ADHD FAMILY COACHING
Posted on February 17, 2016 by Tom Cocklereece, One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.
ADHD Family Coaching seeks to include the parents in the coaching process with their child/student and frequently has better outcomes and success.
I often encounter parents that are desperately seeking help to understand and help with their ADHD son or daughter. Parents have often tried almost everything from counseling to medications but the behavioral problems and conflicts persist. Some parents finally try hiring a life coach for their student and often get mixed results. The behavior and grades improve for a while but then level off and go back down. Then the parents think the coaching is not working and end the relationship with the coach. I have a better idea—ADHD Family Coaching.
Most parents properly vet a student life coach and then keep lightly in touch with the coach as the work is done with the student. I now begin the coaching relationship letting the parents know they are not just getting a coach for their child but also for themselves too. That’s right! I expect to have occasional coaching sessions with one or both of the parents for the following reasons:
1. ADHD Family Coaching educates the parents: Few parents are knowledgeable about ADHD and even if they are, they are unaware that every ADHD person has a unique (ADHD fingerprint). It affects every person differently. It is also easy for parents to forget their child has ADHD since he or she have a normal outward appearance. ADHD is often caused by an immature prefrontal cortex of the brain which may not mature until age 21 or after.
2. ADHD Family Coaching informs the parents: While I do not give the parent a play-by-play of their student’s coaching session, I do keep the parents informed of progress. I may suggest helpful hints such as encouraging the student to get more sleep, exercise, or proper nutrition. (Sleep is one of the best regulators of ADHD behavior; exercise balances the production and uptake of serotonin and other hormones; and many ADHD medications depress the appetite, so proper nutrition is critical.
3. ADHD Family Coaching coaches the parents: While I am coaching the student in things such as behavioral styles and how to get along better with parents, it is only proper for me to offer similar coaching to the parents, giving them strategies to get along and handle conflicts with their child.
Only coaches with the most experience and education provide this level of service to ADHD families. It takes extra time, but it is worth it.
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Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENEW Counseling and Coaching, LLC. He has 20 years of experience as a pastor, counselor, and is an author, certified professional coach and coach trainer, leadership specialist, and an independent Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team
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