People come to ADHD and autism coaching for lots of different reasons. Some have recently discovered they are autistic or have ADHD and are trying to make sense of what that means for them. Others have known for years but want to better understand themselves, work with their brain rather than against it, or find ways to reduce the daily effort of masking and constantly trying to fit into a world that wasn’t designed with them in mind.
Some people come because work feels overwhelming. Others want support with communication, relationships, managing their energy or navigating executive functioning challenges. Many simply know that something isn’t working as well as they’d like but aren’t sure where to begin.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as:
“Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.”
For me, ADHD and autism coaching is about creating the space to think well. It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with what’s important to you.
Coaching is about evoking awareness—helping you notice patterns, make new connections and gain fresh insights about yourself. As your understanding grows, so does your ability to make choices that are aligned with your values and your unique way of being in the world.
One of the most powerful shifts I see in coaching is people developing a kinder internal voice. Instead of judging themselves for not doing things the “right” way, they begin to give themselves permission to do things their way, to work with their neurodivergence rather than against it. Often, that’s where sustainable change begins, and where people discover they can thrive more often.
Coaching isn’t about fixing you, changing who you are or teaching you to be more neurotypical. Instead, it’s a collaborative conversation that helps you better understand your unique way of thinking, recognise your strengths, identify what’s getting in the way, and explore ways of living and working that are more sustainable for you.
As your coach, my role isn’t to tell or advise you on what you should do. Instead, I listen carefully, ask questions that deepen your thinking, help you identify what’s important to you, and support you to develop your own solutions and next steps.
You are the expert on your own life. Coaching provides the space, partnership and accountability to help you move forwards in a way that works for your brain.
How do you choose an ADHD or autism coach?
Choosing a coach is an important decision, and I’d always recommend speaking to two or three coaches before deciding who you’d like to work with.
Most coaches offer an enquiry or discovery call, and these conversations give you an opportunity to get a feel for how each coach works, ask questions and decide whether they feel like the right fit for you.
Coaching is a partnership, so finding someone you feel comfortable talking to really matters.
As you’re deciding, it can be helpful to ask yourself:
- Do I feel listened to?
- Do I feel comfortable talking to this person?
- Do they seem to understand the experiences of ADHD and autism?
- Does their approach fit what I’m looking for?
- Can I imagine working with them?
Alongside finding someone you connect with, I’d also encourage you to look at their qualifications and experience.
Coaching is currently an unregulated profession, which means anyone can describe themselves as a coach, regardless of how much training they’ve completed.
Some coaches have completed only introductory training, while others have undertaken accredited coach education, been assessed against recognised coaching competencies, and commit to ongoing professional development and supervision.
I’d encourage you to find out:
- What coach training have they completed?
- Have they been trained and assessed against recognised coaching competencies?
- Are they a member of a professional coaching body such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) or the Association for Coaching (AC)?
- What specialist training or experience do they have in coaching ADHD and autistic clients?
A coach’s website or LinkedIn profile should usually make this information easy to find, and if it isn’t, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask.
Ultimately, qualifications and experience matter, but so does the relationship. The right coach is someone whose approach gives you confidence, helps you feel understood, and creates a space where you can think openly and honestly.
Am I ready for ADHD or autism coaching?
ADHD and autism coaching is primarily future-focused. While we may reflect on past experiences to better understand the present, the purpose of coaching is to help you move forwards in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable for you.
Through coaching, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of yourself, gain new insights into how your brain works, and identify what helps you thrive. Together, we’ll explore your strengths, values and needs, helping you make choices that are aligned with who you are and the life you want to create.
ADHD or autism coaching may be a good fit if you’d like to:
- better understand how your brain works
- identify and build on your strengths
- develop strategies that work with your executive functioning rather than against it
- reduce the effort of masking and create a more sustainable way of living
- improve communication and relationships
- make sense of a recent diagnosis and decide what comes next
- move forwards when you feel stuck
For coaching to be effective, it’s important that you’re in a place where your mental health allows you to focus on your future and engage in thinking, reflection and change.
If you’re currently experiencing severe anxiety, depression or overwhelming grief, this may not be the right time for coaching. At times like these, working with a neuroaffirming therapist may provide the support you need before you’re ready to engage in coaching.
One question I often encourage people to think about is not “Am I ready to change?” but “Am I ready to become more curious?”
You could be ready for coaching if you can answer yes to questions like these:
- Are you looking for new insights and a deeper understanding of yourself and your situation?
- Are you ready to become curious about yourself, rather than judging yourself?
- Are you willing to notice and explore your thoughts, beliefs, feelings and needs?
- Are you ready to experiment with doing things differently, in ways that feel right for you, however big or small?
There are no right or wrong answers. Coaching isn’t about having everything figured out before you begin. It’s about being willing to explore, reflect and experiment with new ways of thinking and doing, so that you can create a life that works with your brain rather than against it.
What happens in an enquiry call?
I offer a free 30-minute enquiry call to anyone who is considering ADHD or autism coaching with me.
The purpose of the call is simply for us to get to know one another and explore whether coaching feels like the right next step for you.
We’ll talk about what’s brought you to coaching, what you’re hoping to gain, and any questions you have about the coaching process or the way I work. It’s also an opportunity for you to get a feel for my coaching style and decide whether you think we’d work well together.
Just as importantly, the enquiry call gives you the chance to decide whether I’m the right coach for you.
I don’t expect anyone to make a decision during the call. In fact, I’d much rather you took some time afterwards to reflect on the conversation, think about how it felt, and consider whether my approach is the right fit for you. Choosing a coach is an important decision, and I believe it’s one that’s best made without pressure.
Whether you’ve spoken only to me or you’ve arranged enquiry calls with several coaches, my hope is that you’ll leave our conversation with a clearer understanding of what coaching can offer, what you’re looking for in a coach, and whether working together feels like the right next step.
