by Roxanna Rahban, Ph.D
Many of us struggle with meeting our deadlines or our “to-do” lists in a timely manner. We set up a list of goals yet, as time passes, few of them are accomplished and the rest remain forgotten. The skills involved in being an efficient “action taker” are even more difficult for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Most often, the things that get in the way are daily distractions, poor time management, and underdeveloped planning skills. As children grow into young adults, individual success depends on an array of skills that need to be juggled on a daily basis, such as formulating and fulfilling daily plans and routines, while balancing social, family and academic demands.
While younger children’s tasks typically revolve around sleeping, eating, and attending school, teenagers and adults must not only achieve these tasks independently, but must also complete household chores, homework, long-term projects, hold a job and maintain a meaningful social life. A certain level of independence is typically reached in which parents take a step back from being the central action taker. However, without an adequate amount of support and external structure, many individuals have a hard time holding it all together. Their relationships and social lives may be developing beautifully, yet difficulty is revealed in their management of their school and work life. A former student of mine stated, “I know how to read and write my papers, do my laundry and all that. The problem is that I get distracted and sidetracked by so many things that nothing ever gets done. I just need someone to stay on top of me.” Clearly, this individual did not lack intelligence nor the required ability, but rather, difficulties in motivation, attention, self-regulation and self-control made it extremely difficult to successfully carry out his desired goals.
The good news is that these skills can be learned. A relatively recent service targeted at treating the aforementioned challenges is “ADHD and LD Coaching.” Coaching is an ongoing partnership between a coach (e.g., a qualified mental health professional) and a student or adult that addresses specific challenges, goals and strategies for success within an individual’s life. A coach’s role is to guide and support an individual through the specific challenges that interfere with the attainment of his or her short-term and long-term goals. Furthermore, a coach not only provides support, structure, and feedback, but also helps the individual develop the necessary skills to self-regulate, increase self-awareness, maintain focus, devise plans and strategies, improve organization and prioritization.
Fore more information about ADHD and LD coaching services please contact roxanna@steinpsych.com
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