Research on coaching

Most coaching studies have investigated the impact on school students, tertiary students and adults. Although small in number, these studies have found consistently positive results. Overall, students who received individual coaching were found to develop better executive functioning skills and self-determination skills. Those who undertake coaching have more positive thoughts and behaviours, such as taking greater responsibility for their actions, and using goal-achieving skills. They also manage their emotions better, managing stress effectively and increase positive expectations for performance. They also reported improved study skills and learning strategies, such as time management and effective ways to improve concentration. Study participants also became more self-aware, had higher self-esteem, and satisfaction with school and work.

Group (rather than individual) ADHD coaching programs have also been evaluated with generally favourable results. These studies show improvements in anxiety, homework, interpersonal interactions, planning, organisation, assertiveness, self-efficacy, motivation, time management and test-taking strategies. In a large-scale study, first-year university students who were coached, were more likely to persist in school and tertiary studies and have significantly better retention and graduation rates than those that did not receive coaching.

Getting the most from ADHD coaching

To be ready for coaching, clients must be able to admit that they have a problem. They have to want to make changes and be willing to spend the time necessary to create strategies for improving their behaviour. They must also be willing to stick to those strategies to the best of their ability.

There are several challenges that can make the coaching process more complex, and it often requires a referral to a medical or mental health professional, including the following:

• The client has not applied self-management or organisational strategies to achieve goals, despite the coach’s resources and reminders.
• The client has an untreated co-existing psychiatric condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, substance abuse or personality disorder.
• The client has stressful life circumstances such as marital problems, divorce, or death of a loved one.
• The client has a serious physical illness or other chronic medical condition.

Under such circumstances, the coach should work together with the medical or mental health professionals involved in the client’s care. In such cases, the client may benefit from the addition of traditional treatments such as medication and psychological therapy.

To contact Jack with any questions or comments, or to arrange a free and confidential initial conversation about ADHD coaching, please click here or call Jack on 0400-582-666 (from Australia) or +61-400-582-666 (international)