You’ve decided you want some help with your ADHD. You’re ready for support. But now there’s another decision: do you need an ADHD coach, a therapist, or both?
If you’re not sure what the difference is, you’re not alone. One explanation I hear all the time is that therapy focuses on the past and coaching focuses on the future. I’ve never liked it, because it isn’t accurate. The real differences have more to do with the type of work being done and the professional’s role.
This is part 2 of my six-part series on ADHD coaching. Today we look at the differences between coaching and therapy, where they overlap, and how to decide what kind of help makes the most sense for you.
In this episode:
- Why “therapy is the past, coaching is the future” doesn’t hold up
- Starting with what you actually need help with
- What an ADHD coach helps with, using a workweek that falls apart by Wednesday
- What a therapist helps with, and why therapy can be very practical
- Where coaching and therapy overlap: emotions and executive function
- How the same problem, like missing deadlines, can have different causes
- Working with a coach and a therapist at the same time
- Professional qualifications and boundaries, and why recognizing limits is a good sign
- How to decide where to start, and questions to ask before you begin
Try this: Before you decide who to call, ask yourself: What am I struggling with, and what kind of help am I looking for?
Missed part 1? Ep 140: What Does an ADHD Coach Actually Do? https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/what-does-an-adhd-coach-do/
Next week: Does ADHD coaching actually work?
I’m reopening my group coaching program in November. If you’d like to hear when enrollment opens, join the group coaching waitlist on my Services page: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/services
You can also join my free weekly newsletter, where I share practical ideas and tools for managing ADHD in your everyday life: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly
Read the blog post: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhd-coaching-or-therapy/
This episode is for education only. It isn’t medical or mental health advice. If you’re having suicidal thoughts or are concerned about your immediate safety, please seek urgent mental health support (call or text 988 in the U.S.) rather than relying on coaching.