The pill and then the skill. If you are serious about changing your life, medication alone may not be sufficient. Why? If you are an adult who has grown up with an under functioning brain you probably have a distorted negative perception of yourself and the world. With your newly tuned brain you need to learn new beliefs and habits. Coaching will guide you through this apprenticeship.
People with ADHD want to change because they are desperate to escape the chaos which dominates their lives. They often have a poor idea of how the world works and where they fit in. Medication helps the brain function better, but the belief systems are acquired early in life and if they are based on a faulty attention system they may be skewed.
The powerful effect of coaching comes from the safe friendly environment and the questions your coach asks. Questions are the keys your coach offers you to unlock your hidden resources. They lead you to think about alternatives, to explore new vistas and to choose the direction which best suits you. Making choices leads to ownership instead of victimization. The result is a new awareness of self. Your coach is a cheer leader who expects you to succeed. She is a mirror which reflects your strengths.
Coaching starts with an inventory of where the client is now and where he wants to go: his values, vision, and goals and the skills he has to manage life: organizing, planning, prioritizing and time management. He will choose two or three areas that he wants to focus on in coaching. In following sessions, held once a week by telephone, your coach hears your weekly success report, helps you explore problems that have arisen and asks you to choose and commit to your next steps for the coming week.
A successful coaching relationship requires honesty and a willingness to change. You will do the work of creating new habits. It is important that this is important for you and not your spouse, parent or employer. Your coach will ask your permission to be honest with you. It may be hard, but important for you to learn how others see you
