Ask the coach: Can a class replace an ADHD coach?

Dear Edge,

I see you have another training class for coaches running.  Why shouldn’t I just sign up for that instead of hiring a coach for my son?

Sincerely,  Sandy L.

Dear Sandy,

We’ve heard that some parents believe that they should sign up for ADHD coach training instead of hiring an ADHD coach because it’s so much less expensive.  We of course disagree.

Yes, understanding how coaching works can be helpful to you, but it doesn’t replace the value of getting coaching in real life for your student.  Why?

• High school and college students do not want to hear anything from their parents about anything – it’s their job to break away and be independent
• The student, not the parent, sets the ADHD coaching agenda – it can be difficult to detach from your personal agenda as a parent and critical for your student to be empowered to direct her own life path.
• Just because you’ve taken the class doesn’t mean you have the experience our coaches bring to the table.  Sure you know your child, but we know dozens – and that gives us perspective on many different approaches that work, or don’t work, for different people.
• Edge coaches have received previous life coaching training and have at least two years of experience.  ADHD coaching is an advanced coaching skill that takes practice.  That’s why our coaches receive mentoring after they complete the class.  They also have access to the expertise and wisdom of the Edge coaching bench – when they find a problem they haven’t encountered for, they can bounce ideas and strategies off the team for input.

If you want to learn more about the coaching process, Edge Foundation coach training provider, Jodi Sleeper-Triplett has a great book at the printers on the topic that you can preorder here:   Empowering Youth with ADHD: Your Guide to Coaching Adolescents and Young Adults for Coaches, Parents, and Professionals

What’s your opinion, do you think the outside perspective of a coach can accomplish more than a parent’s influence?  Sound off in the comments, or join the conversation on Facebook.