FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ADHD Coaching FAQs
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I've answered some of the most common questions about ADHD coaching below.
FAQs
ADHD coaching basics
What is an ADHD Coach?
ADHD coaching has been defined as a collaborative, goal-oriented process that integrates life coaching, skills coaching, and education, to assist individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in developing the self-awareness and skills necessary to fulfil their potential while navigating the pragmatic realities of living with ADHD .
An ADHD life coach is specifically trained to help people with ADHD better manage their lives. Coaches work with clients to help them develop practical skills and initiate change in areas of daily life that people with ADHD often struggle with, including:
- organisation and time management
- maintaining focus to achieve goals
- building motivation and finding ways to use rewards effectively
- healthy self-esteem and self-efficacy
- emotional regulation
- study skills.
A good ADHD life coach will help you build awareness of how ADHD affects your daily life, and provide encouragement, support and practical strategies to address your specific challenges.
Coaching is a practical intervention that complements medication and other non-pharmacologic alternatives in the treatment of ADHD.
How do you become an ADHD coach in Australia?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) recognises ADHD coaching as a special area of expertise but does not provide specialised ADHD certification.
If you're looking to hire an ADHD coach, you should look out for the following training and credentialing, as a minimum:
- Completion of an ICF-accredited specialised ADHD coaching program. These include ADD Coaching Academy, JST Coaching and Training and International ADHD Coach Training Center and Coach Approach Training Institute
- Membership or credentialing with ICF
Coaches who have completed these programs have been formally trained and assessed by master ADHD coaches. This ensures they have both the coaching skills and specialised ADHD knowledge to serve their clients.
ICF credentialing also requires coaches continue their professional development and ongoing education.
Is ADHD coaching effective?
ADHD coaching is considered a valuable intervention that complements other treatment approaches. Studies have shown that students and adults receiving ADHD coaching:
- developed better executive functioning skills
- engaged in more positive thoughts and behaviours
- took greater responsibility for their actions
- reported increased self-awareness and self-esteem
- developed improved study skills and learning strategies.
A 2017 review of 19 studies into the effectiveness of ADHD coaching found it consistently supported beneficial client outcomes and contributed positively to multimodal treatment approaches.
How much does an ADHD coach cost?
There is no set rate for an ADHD coach. There are many factors that play into what a coach charges, however a good ballpark estimate is that the hourly rate should be around what a therapist or counsellor would charge in your area.
My current rate for a 1-on-1 coaching session is $190 including GST.
Pricing of my group programs varies.
Please contact me if you'd like to find out more about my rates.
Is ADHD coaching covered by insurance or Medicare?
No, ADHD coaching is not rebatable by Medicare or private health insurance.
Can I have ADHD coaching even if I'm not diagnosed?
Many people can benefit from coaching if their impairments are consistent with ADHD.
It's not actually necessary that you have a diagnosis of ADHD. If your primarily primary goals are around improving time management, procrastination, organisation, lack of focus, impulsivity, or motivation, you are likely to benefit from ADHD coaching.
How do I find an ADHD coach in Australia?
You've found one! And I'd love to help. BUT, I have limited availability. And maybe I'm not the right guy for you (it's ok, my rejection sensitivity can handle it).
And finding the ADHD coach that's the right fit for you is priceless and central to you getting what you want out of the process.
Thanks to the continued hard work and tireless advocacy of Dr Michele Toner - Australia's first certified ADHD coach - we now have a directory of Australian ADHD coaches who are have undertaken ICF accredited ADHD coach training, and are at a minimum a member of the International Coaching Federation.
Click here to browse Australasian ADHD Coaches Directory.
How can I train to be a professional ADHD coach?
There are a few different pathways into ADHD coaching, but the most recognised and sustainable one is to pursue International Coaching Federation (ICF) accreditation.
This usually means:
- completing an ICF-accredited coach training program
- gaining supervised coaching hours, and
- passing an assessment process.
From there, you can choose to specialise in ADHD coaching through additional training, mentorship, or professional associations.
That said, credentials are only one part of the picture. The coaches who really thrive in this field tend to have a deep curiosity about ADHD, a genuine desire to support people, and the patience to keep learning as the science evolves.
Passion, empathy, and commitment to your own growth often matter just as much as formal training.
If you’re starting out, I’d suggest:
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Researching ICF-accredited training programs (ICF has a great education search here)
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Looking into ADHD-specific coach training or associations
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Talking to practising ADHD coaches about their journey
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Checking in with yourself: does this work light you up? If yes, that’s a strong sign you’ll succeed.
FAQs
About ADHD
What are the symptoms of adult ADHD?
"Adult ADHD" isn't a distinct diagnosis from "child ADHD", but ADHD in adults can present very differently to how it looks in kids.
So, what are the symptoms of ADHD in adults? The diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adults doesn't differentiate the symptomatic presentation of kids and adults, which can mean that however adults with ADHD may experience significant problems in some of these areas:
- inconsistent work performance
- regularly forgetting important dates and appointments
- high emotional volatility
- being worried chronically due to fear of failure, underperforming or missing deadlines
- struggles with keeping on top of the basic stuff of daily living
- strong feelings of shame and blame
- procrastination that can be debilitating
- easily distracted from goal-oriented activities
- time blindness leading to an inability to see and act upon the way actions taken (or not taken) today impact the future
- impulsive decision making - which may present as shopping to excess or overeating.
What are executive functions?
Executive functions are the cognitive processes needed for people to manage the goal-oriented and purposeful tasks of daily life.
Deficits in executive functioning can affect time management, organisational skills, problem-solving abilities, motivation, sustained attention, and regulation of emotions and behaviours.
According to Barkley and Murphy (2011), executive function deficits impair people's ability to regulate their behaviour over time.
Dr Thomas Brown said that "attention is essentially a name for the integrated operation of the executive functions of the brain".
What causes ADHD?
The exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood. What we do know is that ADHD is a complex and heterogeneous condition influenced by a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors.
Genetic studies have shown that ADHD is highly heritable. ADHD runs strongly in families, and studies have shown that certain genes involved in the regulation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine may be associated with ADHD.
There is evidence to suggest that imbalances in these neurotransmitters contributes to the symptoms of ADHD.
Research has revealed differences in the brain structure and activity of individuals with ADHD compared to those without the disorder. These differences primarily involve regions responsible for attention, impulse control, and executive functions.
The interplay of genetic and environmental factors likely contributes to individual differences in the development and manifestation of ADHD symptoms.
FAQs
Diagnosis & support for ADHD
Does ADHD meet the NDIS eligibility criteria for a disability?
Complicated answer. An ADHD diagnosis on its own doesn't qualify you to access the NDIS. This is mostly because it can be hard for someone with ADHD alone to meet the NDIS eligibility criteria of a severe and permanent disability.
Where ADHD occurs alongside another condition, such as an intellectual disability, autism, learning disability or global development delay, you may be more likely to obtain NDIS funding.
ADHD may be covered by the NDIS if you meet the eligibility and disability requirements. In addition to general criteria such as age, you must be able to prove that you have a disability causing an impairment that:
- Is permanent or likely to be permanent
- Results in substantially reduced capacity to undertake day-to-day activities
- Affects your capacity for social or economic participation
- Means you are likely to require support throughout your lifetime.
Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis rather than a specific diagnosis.
Who can diagnose ADHD in Australia?
In Australia, formal diagnosis of ADHD can only be made by a paediatrician or psychiatrist. You can obtain a referral to a practitioner from your GP.
Neuropsychologists and clinical psychologists perform valuable assessments which can lead to a formal ADHD diagnosis.
Finding a knowledgable, empathetic specialist you are comfortable with is essential to the long-term management of ADHD.
Many practitioners have lengthy waitlists, so it's a good idea to get cracking on doing a ring around if you suspect ADHD.
How do I find an psychiatrist in Australia?
Psychiatrists in Australia currently have long waiting lists. If you are suspect you have ADHD it's worth getting the ball rolling on booking an appointment ASAP.
There are no specific ADHD psychiatrists. A psychiatrist will make a clinical assessment based on you as a whole person and what you're experiencing. They will also consider the impact of any other co-morbidities (other mental health or medical diagnoses you may have).
Due to the outsized demand for psychiatrists in Australia and other parts of the world, many psychiatrists don't advertise their availability. So there is no one comprehensive directory you can browse.
Here are some places to start if you'd like to explore an ADHD assessment with a psychiatrist:
- Request a referral from your GP for a psychiatrist who is well versed in ADHD
- Request a referral and recommendation from your psychologist or allied health practitioner who works with people with ADHD
- The Australian ADHD Professionals Assocation (AADPA) has a directory of professionals with a special interest in ADHD, and this includes psychiatrists. This is a new directory and is a little patchy, sorry!
- Ask around! Work of mouth referrals are often the best. You'd be surprised how many of your friends are seeing a psychiatrist. ADHD folk tend to flock together!
- Good ole fashioned google search. This is the elbow grease way to do things, but sometimes you just have to trawl through websites and find profiles of psychiatrists with training and interests that suit your needs.
- Beware the reviews! Some of the best, most passionate and ethical psychiatrists I know have unfavourable Google reviews. Often the happy patients don't post reviews online. So don't be too put off by the odd bad review. Obviously consistent themes in negative reviews will ring alarm bells!
Have more questions? I'd love to hear from you! Please click here to get in touch today.