health

I count approximately 75 blog posts, going back as far as January 2016, on the APSARD website. Some earlier posts that have grabbed my attention include:

•    10/31/16: Why Do Adults With ADHD Choose Strength-Based Coaching Over Public Mental Health Care? A Qualitative Case Study From the Netherlands.
•    03/31/16: ADHD and Negative Thinking
•    01/12/16: ADHD in Parents and Families: What We Know Now

Then, of course, there is the post about ADHD coaching research written by Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, Lisa Joy Tuttle and me:

•    01/02/18: Symposium Showcases Effectiveness of ADHD Coaching at APSARD 2018

Well, I could go on, but by now you can see that quite a few of the APSARD Blog posts have caught my eye. I invite you to take a look for yourself – you may want to bookmark the web page, just as I have!

Elizabeth Ahmann, ScD, RN, PCC, NBC-HWC
ACO Research Committee

The post July 2018 Research appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

Coaches Perspective

Sometimes I forget how much I know about ADHD and the benefits of Coaching. I was advised during my training (too many years ago) to engage a coach for myself. I am certain that is solid advice regularly dispensed, but I wonder, how many of us do this on a regular basis?  I know I don’t, I’m busy.  And I tell myself that I’m o.k. for right now, and I’ll do it later, when I have more time. Recently, I was reorganizing my fairly new office, because the first time I organized it, I didn’t really. I kept using that line… “just for now.”  There was a point in the middle of it, when I nearly broke down in tears from being overwhelmed by trying to streamline the process of accessing needed information. That was the reveal… I needed a coach. But where was I going to find one in the next five minutes?  So, from my perspective, coaches do need coaches – especially ADHD Coaches that are uniquely wired with this gift of ADHD themselves.

Terri Reinhard
ADHD Coaching of Colorado
ACO Secretary

The post July 2018 Coaches Perspective appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

Welcome New Members!
We are so happy that you have joined the tribe!

Brittany Smith from Eugene, Oregon
Sheila Kiechlin from Broomfield, Colorado
Meryl Schwarz from Los Angeles, California
Germaine Swanson from Taylor, Michigan

Evan Kirstein
Membership Chair
Membership@ADHDCoaches.org

The post July 2018 New Members appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

Save the Dates
November 8 – 11, 2018

You are going to want to clear your
 calendar for the 2018 ADHD Professional Institute followed by the 2018 International Conference on ADHD happening November 8 – 11, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

The ADHD Professional Institute (API) is replacing the old ACO Conference which has previously been held in the spring of each year. Immediately following the API, the ACO in partnership with CHADD and ADDA will host The 2018 International Conference on ADHD.

These changes will allow ADHD Coaches, and the vast population of other ADHD professionals and supporters the opportunity to participate in both the API and the International Conference on ADHD in one trip. The time and cost savings of making one trip, for two conferences alone is just one benefit of many associated with this change. Imagine the potential connections!

The ADHD Professional Institute will be the place for top-of-the-line education on all things important to ADHD coaches. Combined with the opportunity to connect with “our tribe” while spreading our visibility to other ADHD professionals.

There will be 30 one-hour sessions and 6 three-hour sessions dedicated to coaches and other ADHD professionals. Sessions will fit into 4 themed tracks – Building Your Business, ADHD Coaching, Medical/Research, and ADHD Education.  Coaching CCEUs will be available. The list of speakers and topics will be coming out soon.

Extra events will include an opening night reception on Wednesday evening, the presentation of our Founder’s Award, opportunities for networking, various round tables, and more.

Keep your eyes open for more information coming soon!
We are looking forward to November when we can all meet in St. Louis!   In the meantime, if you have questions, email conference@adhdcoaches.org.

Christine Kotik, ACC
ADHD Professional Institute Chair

The post 2018 Professional Institute appeared first on ADHD Coaches.

Participate to Advance Your Career

Members are also invited to advance their careers and the values and mission of their professional organization through participation in any of the ACO’s committees and outreach programs.

Contact the ACO for more information about:

Leadership Team  
president@adhdcoaches.org

Membership Services
membership@adhdcoaches.org

Conference   
conference@adhdcoaches.org

Programs  
programs@adhdcoaches.org

Newsletter         
editor@adhdcoaches.org

Research on ADHD Coaching   
research@adhdcoaches.org

Marketing and Public Relations  
marketing@adhdcoaches.org

Local and National ADHD Awareness Efforts
Log into the ACO website for updates and more information.

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