New book explores coaching young people with ADHD

Editor’s Note: As you most likely know, Edge Foundation coaches have all completed Edge’s rigorous training for coaches working with students and young adults with ADHD.  We are very proud that Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, adolescent coaching expert, has been instrumental in developing our coach training and mentoring program.  She’s publishing a new book in June, Empowering Youth with ADHD:  Your Guide to Coaching Adolescents and Young Adults for Coaches, Parents and Professionals, and we chatted with her a bit about what you can expect to find inside.

Edge:  You’ve been instrumental at Edge Foundation in designing our ADHD youth coaching training program.  How did training and mentoring the Edge coaches shape your point of view as an author?

Sleeper-Triplett:  My work with the Edge Foundation gave me a fresh perspective on my work and insight into the questions that coaches, clients and parents have about ADHD, the coaching process, and strategies for success.  Each time I was asked a question during my work with Edge, I took notes and used those queries to formulate the information shared in the book.

Edge:  High school and college is a time that most children draw away from their parents or even outright rebel.  How will parents benefit from reading this book?

Sleeper-Triplett:  Parents will learn how a coach can be a great partner for high school and college-aged children.  Coaching allows parents to step back from the day-to-day routine and nagging and allows the young person to be more independent.

Edge:  Over the years were there common questions you’ve fielded from parents about coaching?

Sleeper-Triplett:  Parents need a deeper understanding the coaching process.  They need better insight into what their role is in the coaching process.  They want to explore how boundaries are established within the coaching relationship.  And they want to understand what makes a coach qualified to work with young people with ADHD.

Edge: And how do you respond to parents who are skeptical that coaching won’t make a difference for their students?

Sleeper-Triplett: It’s important for parents to understand that coaching is different from other services, especially therapy.  Many parents have struggled with their ADHD adolescent over time management, organization, and self-advocacy and social skills.  These are all areas addressed in coaching in a non-judgmental manner, allowing young people to feel more confident and ready to stretch themselves to a new level of success.  Not everyone is cut out to benefit from coaching.  So the book also includes a information about how prescreening is used by coaches to ensure a person is ready for coaching before they sign up and invest in the process.

Edge: Writing a book is a huge undertaking of time and energy.  What inspired you?

Sleeper-Triplett:  My clients and coach trainees are my inspiration.  Watching the positive changes that coaching can have on young people and helping coaches to learn new skills is really motivating to me.  I have been encouraged and supported by coaches, therapists, educators and friends to put my work on the page.  Once I committed to doing it there was no turning back for me.

Note:  Empowering Youth with ADHD:  Your Guide to Coaching Adolescents and Young Adults for Coaches, Parents and Professionals will be available in September, however, preordering is now available at Amazon.com.

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