The most frequent request I receive from midlife ADD women is: "Tell me more about ADD coaching.
" Of course the questions behind the question are: "Does coaching work?" And more importantly: "Will it work for me?" The simple answer is, yes, ADD coaching works.
The support, the acknowledgment, the steady accountability that comes from a coaching relationship can and has changed the lives of ADD women for good.
The best coaching results, however, spring from three important prerequisites: 1) A good match between coach and client How well does your prospective coach "fit" you?Do your energies meld well? Are you comfortable with your coach's approach to ADD, especially on the issues that are most important to you? As you choose a coach -- and you are encouraged to interview several -- you want to find someone you trust.
You want a coach who believes in you.
You want someone you like - at least most of the time! 2.
Your willingness to play at 100% Are you truly willing to do whatever it takes to make changes in your life? Are you open to new ideas? Can you listen deeply to yourself for answers? Are you willing to walk through the breakdown to reach the breakthrough? Half-hearted attempts at coaching are doomed to failure.
If coaching is just "one more thing to check off the list" you won't allow yourself to reap the rich rewards that are possible.
If you are eager or desperate or excited, your motivation will sustain you through the coaching process.
3.
Your long-term commitment Are you willing to commit to coaching for three, six, even 12 months or longer to achieve the results you seek? Can you count on yourself to hang in there even when progress slows or stops temporarily? Will you believe in your coach even if you don't believe in yourself? Like dieting, ADD coaching is not a quick fix.
Life coaches typically work with clients for three to six months.
ADD clients take a little longer to implement and sustain changes in routine, organization, attitude.
ADD coaches often work with clients for six months, twelve months or even longer.
By the end of a year, most ADD clients are well on their way to creating lives they love.
3a) FInancial considerations are a subset of commitment.
Coaching is not covered by medical insurance, so fees are paid out-of-pocket.
Prices vary by geographic location and experience of the coach, but generally parallel those of local psychotherapists and counselors.
It won't help your self-esteem or your ADD if you get started with a terrific coach only to quit after a couple of sessions because you ran out of money.
Many ADD women have challenges with managing money and debt.
You and your coach are not well served by digging deeper into debt -- unless one of the issues you want to tackle is financial stability! So, if you are truly ready for ADD coaching, start interviewing! My suggestion for your first question to prospective coaches: "Do you have ADD-specific training?" If the answer is "Yes," find out more and listen to your intuition.
You can trust yourself to choose the right coach.
And then, watch our world; you're gonna soar!