ADHD Group Coaching
Have ADHD Symptoms Taken Over Your Life?
When you have ADHD, you may notice a number of symptoms that interfere with the quality of your life. Some of these may include:
Difficulty starting or staying on task
Impulsivity
Difficulty focusing
Problems managing household responsibilities
Trouble listening to others
These issues may affect your everyday functioning, your relationships, or your performance in the workplace.
Or perhaps you have never received a diagnosis of ADHD, but you recognize many of these symptoms in yourself. You might want to control some of your actions, but find you have trouble doing this on your own and would like to know if ADHD is the issue.
Your symptoms may make it difficult to function in everyday life. At this point, you probably just want to feel less stressed about managing life’s challenges and be able to handle daily life with ease.
Many People Struggle With ADHD
A significant number of adults in the United States have ADHD. In fact, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) lists the statistic at 4.4%.
Sadly, ADHD is often looked at as a negative thing. However, there is a positive side to an ADHD personality, including:
Creativity
Spontaneity
Adaptability
Humor
Forgiveness
High energy
Ingenuity
Many of these amazing aspects of an individual’s personality could be ignored because ADHD symptoms can get in the way.
When you have ADHD, it can be nerve-wracking to talk to others about your problems. Those without ADHD may often not fully understand the extent of your symptoms. And even when they mean well, they may not be able to offer the support for ADHD you need.
It can be extremely helpful to talk to people who have shared similar experiences. If you are curious about how others have handled their symptoms, then working in a group can be a wonderful tool for healing.
A Group Counseling Approach May Be Just The Thing You Need
Group coaching can be incredibly beneficial for ADHD in a number of ways:
You can get advice from others in a similar situation.
It creates a sense of community and safety.
It decreases feelings of isolation.
It facilitates accountability to help you reach your goals.
At the Adult ADHD Center of Washington, we strive to provide an understanding environment that promotes accountability. To do this, we utilize SMART weekly goals. SMART stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time bound
By using these parameters, we can create goals that work for every individual and help them on the road to managing their symptoms.
Each session has three segments:
A short informational lecture, directed by one of our staff members, on an area of ADHD issues chosen by the group.
Weekly goal setting and assessments. This allows us to go over the goals set for the previous week, see the progress made, and then select appropriate new goals based on each individual’s needs.
Group discussion. This part of the session not only allows us, as group leaders, to share our expertise, but also allows other members of the group to give advice and ask questions in a safe environment.
We use a variety of techniques—such as cognitive behavioral therapy—during our sessions to clearly identify your ADHD symptoms and help you learn how to manage them. In time, this approach will allow you form habits that can greatly improve your daily functioning.
These coaching sessions last for an hour and a half over the course of 10-12 weeks. We ask that each group member keeps information confidential; we don’t want anyone to worry that their personal concerns become public knowledge.
After you’ve completed a 10-12 week group coaching program, you’re eligible for participating in a Maintaining Success Group. These groups focus on continuing the progress you made during the group coaching sessions. They last for an hour and meet every other week for 10-12 weeks. The goal for these sessions is to provide continual support through a group setting.
As individuals, we have more than fifty years of combined experience working with ADHD. As a group, we’ve been operating for thirteen years together. Carolyn, who’s in charge of the group sessions, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and specializes in groups. Many of us have dealt with ADHD ourselves and, therefore, know how helpful group sessions can be.
Managing ADHD alone can be stressful and overwhelming. A group format allows you to learn how to manage your ADHD with the support of others.
You may still have questions about ADHD group counseling…
I’m not sure I’m comfortable sharing my problems in a group setting.
Groups can be wonderfully helpful and supportive. Many participants share your experience and would like nothing more than to help you. However, we understand that going to an ADHD group for the first time can be intimidating. We can offer individual counseling sessions first in order to ease your fears about speaking to a group.
A group doesn’t offer individualized support. Can it really help my personal situation?
Since there are more people in a group setting, there are more people who can offer suggestions and feedback. Additionally, we strive to provide quality support to our clients no matter the setting. If you ever feel like you aren’t getting the support you need, we would be happy to take the time to talk to you individually and address your concerns.
I tried going to a group session, and it felt overwhelming.
While group sessions can be wonderful resources, they aren’t right for everyone. If you simply don’t feel comfortable with going to group sessions, we offer individual counseling to help you deal with your symptoms in a different manner.
Learn More About Group Counseling for ADHD
If you are interested in a group experience, please call us at 202-232-3766 or email, adultadhdcenter@gmail.com. We want to provide you with whatever resources we can and help you on the road to positively dealing with your ADHD.
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