From Overwhelm to Possibility: Coaching with ADHD in Mind
People often ask what coaching can offer someone with ADHD. The question makes sense. ADHD can be a full-body experience - a brain that won’t switch off, a calendar that won’t behave, a to-do list that feels like a cruel joke. For some, it’s a lifetime of being told you’re too much or not enough.
So what can coaching do?
Coaching doesn’t come with a manual. It isn’t about fixing or telling or prescribing. It’s about noticing. Listening. Holding space for a person to hear themselves think - sometimes for the first time in a long time.
When I coach someone with ADHD, I try to notice the intelligence already in the room. Often, they are full of ideas. Ideas that spark off each other. Ideas that don’t stop. And with those ideas can come frustration, because the execution doesn’t match the vision. Or the world expects one kind of brain, and theirs just works differently.
We co-create structure. Not rigid rules, but frameworks that support, such as morning routines, planning tools, check-ins, communication with partners and managing phone use. We explore what already works for them - even a little - and build from there.
Sometimes it’s as simple as naming the stuckness. Sometimes it’s more than that - it’s about permission. Permission to try. To fail. To try again differently.
Coaching can bring accountability, yes, but it’s not the same as pressure. It’s more about attention. When someone with ADHD knows they’ll be listened to, really listened to, that alone can unlock energy.
We celebrate the strengths too. Creativity, energy, intuition. A quickness of thought. Deep empathy.
And yes, we sit with the challenges - time blindness, overwhelm, a harsh inner critic. We don’t pretend they’re not there. But we don’t let them take over either.
Coaching is a space to:
Think out loud, sort the chaos and actually hear your own ideas.
Pause and get curious, rather than frustrated.
Build on the things that already help you, even if they look different from what works for others.
It’s not about giving advice, strategies, or lists, but about creating breathing space. Space to notice. To make sense. To start again, kindly, with curiosity.
Coaching doesn’t change the fact that ADHD is real. But it can change the story someone tells themselves about it. And that might be enough to change everything.
Curious about what ADHD coaching could look like for you, or someone you care about?
I offer coaching for people navigating life with ADHD. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or just trying to find your way, get in touch for a no pressure chat - your first session is always free.
You deserve a space where your brain is welcome. Reach out if you’re ready to try something new.