UNDERStanding ADHD:
Free/'pay AS you enjoy' course may - july 2025

We will briefly introduce the course content and then begin by acknowledging and exploring ADHD strengths, why ADHD individuals find it so hard to acknowledge their strengths and how to build strengths stories and opportunities into ADHD life. 

I'm an ADHD coach, so no surprise that I'm a firm believer in the power of coaching! We'll explore some of the key principles. Useful if you are considering trying out an ADHD coach yourself, but don't know what to expect. Also useful for managers, coaches, teachers and others working with ADHDers. 

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of living with ADHD, especially if you don't know it's "an ADHD thing" - BIG, FAST emotions. INTENSE experiences. Sometimes framed as 'disproprtionate', 'over the top'. A source of frustration, sometimes even shame, for ADHDers - but also of great joy and passion. 

If an ADHDer is trying to organise their life around importance, that is the WRONG TOOL for the job. ADHD brains are wired for interest. 

In this session we consider interest as a positive emotion characterised by open mindedness, curiosity and a strong pull to explore. 

Before we get into the 3 core diagnostic traits of ADHD (Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and Inattention) in sessions 6 and 7, we will take a moment to reflect on what's been covered so far and how participants will use this in their own settings. We'll also look at some ADDCA models useful in contextualising and applying what we've covered. 

These core traits are often what comes to mind when someone says "ADHD". We'll explore challenges and strengths of both - as well as the phenomenon of "Now vs Not Now" and different ways that building in a pause can help us out - both to give us a break from constant activity, and to help us reflect in moments of impulsivity. 

Often more invisible challenges and strengths come up with inattentive ADHD than with the hyperactive/impulsive side. Boredom, rumination and other challenges can come up - but real positives can also arise from inattentiveness, for example: mind wandering, 'daydreaming', intuition and creativity

Many of the challenges ADHD presents have executive function at their core. We explore some models of EF and some strategies to support areas of EF challenge. 

People pleasing? Over committing, under performing? Never 'good enough'? Struggling to choose? We explore these common ADHD experiences, what lies behind them and how we can work with them. 

This session gives an opportunity for reflection, discussion and questions. Any topics participants want to revisit can get a little more time here, too! 

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Participants can share what they plan to do with what they've learned: saying it out loud is a great way to make it more likely to happen.