Q&A’s

Working with a coach in any field (like academics, health & wellness, business, leadership development, sports, etc.) most likely means that you & your Coach will:

• Identify problem spots in your life

• Explore your current strengths & resources

• Investigate what’s standing in your way

• Create realistic goals & effective plans to reach your goals

• Have an accountability partner

• Eventually learn how to successfully coach yourself!

Executive skills (AKA executive functions & executive functioning) are a collection of brain functions that we use daily in every aspect of life. People with ADHD & some other disorders are known to struggle with executive functioning.

There’s no universally agreed on number of executive skills out there, but here’s a list of some of the seemingly most agreed-upon:

• Planning & strategizing

• Impulse & emotional control

• Self-awareness

• Time management

• Organization

• Cleaning

• Sustained focus & managing interruptions

• Starting, switching, and /or ending tasks

• Non-verbal working memory (AKA short-term memory & working memory)

• Motivation & avoiding punishment

Wait, what’s that? Oh, those are all the things you or a loved one struggle with? Well, that can change. YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

Many Coaches have niches, or specialty areas. Good Coaches will deliver their services in ways uniquely & specifically designed for the types of issues & people they specialize in.

Good ADHD/Executive Skills Development Coaching should have:

• Consistent structure & support

• Simple & clear practices with all steps broken down into the simplest most practical forms

• External (visible) cues for internal or abstract things like goals, scheduling, reminders, etc

• Modeling anti-shame & destigmatization of ADHD & all neurodivergence!

• Strong, compassionate, professional accountability

• Honest & direct real-time feedback. Challenging behaviors & beliefs that negatively impact you

• Tools that are truly accessible for people with impaired executive skills

People from all walks of life, from all over the world, with varying amounts of executive skills challenges come to work with me.

I coach college students, working (& unemployed) adults & teens, family members, colleagues, employers &/or employees, couples & small groups, you name it. I also provide specialized trainings & workshops for interested organizations, education programs, & community groups.

Here are some example of topics clients work on in my coaching sessions:

• Understanding their ADHD or other impairments better, then self-advocating & functioning more effectively at work, school, & home

• Improving timeliness & meeting deadlines more successfully

• Seeking info & support for medical diagnosis &/or medications

• Learning ADHD-specific study & test-taking strategies

• Strengthening impulse control, & improving social skills

• Learning more about school & workplace federally protected accommodations & rights. Support in requesting & using accommodations

• Improving organization skills & overcoming chronically messy spaces

• Creating more ADHD-appropriate self-care routines

• Growing true self-compassion & patience

• Crucial life hacks specially designed for the ADHD brain!

• Being listened to, understood, & NOT judged by a professional who GETS IT.

• & much more!

In more detail:

• You have at least an hour every week for a coaching session - but ideally a little more time beyond that to try out things we work on in the sessions

• You are feeling ready to take responsibility for your end of the coaching work, with the attentive support of a skilled professional. Coaching is not a passive thing by any means

• You have some level of computer literacy or someone consistently nearby to help with things like online scheduling, using Zoom video, emailing, etc.

• You can point to some evidence that you’re ready to commit to a new thing & to follow through for at least 3 months. Have you been able to show up for weekly commitments for anything that is particularly important to you more often than not in recent times? If the answer is “no,” this alone should not stop you from trying out coaching!

• You’re experiencing a sense that something has got to give - you are at a breaking point! Ready for information & positive change

• You’re in a position to pay for a few months of weekly coaching. Normal Schmormal can sometimes offer a sliding rate scale for those in need but limited in finances. Reach out to ask about this!

• And most importantly, you’re willing to try being open, vulnerable, & honest with a “safe” & caring expert Coach (who has probably been somewhere extremely similar to where you are at in your journey)!

When “coach shopping,” it’s ok to feel nervous, skeptical, embarrassed, overwhelmed, or any number of things at first. But after looking through someone’s website, & having an initial meeting with them (or exchange of messages), ask yourself questions like the following:

• Was I truly listened to? Did the Coach seem to genuinely care? Do I think I’ll basically LIKE this person?

• Did I understand & like the way the Coach asks questions? Explains things? Does things?

• Can I see myself being able to bring up concerns with this Coach? Even concerns that might directly involve the Coach?

• Can I see myself sharing potentially vulnerable information with this person, & possibly “failing” in front of them sometimes?

• Do I trust their professed expertise & personal experience, & do I feel willing to try what they suggest?

• Do I believe I have the chance to make real, long-term, positive changes with this person in my corner?

If you are curious, schedule a complimentary trial session! We can address any questions or concerns you have, & determine together if Normal Schmormal Coaching is a good fit for you!

I offer discounted rates on a sliding scale whenever possible for those who aren’t financially able to pay for regular coaching sessions. When I’m not able to offer sliding rates, I work individually with potential clients on how to get them as much support & resources as possible at a lower cost.

So don’t let the $ sign send you running! If you or someone else in your life are in need of ADHD support, reach out & let’s talk creative options.

Many people don’t actually come to any kind of coaching with a perfectly organized agenda or well-defined goals, yet. That’s a huge part of the overall problem for most clients in the first place!

So don’t let this stop you or cause you any more delay. An experienced Coach - 🙋‍♀️ - will know how to meet you at any stage in the process, help you identify practical goals from where you are starting, & then create steps & order them appropriately. A good ADHD/Executive Skills Coach - hello, again! 🙋‍♀️ - will also provide lots & lots of what I call external “scaffolding” & “reinforcements”, or accountability & effective planning against common pitfalls.

Plus, it’s a Normal Schmormal promise to walk with you from step to step until you accomplish what you work for.

So schedule a Complimentary 45-minute Coaching Session with me now, & come as you are. I’m ready to help you move forward from there!