Frequently Asked Questions

At ADHD Partners we think of ADHD as being a neurodevelopmental difference that is characterized by executive functioning difficulties and cognitive challenges. These show up differently from person to person, and across the lifespan.

There is no one type of ADHD that everyone shares. People with ADHD might feel like they're always on the go, may struggle with being impulsive, or have trouble sitting still. Other people may seem more withdrawn, absent-minded, or prone to daydreaming. While many people relate to feeling like this sometimes, for people with ADHD, it occurs to a degree that is so extreme it makes completing everyday tasks at home, work, or school, very difficult or sometimes impossible.

How difficult life feels with ADHD, depends upon a combination of factors. These include how well understood and supported we are by those around us, whether we have access to good medical care, what our life demands of us, and what expectations we place upon ourselves.

Each one of us with ADHD faces a set of challenges that are unique, including the degree, variety, and combination of our ADHD symptoms (and often co-occurring conditions). We each bring our own personality, strengths, talents, abilities, and resources to working around, and solving the challenges we experience.

Sometimes we are so focused on noticing what we need to work on and improve, that we forget to notice all the things we're naturally good at and the things that people love about us. We focus on, and internalize, the negative feedback we receive. It becomes all that we know about ourselves. This is especially true for those who received a diagnosis later in life, who didn't have a good explanation for why some things felt so difficult.

If we've been living without understanding, treatment, or support, it's easy to lose our confidence in ourselves. We may struggle to bring our natural strengths and creativity to problem-solving opportunities. Instead, we keep doing the same things over and over again, getting the same frustrating results, which only reinforces all the negative things we think about ourselves.

For those who want to break this type of cycle and find neurodivergent friendly ways to tackle life, an ADHD Life Coach can help you better understand how the ADHD brain might be different from, or ‘diverge’ from, more ‘typical’ brains. When those invisible differences are made visible to us, it’s much easier to scaffold our weaknesses, while we play to our strengths. If that sounds good to you, we’d love to be your problem-solving partners, as you navigate life with ADHD.

An ADHD coach is a Life Coach who brings an understanding of ADHD to the coaching process.

At ADHD Partners we call ourselves coaches and ‘consultants’ because we also teach our clients about ADHD and help them explore their diagnosis, which is not something coaching would typically include, as defined by the International Coaching Federation.

We draw a distinction between ‘consulting’, which is where we share our expert knowledge about ADHD to answer your questions, and ‘coaching’ which is where we create a supportive space for you to work through the questions that only you can answer for yourself.

Coaching is goal-directed, conversational ‘partnership’. Much like the captain of a ship, you will need to bring your vision for where you want your coaching partner-‘ship’ to sail. As captain, you will be responsible for determining the destination and making all the key decisions along the way.

You are the expert on yourself and your experience. You are responsible for setting your own goals, making your own decisions, and taking action in-between sessions to accomplish what you set for yourself.

Your coach brings a specialty skill set in creating an environment where you should feel safe, respected, heard, and understood. It’s the role of your coach to ask questions that elicit greater self-awareness and insight into the circumstances that you are trying to navigate.

You can think of your coach as being a bit like the ship’s First Mate; someone who is traveling with you and supporting you as needed. Your coach might help you stay on course, or draw your attention to things they notice and ask questions like “did you notice that?” and “is that something you need to consider?”

With an awareness of the difficulties experienced by people with ADHD, your coach will invite you to think about what you need to do to support your own executive function difficulties, in both coaching and in life.

We meet with our clients via Zoom or Google meet, and Catherine sees clients in person at Wattletree Spaces, which is located at Level 1/135 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144 (enter via Llaneast St).

We usually work with clients 1:1 or in small groups by arrangement.

For many people it represents a substantial investment in themselves and their future.

We encourage you to refer to our Services and Fees page to view a list of our coaches, the services they offer, and their fee schedules.

If you meet eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for up to $1,600 per year towards the cost of ADHD Coaching through the Job Access Employment Assistance Fund:

• General information about Disability Employment Services

• Employment Assistance Fund Guidelines

• Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) Online Application – Instructions

Note: Job Access is redeveloping their website and in the last few weeks it's been in a state of constant change, with some features not functioning reliably. If the links on our website are not working, please go to https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/ for updates on known website issues and to search for the new location of Employment Assistance Fund information.

Everyone has a unique coaching journey.

How long it takes to see results will depend on where you're starting from, what you hope to achieve, and how much time and effort you commit to achieving your goals between appointments.

Focused coaching may take place in three to six months, while some people find it beneficial to work with a coach for a longer period.

We recommend that if you’re interested in ADHD Coaching, planning to complete at least 12 sessions is a good place to start.

On average, 12 sessions allows most people to establish the coaching relationship, explore a few topics and start to see the benefits of coaching in their life.

If you’re unsure what is right for you, you’re welcome to book a 15 minute Quick Chat with one of our coaches. We can tailor a package to meet your unique circumstances, needs and preferences.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer ADHD diagnostic assessments. We focus on ADHD coaching to help you understand how your ADHD presents and shows up in your life, so you can find more effective ways to manage challenges and reach your goals.

For a diagnosis, it's best to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. It's important to note that when deciding which professional to see, only psychiatrists can authorise the prescription of restricted ADHD medications. We suggest you seek someone who demonstrates a professional interest in ADHD who is a member of an organisation such as AADPA, UKAAN, or CADDRA.