My 7 favourite things from the UK’s first ADHD Coaching Conference

Here’s my 7 favourite things I learned (other than that the general public WILL give you funny looks if you brush your teeth in an underground carpark) at the UK’s first ever ADHD Coaching conference.

1. Esther Barrett and Lewis Barrett at Barrett Coaching and Training

These two really know how to get all of the best people in our industry in one room. The conference was a marvellous demonstration of how business and networking can be done right; with meaningful intent; with every human in mind; celebrating the skills, talents and comforts that each attendee requires to feel welcome.

2. Thank you Helen Sanderson MSc, MBACP for your insights in decluttering one’s home

Clutter is decisions that have not been made yet.
Every item cluttering a client’s home has meaning attached to it, so as you begin the gradual and structured process of decluttering, the client actually regains parts of their identity.
Adopting mantras can be really helpful such as putting “Nothing on the floor that doesn’t have feet” i.e. wardrobes, coat stands, chest of drawers.

3. Scott Jenkinson shared his compelling experiences on the connections between ADHD, addiction and crime

The AA is a wonderful programme, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
Discarding the negative labels people are expected to carry around such “addict”, “alcoholic” or “criminal” are best replaced with what/who you are NOW and what you aspire to be e.g. “father”, “husband”, “business owner”, “good citizen”.
You are the expert in your own life. Don’t let anyone else tell your story or guess at your experience.
Systems and processes put in place by schools and the criminal justice system may have good intentions, but often they have an inherent design flaw. For example, giving a challenged/ing student a reduced timetable gives them even less structure and purpose and even more time to fill with negative influences or undesirable behaviour. The spiral thus continues.

4. James Farrell on the raw, untapped potential that can be found in nature coaching by many struggling with ADHD

Around 15 diseases are more likely to occur if you don’t spend time in nature
Smelling rosemary can enhance cognitive performance and bring a great sense of mindfullness calm
We should all ideally be spending at least 2 hours a week out in real nature
A coach can absolutely remotely coach a client who is themselves in nature during the session. Being in the same same literal space isn’t a requirement for the client to gain the benefits of coaching in nature

5. Anita Patel, thank you for your excellent session to us all on intersectionality and ADHD

As coaches, it is important to remember the diversity within neurodiversity.
The group we in Europe keep referring to as the “ethnic MINORITY” are in fact the “global MAJORITY”. Around 80% of the world’s population are from African, Asian, Indigenous, Latin American or mixed heritage.
“Everyone has layers to who they are”.
Not everyone’s story is the same and background and lived experience plays a significant, multi-layered part in a client’s journey. (As Jamie Light Coaching, I’m giving a corporate talk later this month on how communication, confidence and body language manifest themselves differently depending on cultural and neurological diversity. Anita, you have given me additional insights for this, thank you)

6. Charlotte Green gave a brilliant talk on the significance of coaching supervision

It helps ensure ongoing ethical practice and maintaining high coaching standards
The fundamentally different, but equally important approaches depending on context and present needs of the supervisee. An Authoritative approach can be more of a prescriptive, informative and well-intended confronting approach. A Facilitative approach is more cathartic (encouraging emotional expression), catalytic (promoting self discovery) and supportive (offering validation and affirming the coach’s worth).
ABC: Always Be Contracting! Always keep adjusting the plan and goals with your coaching client to best suit their ever-evolving needs.

7. Kate Jenkinson is a must-have, poetic addition to any corporate event

Kate beautifully summarises the day’s content into poetry – which she writes on the go, I might add! Absolutely wonderful and brought many tears, smiles and awe-inspired gaping mouths to a highly energetic conference hall filled to the brim with ADHDers and other neurodivergents. Kate’s poetry speaks for itself. A video will be coming soon of her readings.