Yes.  Much of what psychologists support people with includes coaching and mentoring. Coaching is very popular in workplaces for improving performance or for helping people with general life skills and reaching goals.  Coaching includes discussion and identification of goals and provision of personalised supports that includes knowledge around the most effective strategies and tools to use with consideration of individuals preferences and styles.  This is especially useful in relation to areas of individual challenge and may include recommended approaches to help make planning and organising your home, study, workspace, or life in general work more effectively for you.

Having worked in many years in organisation psychology, I developed extensive experience in completing staff and management assessments and supporting managers and staff with their work performance capabilities and competence, as well as the development of individual or group training packages to optimise development opportunities.  Many of these strategies are ideally suited for supporting adults with ADHD in the workplace.   Coaching in a practical sense may encompass the implementation of time management solutions, consider ways to make large projects more achievable by breaking them into smaller and more manageable chunks, or support with emotional dysregulation or social dilemma’s.  I feel that coaching, along with other psychological or pharmacological supports that may be indicated and agreed to, is a best practice approach for managing some of the challenges that may impact people with ADHD.  As a psychologist, I can support both coaching as well as providing psychological therapy.

Neurodiverse is an umbrella term to encompass all the diverse ways that people’s brains are structured that includes the variance of brain neurology and the various functioning of certain neurotransmitters.  This impacts the way people may interpret, process or think about information. This term includes people whose brain structure and neurology is more common and termed as ‘neurotypical’ as well as people who have a brain structure that may be less common and is referred to as ‘neurodivergent’.

Under the term ‘neurodivergent’ or ‘neurodivergence’ there is a very broad range of presentations that includes Autistic individuals and those people who have been identified as an ADHDer as well as some other presentations.  It is important to note that just as people vary enormously within a neurotypical classification, so too do people vary considerably under a classification of being neurodivergent.  This is also true of the enormous variations of presentations that will be seen amongst Autistic individuals, as well as people with an ADHD identity.  Whilst there may be some overlap of presentations between ADHDers and Autistic people, there are also huge differences. 

We are now seeing the diagnosis rates for people with neurodivergence increase significantly and this may be attributable to greater knowledge resulting in more accurate assessment.  Regardless, it is important that we ensure that every person has the opportunity to understand their strengths and challenges and can explore ways that will enable them to live their best lives and reach their potential.  As such, changes or increased supports in environments that have not previously considered the needs of neurodivergence are now being increasingly identified and modified to enable greater access, participation and opportunities to thrive.

There are specific recommendations around preferred language that are recommended but these preferences will also vary from person to person, just as language preferences vary within the neurotypical community.  Checking in individually is something that I find is always important. I have attached a link that can serve as a useful guide.  Please note that as language is constantly evolving and changing with increased knowledge and research, checking this language is still current will be helpful.

Neurodiversity-affirming Language: A Letter to Your Child’s Support Network - Reframing Autism

Understanding Strengths-focused practice, Trauma-informed approaches and ensuring application of the Social Model and Human Rights Model of disability are all critical to the provision of a neurodivergent affirming therapy approach.  A neurodivergent affirming approach considers the preferences and styles of individuals and looks at ways to modify the environment to create the best fit for them.  This practice does not view neurodivergence from a pathologizing, medicalised  or stigmatising perspective, nor seek to change the individual to change to become more neurotypical.  This approach also recommends the use of therapies and resources that have been created by people identifying as neurodivergent.

A useful website on this is Neurodiversity Affirming Resources (autismunderstanding.com.au)

Yes.  I have a background working with leaders, managers and Human Resources. I am very comfortable supporting them with understanding and implementing best practice approaches. I am happy to liaise or facilitate discussions in your workplace if this is something you would like support with. I can also deliver educational workplace presentations around neurodivergent workplace best practice.

Yes.  I have seen and supported many adults with ADHD and I am familiar with many of the more common strengths and challenges, as well as providing support as required and wanted.

Yes.  Other Mental Health conditions commonly present with an ADHD diagnosis. Most commonly I see adults with ADHD presenting with anxiety.  I am comfortable seeing people with a range of presentations, but I will always refer to other specialists if this is something I feel is required for your best treatment outcome.

Please see some of the resources that I find particularly useful:

• Home - ADHD Australia
• Dashboard | myadhd.org.au
• ADHD And NDIS Eligibility: Your Questions Answered | Leap in!
• How do I find ADHD coaching and do I really need it? - ABC News
• The role ADHD can play in career planning and progression - Study Work Grow
• ADDitude - ADD & ADHD Symptom Tests, Signs, Treatment, Support (additudemag.com)