We often get asked: “What do I need to be an ADHD coach?”
At ADHD Wise, each team member has followed a unique journey into coaching. As a result, if you were to ask different coaches about their path, you would hear a variety of answers.
Despite these differing routes, a shared principle unites us: the importance of investing in oneself to become a safe and ethical coach. This commitment underpins every coaching approach within our team.
A Growing Industry — Without Regulation
The industry is not regulated. Therefore, there are many different courses available, which can cause confusion. There are people in the industry who are trying to change this and understand how crucial it is to ensure that clients — and also the coaches themselves — are safe.
Putting Client Safety at the Centre
It is essential that clients are placed at the centre of coaching practice.
To maintain safety, every coach must understand the boundaries of their role. This means recognising where those boundaries begin and end, where the client’s journey takes precedence, and also that the balance of supervision and CPD is vital.
Start with Core Coaching Skills
At ADHD Wise, we believe it is preferable for all coaches to be thoroughly trained in core coaching skills before specialising in areas such as neurodivergence.
Mastery of fundamental coaching (sometimes referred to as clean coaching) provides the foundation needed to explore other specialisms confidently and competently.
Your Background Shapes Your Path
With coaching (specifically Neurodiversity coaching) being a new profession, it is reasonable to assume it won’t be an individual’s first career. Therefore, the path to becoming a coach will be shaped by each individual’s background, expertise, and prior experience. This will make a difference in how you choose to move forward and what route you choose to study coaching.
My background in youth and community work provided me with training and experience in working with individuals and groups, so I did not have to start my coaching journey from scratch. Jannine brought her experience and qualifications in specialist teaching and psychology, while Sharon combined ICF-accredited coaching training through Optimus Coach Academy with her previously acquired counselling skills. She also has extensive experience creating and maintaining workable systems and processes.
Our varied backgrounds highlight the absence of a single, direct path to becoming a coach, simply because there isn’t one.
Current Coaching Programmes and Pathways
Optimus Coach Academy offers triple-accredited diplomas and has regular workshop weeks where you can meet the trainers and find out more about what’s on offer. Another provider of high-quality coach training is Wellness Professionals at Work.
Current programmes out there for ADHD coaching at the moment include Leanne Maskell’s Become an ADHD Coach programme, and the Universal Coaching Alliance has a brand-new membership supporting neurodivergence (ANUCA), which has just launched.
Building a Sustainable and Ethical Coaching Career
It is your choice, but having a well-grounded understanding of clean coaching before specialising should help to make you a safer coach in the long run and provide what you need for a longer and more pivotable career.
