What is coaching?

People often wonder how coaching differs from other types of services, namely therapy and consulting. Here is some information to help you decide if coaching will meet your specific needs.

People come to a coach when they feel stuck in a situation and want to move forward. The operating belief behind coaching is that the client has the answers they are seeking and the ability to get where they want to go. It is the coach’s job to help them uncover those answers. The first step in the process is for the client to decide what he or she wants to work toward and set goals accordingly. Together the coach and client design action steps and strategies to reach those goals. Along the way, the client develops self awareness around their strengths as well as the ways they tend to hold themselves back.

ADHD coaching couples life coaching skills with a background knowledge and understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The difference between life  coaching and ADHD coaching is the amount of structure, support and accountability that is provided. An ADHD coach is a life coach who can communicate through an ADHD lens. Not only do clients partner with the coach to set goals, they also design strategies and develop skills that address their ADHD challenges. Through the coaching relationship, clients gain greater awareness of their unique gifts and talents and add tools to their "toolbox" of strategies and supports. Staying accountable is also an important piece, and the coach and agree to check in between meetings to ensure the client's progress.                     

What is Therapy?

When people struggle with mental or emotional distress that effects their daily ability to function, they often see a therapist. There are several types of therapy, but the focus is on delving into why a person has troublesome thoughts, feelings or behaviors and working to change them. A trained therapist can diagnose and label a mental health issue and use research backed methods to help the client address it and move forward.

What does a consultant do?

Consultants are essentially problem solvers. Companies large and small hire consultants to resolve problems related to management, finances, employee relations among other things. A consultant can work alone as an advisor to top level management or as part of a team to bring resources and ideas that address the current issues of the company.