After working with Turbo Thinkers for years, we’ve come up with the Top 3 Reasons to Love Group Coaching.

A Mind Coach NOLA client and friend, Kristin Sanders, recently wrote an article for The UAGC Chronicle and we’ve decided to feature it!“In 2017, I began teaching part-time at UAGC while simultaneously teaching part-time at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and getting my freelance copywriting business off the ground. Balancing these three part-time jobs—as well as my creative writing—was difficult at first. I used to be the kind of teacher who would bring a pile of English papers home from an in-person class, then proceed to stare at the pile in increasing anguish as the week slid by. I'd grade a few papers here and there, but the pile never seemed any less daunting…”

When I first discovered ADHD coaching, I yearned to help high school and college students. I saw that their academic struggles related to their turbo thinking brains. I wanted to help the whole child rather than slap a band aid on a symptom of a bigger problem.

Many Turbo Thinkers come to learn about coaching after spending hours consulting Dr. Google. They are sick of not “living up to their potential,” frustrated and disappointed in themselves for not being able to meet their own or other people’s expectations. Many of them have been newly diagnosed with ADHD and many were diagnosed as children, but had never been taught what that meant.

I’m sure many people have wondered what happens in such a brief consultation by phone, especially when it’s free. You might be surprised by the breadth and the depth of such an intense call. I know I am. I absolutely love these calls (as I also love all of my coaching sessions) because I never know what is going to come out of them.

If you’re looking for an ADHD coach for your child, the clearer you and your child are about your goals for coaching, the more likely it is that the effort will be a success.

And the same goes for your own personal goals with coaching, whether you’re seeking coaching for your own goals or to work on aspects of parenting a child with ADHD.

Like individual coaching, group coaching is a collaborative process led by the creative dynamics of everyone involved.

Life with ADHD can be hard. Whether it is your own brain, your partner’s or your child’s that ramps up at turbo speeds, the effects can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing. How do you know what is normal? How do you know what to do? How do you share your concerns without fear of ridicule and shame? Add to that a global pandemic, and insecurities overflow.

The group coaching approach taught me to get comfortable with vulnerability in front of my peers. Even though I did not know most of these people and might never meet any of them in person, my level of discomfort began at an all time high. How could I reveal all of my challenges and shortcomings to them? With time, as everyone began to let go and put themselves out there, we all relaxed into the sessions, volunteering to take risks and make mistakes for the benefit of the entire group.

There is strength in numbers. Alone we are good, but we are better together.

Anxiety comes up frequently in coaching sessions. In addition to coaching, the fields of positive psychology, CBT, and EFT can all help with treating anxiety. Learn more about anxiety and the ADHD brain, and how these treatment modalities work.

Even though October is officially ADHD awareness month, I feel that every month should be ADHD awareness month, especially in New Orleans where it is still stigmatized and misunderstood by many. I have heard so many erroneous comments like, “ADHD isn’t real.”

Adela Baker, Founder/CEO of Mind Coach NOLA, was recently featured on Molly Thayer's Control Freak podcast. Adela and Molly touched upon topics such as executive function skills, the effects of technology on the brain, and how to spark intrinsic motivation.

Last week Big Easy Magazine featured Mind Coach NOLA as one of their Progressive Lifestyle Spotlights. We are Louisiana’s first team of certified coaches that specialize in developing executive function skills.

Mind Coach NOLA is comprised of nine New Orleans based coaches 100% dedicated and committed to the Louisiana area.

We are life coaches that specialize in the ADHD brain.

Adela Baker is the force behind Mind Coach NOLA. Big things are on the horizon for 2019 & we can’t wait to share them with you! In the meantime see what 5 Life Lessons Adela finds most valuable…

Shanice Webb is our latest coach in the Mind Coach NOLA community. As a transplant from Ohio she enjoys long-boarding in the French Quarter & stopping for an iced vanilla coffee with soy milk.

This article brings up a tricky, but valid point. People with ADHD and Executive Function Disorder (or Executive Dysfunction) struggle with some of the same issues. Both have trouble staying on task. Both have trouble organizing, prioritizing, planning and working memory.

Last week, I attended a morning parent meeting at my child’s school. The topic was student clubs. There were a few students present, representing their clubs. It was all very nice and the kids did a fine job. But then the meeting got weird. A few parents started to offer help to the students for their clubs. “We have skills that you could use.” “We could make presentations and give advice.” “We can donate money.” “Why don’t you just have bake sales every week. We can bake the goods for you.” I kid you not.

I couldn’t swallow the fact that my son kept causing trouble in school because he could not sit still or keep his mouth shut. I went on a mission to help him and our family understand his ADHD diagnosis, and in the process decided to help other students in similar situations. Lo and behold, I became a CACP-certified ADHD Coach, and have been fortunate to see my student clients experience success and gain confidence.