FAQs about ADHD coaching
Charlotte a brown haired woman is standing wearing an orange shirt and denim skirt holding a laptop smiling.
ADHD PSA: did you know that if you've received funding from Access to Work for ADHD coaching you can choose the coach you work with outside of the list of providers they give you?
If you haven't heard of Access to Work - it's grant which funds ADHD coaching and support for anyone in the UK. The waits are long but support is still being granted - check out more info here.
Why get ADHD coaching?
People typically come to ADHD coaching for the following reasons:
I want to understand how I work, following a later in life ADHD diagnosis. And I want expert personalised support after doing all the research on ADHD but still feeling overwhelmed
I've been diagnosed and am taking medication, but want to develop “coping skills” for my daily challenges with focus, distraction, remembering things, time management etc.
I am struggling with specific work challenges like procrastination and focus, emotional regulation, executive dysfunction, organisation or general overwhelm.
During coaching sessions there will be elements of:
Self-awareness: during coaching we'll deep dive into your work challenges. E.g: identifying why you struggle with procrastination, what do you do, when do you do it? Any patterns? I listen, support and validate my clients struggles as an expert with ADHD who really gets it.
Psychoeducation: in ADHD coaching every day's a school day. You'll learn ADHD and neuroscience concepts which explain what's going on in your brain. No generic ADHD knowledge but specifically how YOUR ADHD shows up for you. E.g if you struggle with feedback at work, we'd talk about how Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria can mean can take things personally. Knowledge is power.
Practical strategies: so after you've discovered reasons for your work challenges and how ADHD is playing a part, we explore what you can do about it. We'll look at the way you work already, what's practical, and between sessions and work on the things. You'll also have check-ins and accountability from me as your supportive coach.
Learning: over the course of coaching, you will develop better self awareness, which leads to more self-compassion and less self-judgement (yay!). You'll increase your knowledge of yourself - so you can finally make data informed strategies. If you try strategies that don't work - there's no judgement, just more learning.
Unexpected lols. One thing I love about my clients is they all have a good sense of humour - because you've got to laugh about the trials and tribulations of working with ADHD. Anyone who's worked with me will know there's learning and laughter to be had.
Who do you coach?
I coach anyone who works with ADHD - but because I have a background in marketing and advertising tend to work with people who work in the creative industries (employed or freelance), or high pressure jobs like Law, tech, NHS and more.
How do I choose an ADHD coach?
This could be a whole topic in itself..but briefly you'll need to:
Find a coach: there are a few sources - searching LinkedIn, ADHD UK , ADHD coaches UK.
Vibe check - do you like their bio/description - have they got experience of working with people like you.
Qualifications: I personally recommend working with clients who are ICF ACC qualified, this means they have done over 100 hours training and 50+ hours of coaching. There are A LOT of ways to train as a coach, so you may prefer lived experience to qualifications. It's a personal choice.
Book a discovery call - most coaches offer a free 30 min introductory call where you can talk to them and see if you like them. If you want to talk to me book here.
Ask questions: how many hours of coaching experience do you have, how do you coach, what training have you had? How could you help me?
What are the “results” of ADHD coaching?
Coaching results vary from person to person but things I often see are
Being more at peace with themselves with better self-awareness and understanding of ADHD
Being able to manage everyday stresses at work with strategies and self-compassion
Getting promotions - it's amazing what new found confidence can do
Breaking cycles of stress or burnout - because you know what causes it
Support on their ADHD journey - not feeling overwhelmed and alone
Being much nicer to themselves
Being more productive
I asked my client's whats been the most helpful part of ADHD coaching and they said…
It's been really helpful having someone who understands the struggles of ADHD. Charlotte is a great listener and also very skilled at communicating observations that are insightful and helpful. She also has vast knowledge and advice on how to approach certain adhd struggles.
The opportunity to bring thoughts to the space to help lead the hour each week. Also the tools and insights Charlotte passed on that weren't on my mind before the sessions were fantastic.
Understanding myself more and how my brain works.
It has made me feel more at ease with my ADHD as I know can do proactive tasks to help with my biggest struggles. Before I felt quite alone and at a dead end with it, and felt that I would never be able to help myself and I wouldn't ever have the chance to be successful in my role due to my challenges.
How do I sign up for ADHD coaching?
Firstly - book a FREE obligation free coaching intro call, a 30 minute call where we meet each other and we can talk about your challenges and I answer any questions about coaching. If you don't want to work with me that's cool we never have to see each other again.
Then you make a decision on if you want coaching with me and we check my availability. In order to give my clients the best support possible I only coach 8 clients at a time so sometimes there's a short wait before you start.
Do you take Access to Work clients?
Yes! A lot of my clients are Access to Work funded clients. If you have Access to Work funding you can choose to work with anyone you like - even outside of the providers listed. Book an intro call if you want to talk about it.
Access to Work: FAQs
What is Access to Work?
Access to work is a government grant which funds support for anyone with a disability or condition that means you need support to do your job - this includes ADHD!
There is up to £69,000 of govt funding available per year per person to fund ADHD coaching, equipment and assistance like a virtual assistant. Please note - £69k is the absolute maximum amount and averages vary by needs and depending on your assessor.
This means the govt pays for ADHD coaching, equipment and more for employed and self employed people.
Who gets funding?
Eligibility: you must have a disability, illness or health condition that means you need support to do your job.
The full eligibility criteria covers physical disabilities and learning differences including ADHD, dyslexia and Autism and mental health conditions, for example anxiety & depression.
Important to note: you do not always need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply for mental health support. Many of my clients access access to work while waiting for diagnosis.
There is no means test for Access to Work you can get support however much you earn or have in savings, at the same time as most benefits, as long as you work more than 1 hour a week at minimum wage.
What can I get funding for via Access to Work?
Access to work funds:
1:1 Coaching - normally around 12-20 sessions are fully funded: coaching can help with working out coping strategies for working with ADHD and building self-awareness of ADHD and how it affects you at work.
Coaching also helps with organisation, time management, accountability, stress reducing, anxiety & burnout, using a support worker and delegating tasks procrastination & decision making and more.
Support Worker Virtual assistants:
People are sometimes awarded VA support in areas they struggle with ADHD e.g time management, attention to detail, diary management etc. This is a person who you hire to help you with areas affected by ADHD.
How long will it take to get support?
The current waiting list for Access to Work is currently about 9-12 months from applying to receiving support. There has been a huge increase in demand recently so waitlists are getting longer.
This sounds too good to be true - what's the catch?
Unfortunately due to the rise in the services demands, and limited govt resources the waitlist is long. The process is also not particularly ADHD friendly, however access to things like coaching can be life changing so it is often worth the wait.
You will need to tell work you're applying. They won't be involved in the assessment, but will need to be aware you're getting support as they'll need to confirm you work there.
Coaching is fully funded, but if you pay for coaching it can take 3-4 weeks for money to be reimbursed. Its through an online system.
Support awarded varies depending on your caseworker, so you may not always be awarded what you want. However, it's important to note you can negotiate what's offered based on your needs.
Can I choose my own ADHD coach?
Yes - Access to Work gives you a list of providers but you can also choose your own ADHD coach.There are fully certified coaches listed on ADHD UK.
What do employers need to do?
Employers need to sign off claims and confirm that the person works for the company.
80% of funding is paid for my Access to Work and ADHD coaching and virtual assistants are fully funded by Access to Work.
They also need to fund some equipment costs:up to £500 for companies with less than 250 employees or up to £1000 for companies with more than 250 employees.
ADHD Coaching through Access to Work: step-by-step
1. Apply online using a form
People apply using this form & get on the waiting list https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
REALLY IMPORTANT: You are NOT fully assessed by what you write on the form; it doesn't need to be perfect.
2. Access to work do a needs assessment
This is normally a phone call with a support worker, you'll need to talk through anything you want like ADHD coaching.
You may be asked to supply quotes for Access to Work from a coach, or be given some options. You can choose who you would like to work with as a coach or VA.
3. Your Award
Access to Work award you a certain amount of coaching hours/VA support/equipment. You may be asked get quotes from coaching suppliers (this can be before or after your award).
Claiming money back
Some providers charge DWP directly so you don't pay for coaching or support service. Other coaches may ask your employer to pay and then get re-imbursed, or for you to pay and get reimbursed. Costs are normally paid back within a month.
If you're interested in getting coaching with me using your Access to Work grant or have any questions - please email me charlotte@adhdclub.co.uk for more info.
