WHY I DON’T TALK A LOT ABOUT THE ADHD BRAIN WITH MY CLIENTS

ADHD brain?

You’re not your diagnosis

Broader perspective

A client recently asked me why I didn’t refer more routinely to their ADHD brain, in contrast to their previous coaches.

I explained that as we two had done, we spend as much time as needed in the early phase of our coaching on education about ADHD (or whatever executive function challenges apply) and how they manifest in your life. 

We continue to revisit this topic as it arises during our coaching. Beyond that, I believe it is crucial to embrace my clients as whole, complex beings who happen to have special executive function challenges. Of course, the neurodiversity of my client who asked this question is an important factor, but it can be limiting and even counterproductive to view everything through that lens.

Maintaining a broader perspective in our coaching helps my clients to “normalize” the larger context in which they live, rather than defining themselves primarily as someone with ADHD. This helps them to address not only their practical challenges — but just as importantly, to appreciate their many strengths, including their capacity for deep growth and change. It builds self-confidence and self-reliance while greatly easing self-judgment. They become more comfortable within themselves and more effective in their interactions with others.