Navigating a career as an Allied Health Professional (AHP) in the UK at this moment in history comes with challenges, even more so when you’re doing it with an ADHD neurotype. In my own life and in my clinical practice, I have been on a long journey of learning and unlearning (I’m still on it) about ADHD.  I’m not one of the people who think having ADHD is some kind of superpower - I’m acutely aware of the very real challenges it can pose - but I've come to see that when we’re working with our neurotype rather than trying to battle against it, ADHD can be an advantage, for ourselves; for the clients we serve; and for organisations we work in.  

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The truth is our ADHD brains aren't a disorder to be fixed or a failing to be mended. They simply use a different way of processing information and engaging with the world. ADHD coaching is a powerful tool for AHPs with ADHD to help us find our most efficient ways of working and managing our energy.  

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The Neuroaffirmative Difference

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At the heart of my ADHD coaching is a commitment to a neuroaffirmative approach. This perspective celebrates ADHD as part of the human tapestry, acknowledging the strengths and challenges but stepping away from deficit-based language or concepts. It's about shifting the narrative from one of disorder to one of diversity, recognising that each individual brings a unique set of skills and perspectives to our professions.  This isn't just rose-tinted glasses, though: the research suggests that there are positive skills and values which are linked to an ADHD profile but not to other kinds of neurotypes.

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When you explore ADHD with this perspective, you might shift away from the medical/deficit perspective of seeing a series of failings or problems to be overcome. Instead, you might see in yourself a way of interacting with the world that is characterised by creativity, empathy, and the ability to think outside the box. In any case, it’s not about changing who you are, it’s about recognising your value just as you are. You are not broken. 

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ADHD Coaching Explained

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Coaching is not about fixing; it is rooted in the belief that every individual is creative, resourceful, and whole. A coaching conversation feels very different from things like clinical supervision, line management, or counselling.  According to the International Coach Federation (ICF), it’s a partnership grounded in trust and respect, where the coach supports the coachee to navigate their own path forward, helping them to identify what’s important and relevant, evaluate their options, and plan how to move ahead. It is about tapping into what allows you to navigate life with a clearer sense of agency and choice. We talk about coaching being future focused, giving us the support to point ourselves in the direction we want to go starting from this point forward. 

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Crucially,  coaching is about tangible, measurable real-world changes.  It is about moving from thinking to doing, taking action and making meaningful progress towards how you want your life and work to be.  As the research suggests, ADHD coaching can lead to improved executive function as well as changes in self-esteem and overall wellbeing (Swartz, Prevatt, & Proctor, 2005).  

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Areas of Focus in ADHD Coaching

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ADHD coaching can cover a vast array of topics, all tailored to the individual's needs and career aspirations. Some of the key areas that might be explored include:

•   Time Management and Organisation 

Recognising the individuality of each person's relationship with time and tasks, and exploring strategies that are tailored to you.

 

•   Navigating Work-Life Harmony

Finding a rhythm to balance your professional responsibilities and personal wellbeing - managing your spoons - and embracing stress management not just as a goal but as an ongoing practice.

 

•   Career Development 

Considering career growth not just in terms of upward mobility, but growing within your current role and setting, creating opportunities where your ADHD way of engaging with the world is not just accepted and accommodated, but celebrated and harnessed.

 

•   Finding your Voice

Cultivating communication skills that allow for authentic self-expression and advocacy within professional settings, embracing your unique voice.

 

•   Leveraging Creativity and Innovation

Valuing the innovative and creative potential that comes with ADHD, seeing it as a resource rather than a challenge.

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A Conversation, Not a Monologue

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The experience of ADHD is less a monologue and more a dialogue: it doesn’t just show up in how we manage and organise ourselves, it also shows up in how we understand and engage with colleagues and family, with clients and friends, and with society more widely.

 

This blog post is an extension of that dialogue, inviting you to consider what it would be like to see yourself through a different lens. What would it be like in your work and in your life, to experience your ADHD as an advantage? 

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Swartz, S. L., Prevatt, F., & Proctor, B. E. (2005). A Coaching Intervention for College Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Psychology in the Schools, 42(6), 647-656