As adolescents and young adults return to the classroom over the next few weeks, parents and students begin their search for support services, including ADHD/EF Coaching. Contrary to what you might think, hiring a coach is not a quick process. It takes time to interview coaches, allow coaches to prescreen both parent and student to confirm expectations and assess coaching readiness. Additionally, the coach and the student need to feel comfortable with one another for the most effective coaching outcomes.
In my book, Empowering Youth with ADHD, I stress the value of a prescreening call or brief meeting prior to hiring a coach and signing a contract. In my experience, there is confusion around what coaches offer, and conversely, what the parents and students expect from the coach. These brief prescreening sessions, for which I do not charge, allow all parties to ask questions and clearly understand what’s ahead.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 4 that provides a synopsis of the value of taking one’s time to confirm that the coach, student and the services offered are a match.
“Prescreening is an invaluable first step in the coaching process that enables the coach to identify early on whether the young person, parent, and coach are ready to engage in the coaching process. It involves gathering and sharing information with the parent and young person to make sure they are both clear on what the coaching process is, what the coaching process is not, and what boundaries and expectations guide the coaching process.
When coaches prescreen prospective clients, they are going through a careful process of deciding which individuals to engage and which individuals to refer elsewhere. They are unwilling to take on any and every client, and they will make every effort to avoid taking themselves and the client down a path to nowhere.
The prescreening process can offer reassurance to allied ADHD professionals that coaches are selective about which clients they engage and that they make every attempt to avoid accepting clients who are not the right match or who are unable to benefit from their services. The prescreening process is also a sign that a coach has no interest in taking business from other professionals better suited to help the client.”
Empowering Youth with ADHD, Chapter 4.
©Jodi Sleeper-Triplett. Not for reprint