ADHD Crash Course

ADHD and Executive Functioning – The Manual vs Automatic Transmission AnalogyManaging everyday tasks with ADHD can take so much more effort than we think it should! In this video, we explore an analogy that helps explain what it's like to live with ADHD: driving a manual transmission vs. an automatic.This isn't about which brain "version" is better or worse—it's about understanding that you may need to learn how to consciously "shift gears" when others do it automatically. This DOES take more effort in the beginning, but once you master your own system, it becomes second nature!

Struggling to keep track of all the things?

In this video, I explain how sensory differences between parents and children can cause guilt, burnout, and dysregulation—especially for neurodivergent parents.This video offers practical tools and insights to help you navigate sensory overload and advocate for your own needs while still showing up for your kids!Whether you're struggling with being touched out, overwhelmed by noise, or just need permission to take a break, this video will give you both strategies and emotional validation.✨ Join my FREE Sensory Strategies for ADHD training (link below)!https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/webinar-registration-1✨ Interested in More Support for your sensory needs? Join my group coaching program!https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/eyb-group-program⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Intro & Topic: Sensory needs in parenting0:30 – The sensory onslaught of kids1:00 – Guilt and the pressure to "power through"2:00 – What happens when we suppress our needs2:45 – Dysregulation: shutdown vs. meltdown3:10 – Modeling self-care helps kids too4:00 – Strategy 1: Taking sensory breaks5:00 – Strategy 2: Talking to your kids about it6:00 – ADHD, sensory issues, and body awareness7:00 – How to build interoceptive skills8:00 – Strategy 3: Dulling sensory input (visual & auditory)9:00 – Strategy 4: Managing touch when you're touched out10:00 – The power of proprioceptive input11:00 – Examples of proprioceptive activities12:00 – Guilt is not helpful—self-compassion is13:00 – Reframing sensory mismatch- it can offer your kids skills!14:00 – Closing thoughts: You're doing a good job!#ADHDParenting#SensoryProcessing#ExecutiveFunctioning#NeurodivergentParent#TouchedOut#ParentingWithADHD#OccupationalTherapy#SensoryOverload#MomGuilt#RegulationSkills

Today I'm chatting with Shell Mendelson, an author and career coach who teaches how you can find the right career path with ADHD.She helps multi-passionate professionals discover how to explore their interests and consider essential career factors on their journey to unlock their career path.In this podcast, we discuss :Challenges for college students in early career planningHow to identify your skills, goals, needs and accommodationFields of fascination – those areas of interest that have been neglected in the past, but can be explored nowChallenges of multi passionate individuals and the importance of prioritizing interests and taking actionHow to recognize and overcome the "safekeeping self" by asking questions and exploring you possibilitiesHow late-diagnosed and/ or older clients may face more challenges due to past experiences, current responsibilities and negative self talkHow to advocate for yourself throughout the interview process and beyondHow to reach Shell: https://passiontocareer.com

In this podcast episode, I'm chatting with Skye Waterson, a former academic turned coach, podcast host, and founder of an international ADHD support service, Unconventional Organisation.Skye's services help overwhelmed professionals with ADHD create focused, balanced days for themselves and their families. Today she's speaking about time and overwhelm and offers her tips on prioritization, delegation and how we can ease transitions between high to low dopamine tasks!Connect with Skye via Instagram @‌unconventionalorganisation or visit her website at ADHD Treatment Online | Coaching for Symptom Management  for her prioritization filter and additional resources.

Sometimes when we struggle, we find ourselves believing the same old "stories" that have been bouncing around in our heads for years.Things like:"I always drop the ball""I'm such a disaster""I don't trust myself to make changes".Not only do these shame-based stories wear us down, they move us far away from problem solving. That's because in order to effectively solve problems, we need to be open and curious. Self judgment is just the opposite of that! Self judgment doesn't attempt to look for answers because it thinks it already has them! If you have these kind of negative stories on repeat, they may be preventing you from actually finding the strategies that will work for your brain!. In this episode of ADHD Crash Course, I talk about how my client's old stories impacted her and how she challenged those stories. As a returning college student with a bumpy academic past, she had some stories to push back on when she got behind in her assignments. I'll also talk about what happened next; how working on challenges like executive functioning skills and managing her overwhelm became much more doable once her brain moved off of the self criticism and into problem solving! 

In this 2 episode podcast interview, I chat with Dr. Tamara Rosier, author of Your Brain's Not Broken.We'll discuss her new book, You, Me, & Our ADHD Family!Topics we cover in this 2 podcast series:using transformational rather than survival thinkingthe importance of regulating your nervous system building self awarenesssafe people: how to recognize them as well as determine if YOU are one for othersthe three kinds of empathy (and which one tends to be out of balance for many of us!)how empathy can go wrong for those of us with ADHDWant to connect with Dr. Rosier? You can find her here.

In this 2 episode podcast interview, I chat with Dr. Tamara Rosier, author of Your Brain's Not Broken and You, Me, & Our ADHD Family. In the second episode, we'll continue to discuss her new book, including these topics:how to repair when we've made mistakes in our relationshipsunder and over functioning (and why it matters for ADHD)teaching our children with ADHD to self advocatethe 3 kinds of empathy how those with ADHD can balance if they have too much "heart empathy"Want to connect with Dr. Rosier? You can find her here.

ADHD impacts our ability to regulate our attention, activity level, and emotions! We need easy tools to help us regulate in order to show up the way we want.Sensory strategies are the perfect "body-level" tool that can help you calm down, increase your energy, improve your focus and manage BIG emotions! In this episode, we'll learn how to use this powerful tool for self-regulation.Want more tools? Sign up for my FREE 5 day Sensory Strategies for ADHD email series here!Interested in joining us for my NEW Group Coaching Membership? Use the code CRASH COURSE for the month of December for a BIG discount on your first month here!

Task initiation is an executive functioning skill and can be a HUGE struggle for us (especially when we're overwhelmed). What can we do? (other than "try harder" or "just do it"). Today I'll share tips to help you get started when your motivation, energy, interest are running low!

The use of ADHD medications is a personal choice and one that can generate a good amount of confusion. How do we know whether or not to try medication as a tool to manage ADHD? What are the benefits? What are the risks? Is the stigma that continues to surround the use of ADHD medications warranted? In this episode, I'll discuss some of the questions you can ask as yourself and your mental health provider as you navigate this complex topic. 

Today I chat with Meredith Carder, author of "It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life". Meredith is an ADHD coach, content creator, speaker and author who is passionate about helping those with ADHD live their best lives!In this episode we discuss:-late ADHD diagnosis and its impact-how shame can block our progress- the need for cognitive flexibility- tips for building a strategy toolbox that will work for your brain- and more!Want to connect with Meredith?Instagram:   / hummingbird_adhd  Website: https://meredithcarder.com/Book: https://meredith-rose-carder.mykajabi...

We all do it. We planned to do something, believed we would and then we drop the ball. For whatever reasons, something we 100 % planned to do didn't happen.When we don't follow through with the things that matter to us, we may have our own "stories" about why. The problem with these stories is that they are often harsh. judgmental, and leave no room for actual problem solving!Approaching our failures with curiosity and openness allows us to find solutions that work for our brains. We can "flop" artfully when we take a moment to analyze how it happened and what we need for a different result. On today's episode of ADHD Crash Course, we'll discover practical ways we can do that!

Finding the right accommodations for students with ADHD can be complicated! There is no "one size fits all" and some accommodations for ADHD might actually make it more difficult for a student to learn! In this episode of ADHD Crash Course, we'll talk about the difference between IEPs and 504s and discuss some common (and less common) accommodations that help support neurodivergent learners in the classroom.

The journey of learning to work with our brains isn't typically linear!  We often learn in a  "spiral" pattern; introduced to strategies and then moving on to other tools before we've mastered these. Later, we revisit what we've learned and deepen our knowledge and experience.  The process spiral learning can leave us doubting our progress (or even feeling like we're "failing") since we are working on several different areas gradually, but eventually we reinforce these skills and see big changes!Interested in joining our new coaching membership? You can learn more here.

We all feel like we aren't "enough" at times. We live in a productivity-driven society, so feeling that we aren't doing enough can quickly shift into an overall sense of not being enough. It can feel like we're not measuring up, no matter what we do! Today we'll discuss this never-enough struggle and identify some action-based strategies you can try when you're struggling with "not-enough" thoughts.Links mentioned in this episode:Sign Up for a Free Values PDF !Clarity Coaching WebsiteOther values resources:via strengths website

Time management is more than just being punctual. Getting good at managing our time can help us live more intentionally (rather than just reacting to what's in front of us).Time management is complex; it requires many different executive functioning skills working together in order to help us organize and direct our days!In today's episode, I'll share my recent time management fails and we'll also break down some of the individual skills needed to get better at managing our time!Use the code CRASH COURSE for a big discount on my new group coaching membership for the month of August:Learn More Here!

Organizing can be overwhelming; especially when you have ADHD! Today we have Emily Beaversen, a professional organizer who specializes in helping people with ADHD find approaches to organizing their lives that work with their brains. Listen to our interview for her insights on how traditional approaches to organization might fail us and what we can do instead!Links mentioned in this episode:Contact Emily Beaversen: emily@sosimpleorganization.comwebsite: https://www.sosimpleorganization.comInstitute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD)National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO)

Organizing can be overwhelming; especially when you have ADHD! Today we have Emily Beaversen, a professional organizer who specializes in helping people with ADHD find approaches to organizing their lives that work with their brains. Listen to our interview for her insights on how traditional approaches to organization might fail us and what we can do instead!Links mentioned in this episode:Contact Emily Beaversen: emily@sosimpleorganization.comwebsite: https://www.sosimpleorganization.comInstitute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD)National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO)

When we experiences sensory defensiveness, every day sensory inputs can be overwhelming  (or even painful!) Those of us with ADHD are more likely to have these differences in sensory processing  (although you can also have sensory defensiveness/ sensory processing issues without ADHD).Sensory defensiveness has a significant impact on our daily function.  When common sensory inputs (like sights, touch, and sounds) overload our nervous system, it can be impossible to focus on what we want or need to do in the day. We might feel drained, agitated or panicked as our body respond to the perception of danger from these sensory cues.The agitation and overwhelm that sensory overload triggers can make it difficult to regulate our nervous system, even long after the sensory input is removed!  Understanding what sensory defensiveness is, how it impacts us, and  and what we can do to help is an important tool for those of us with ADHD and the topic of today's episode of ADHD Crash Course.Want to learn more about Sensory Strategies for ADHD? Join my free training below:FREE Sensory Strategies Training!

There are times that our emotions are so strong that we struggle to identify exactly what we're feeling. There's a surprisingly simple technique that can help us understand our more complicated emotions, and in doing so, develop the skills we need to regulate these emotions! Today we'll look at how to use the feelings wheel that was developed by Dr. Gloria Wilcox. This simple tool can help us label our more complicated emotions, regulate emotionally, and better communicate about our emotions with others. We'll also explore a related approach from Dr. Daniel Siegel; his "name it to tame it" model, and learn how just identifying/ labeling our emotions can serve as a powerful tool in regulating them!Download your FREE Feelings Wheel PDF here!Interested in learning more about my group coaching membership? Join the wait list today to get more information! 

Imposter syndrome can make us feel like our wins are more luck than due to our skills or abilities. Even if we've spent a good deal of effort to get our outcomes, our achievements makes us feel more like a fraud than a success.  With Imposter Syndrome, our wins don't feel like wins at all; our brain tells us that they're just luck, outliers, or flukes.On today's episode of ADHD Crash Course, we'll discuss Imposter Syndrome and learn:3 reasons why people with ADHD are more likely to experience Imposter Syndrome Why over-confidence and capability are often inversely relatedThe Dunning Kruger Effect and why people who have more knowledge/ skill/ experience are often the very people who doubt themselves the mostWhy Donae thought she could easily reupholster a couch despite having no previous experience If you are dealing with imposter syndrome, you are not alone! Listen to today's episode to learn how to manage it.Interested in learning more about my group coaching membership? Join the wait list today to get more information! 

Today I'm chatting with Jackie Silver, a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist who works with neurodivergent and physically disabled communities through a weight-inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming lens.We're discussing some of the common barriers that those with ADHD face when it comes to nutrition and Jackie offers her insights on strategies that help!You can reach Jackie here:Website: jackiesilvernutrition.com 

Habits can be tough! Today's episode focuses on 4 ways habits "go wrong" and what we can do about it. ***New starting Spring 2024! Clarity Coaching's ADHD Coaching Membership! For more information about the membership and updates for the launch, join the waitlist/interest list here: membership.

Planning and prioritizing can be a challenge for most of us, especially at work. Professional productivity often demands a lot from our executive functioning skills!Things like breaking down big projects, coordinating with clients or coworkers, monitoring progress, or managing our schedule/ time are components of greater responsibilities that we have at work. Struggling with these can impact our performance in big ways!Today I'm interviewing Antonia Bowring, a top ranked executive coach, speaker, and author who, at the age of 50, received a diagnosis of ADHD. Antonia will share a bit about her personal story as well as her own insights on planning and prioritizing at work.If you are interested in reading Antonia's book, Coach Yourself!: Increase Awareness, Change Behavior, and Thrive you can find it here.You can also connect with her on her website and on Tik Tok @ Antonia Bowring 963.

Today we chat with Erin Vandermore, a licensed therapist, wellness coach, and the founder of Age of Uncertainty Coaching about the complicated connection between trauma and ADHD. Since ADHD and trauma can show up very similarly, it can be challenging (even for clinicians) to differentiate between the two. The fact that many of those with an ADHD diagnosis have experienced trauma around their diagnosis and/or the impact ADHD has had on their lives adds to the complexity of this topic. Erin offers expert insights on how we can identify trauma and understand its influence on our lives. She explains how somatic therapies like EMDR work and how they can be used to overcome our traumatic experiences.Listen to this episode of ADHD Crash Course to learn more about the ADHD/ Trauma Connection! If you would like to connect with Erin, she can be reached at Age of Uncertainty Coaching.

Sometimes we're just stuck. It might look like scrolling on our phones, hitting the "next episode" button on Netflix, or even just staring out the window. What makes us "stuck" is not the activity itself; it's the fact that we want or need to move on but it feels impossible to do so.What can we do to move out of that place of stuckness to one where we can choose what we do next? How can we get going when we feel like we're moving through quicksand?Today we'll talk about using "transition activities" to gently move out of a frozen state and into one of mobility and productivity.  This is not about "trying harder", it's about learning how to work with your nervous system exactly where it is!

Many people with ADHD  have the experience of being perceived as selfish in conversations (or even in their relationships). It can be frustrating for both the person with ADHD and their friends! ADHD traits can negatively impact our communication and relationships; impulsivity, memory challenges, and divergent thought preference can make it harder for us to connect/ be in sync with others.In todays episode we'll discuss common ways ADHD traits impact our communication/relationship and what we can do about it. We'll discuss how we can make changes that line up with our own values without masking or being inauthentic.

We are always on the hunt for the perfect planner/ time system/ organization system for ADHD!The search can be frustrating AND expensive! The most important part of any system that we choose is something that doesn't come with the planner we buy...our habits around using it!In today's episode, we'll talk about several questions you can ask yourself to find the right planner/ time system for YOU and steps you can take to ensure whatever you choose actually works to keep track of your time and cut down on chaos.Discount link for the Remarkable 2: https://remarkable.com/referral/QDMY-7NUN

Although grades serve as one measure of our progress, they should NOT be the only measure! Students with executive functioning deficits (and even those without) benefit when we shift our focus from the outcome to the effort they are making. Not only does this decrease anxiety, it helps develop key EF skills like planning, prioritizing, self-monitoring, and flexible thinking. Building these skills matter more than achieving a perfect score on any one test or class.  When we overemphasize  grades, it can actually make it more difficult for students to develop the executive functioning skills they need! Why? They stop focusing on what they can control in the moment and get overwhelmed with a future outcome.Learn how we can shift our emphasis with our students and why it matters in this episode of ADHD Crash Course!

Working memory can be thought of as our shortest term memory; it's the information we hold in our mind in order to get things done. These are some common ways working memory deficits show up in our day to day lives:Having to dig a box mix out of the trash several times to re-read steps when bakingWalking into a room but forgetting why you're thereForgetting a new acquaintance's name seconds after you've heard itIf any of these sounds familiar, you can join us today for a discussion on working memory; what it is and how to support your brain if you struggle in this area!

Many of us have had the experience of sharing how ADHD impacts us only to be met with the response "You're using ADHD as an excuse". How can we respond to this? Today we'll take a look at this common misconception when it comes to understanding ADHD. Our own perceptions of our "locus of control"  can make a big difference in how we respond to comments like these! 

There's a word swap you can use to strengthen executive function skills AND approach yourself (and others) with less judgment. Try replacing "why" with "how" in some of your questions.Example: "Why did I wait until the last minute to start this project?""How do I decide when to start my project?""Why is it so hard for me to make decisions?""How  do I make decisions?"When we're frustrated, why questions can make us feel defensive. They ask us to justify our motives or reasoning.  “How” questions shift us to a place of curiosity- how exactly is this thing getting done (or not getting done)? Why asks for motivations, but how is a question that looks at our process.  "How" helps us see the steps that lead us to an outcome and make changes. Then we can decide if there are different steps we want to take to change those outcomes!

What is DBT ( (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)? How is it different from CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and how is it used to support people with ADHD?Today we'll explore the DBT approach and its components, including mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance skills. 

Why do divergent thinkers frequently deal with overwhelm? One possible reason is our tendency to see all of the things... all at once! Our brains like to make connections and that can serve us in some settings but lead to overwhelm in others.When it comes to overwhelm, this pattern of thinking can make prioritizing and decision making tough. It's harder for us to "back off" of the connections our brain has made and see/ do one thing at a time. (This focus on one thing at a time is an important part of keeping overwhelm at bay).In today's episode of ADHD Crash Course, I'll talk about practical ways that we can see less and how to use this approach to beat overwhelm!

Today we're talking about Mental Load, otherwise known as "invisible labor" and why understanding this concept is so important for those of us with ADHD.What is mental load? It's the cognitive labor that goes into taking care of life. It's the “worry work”; anticipating what is needed, researching options, planning, organizing, remembering, monitoring—- all of the thought work that goes into managing homes, work, family, and social lives. If you are not in a partnership, you carry the weight of this work independently and if you have ADHD, this invisible labor can be even more challenging since in requires strong executive functioning skills. Being in a partnership may not necessarily lighten this load for women, though. Studies suggest that women are often the default person for carrying the mental workload in families and that this can lead to overwhelm and burnout. Today we'll talk about this dynamic and ways we can protect against the negative impact of not sharing this cognitive work.Additional Resources:Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Today we speak with Dawn Barclay, author of "Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse".  Dawn shares helpful tips for how we can support our children with invisible needs like ADHD, Autism, and anxiety and enjoy creating family memories with less stress!You can connect with Dawn in the following ways:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedIn

Today we chat with Dr. Tamara Rosier, author of Your Brain's Not Broken. Dr. Rosier discusses the difference between convergent and divergent thinking and why understanding this difference can have a huge impact for those of us with ADHD!Many with ADHD prefer divergent thinking since this allows for creativity, expansion, and connection. While necessary for everyday life, tasks that fall under the convergent thinking category are often found to be boring or frustrating to those with a preference for divergent thought. We need both "thought modes" to thrive in our modern world and Dr. Rosier's interview will offer us some tools to help us do that!Dr. Tamara Rosier's website

Today we're chatting with ADHD Career Coach and Mentor Shell Mendelson who specializes in helping those with ADHD find fulfilling and sustainable careers. She'll discuss the 7 steps she uses with her clients to help them find their perfect fit professionally!Link to Information on Shell's Masterclass

When I refer to "time travel" I'm talking about our ability to think about our future selves and determine what we will need at that future point. This can also refer to our habit of thinking about the past and applying what we've learned to our current circumstances.For those with ADHD, traveling through time may not be automatic, and time might be seen as "now" or "not now", but that doesn't mean we can't strengthen this skill.Use today's tips to plan for what's next and set your future self up for success!

How we respond to our circumstances is driven by a cycle that we may not be aware of.  This cycle is often called different things: the cognitive triangle, the self coaching model, CBT model of emotions, and more, but analyzing each of these parts of the cycle can help us understand why we choose certain actions. If we want to make changes in our lives, interrupting this cycle at different places can give us different results. Listen today to learn more about the thoughts-emotion- action- result cycle and some specific tips for those with ADHD.

Public speaking is one of the top fears for many of us! Although we may picture  grade school book reports or motivational speakers when we think of this topic, the reality is that most of us have to speak "publicly" in some capacity in our professional ( and personal) lives!Sammie Walker Herrera is a confidence and public speaking coach (and a fellow ADHD brain) and in this interview she shares some of her top tips for helping those of us with fast (or frozen) brains become better public speakers!You can find Sammie here.

One label I often hear unfairly applied to those with ADHD is "lazy".  The reality is that what is often perceived/ interpreted as "laziness" is the shut down that comes from overwhelm. We see too much at once and that makes it hard to get started. Today we'll talk about the tendency for those of us with ADHD to see too much.  This is a common contributor to overwhelm and can result in the inability to get started on what we want to do. We'll find tools and strategies that help break the overwhelm cycle and brain storm practical tips so we can "see less" in everyday jobs/ activities. Whether it's cleaning a room, dealing with our calendar or managing emails, we can be strategic in order to see less!https://www.theadhdclaritycoach.com/contact

There are some "adulting" tasks that are Achilles heels for us and many people with ADHD report that laundry is one of them! Struggling with everyday tasks like this can trigger shame and self judgment, which makes it even harder to find the solutions we need to make things easier for us. Today we're going to look at why jobs like this are challenging and what we can do to make them more manageable. We'll discuss how factors like executive functioning skills, habit formation, visual distractibility/overwhelm, and black and white thinking can impact us and how we can better support our brains to lessen that impact! 

Identifying and leveraging our personal values is a motivation hack that often gets overlooked! If we're not aware of our top priorities when it comes to our values, we may miss out on a powerful tool for decision making. Learn more about how to apply information about your values to improve your motivation and gain clarity.Links for this episode:The VIA Character Strengths Survey:https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/Register

Today I interview Aleta Storch  who is a Nutrition and ADHD coach and an expert onADHD, Nutrition, and Intuitive Eating. Aleta offers helpful insights that her personal and professional experience had provided.She'll talk about some of the common pitfalls that we face in our relationship with food as those with ADHD and offer helpful, down to earth advice.Want to reach Aleta? website: https://www.wiseheartnutrition.com/email: https://admin@wiseheartnutrition.com

What is meant by "Ask Culture" and " Guess Culture"? At their core, these terms are referring to communication styles. In Ask Culture, you ask for your wants and needs directly. In turn, the answers you receive are direct and a "no" most likely doesn't need to be qualified, justified, or "softened".In Guess Culture, directly asking for what you want may be seen as pushy or even rude. The communication style of Guess Culture favors suggesting or hinting at what one wants or needs in an effort to elicit an offer of help from another without "putting them on the spot". How can we navigate communication between these two communication styles and how does ADHD complicate this?  Join us for this episode of ADHD Crash Course to learn more!

It's a common question for those who are diagnosed with ADHD: Should I tell my employer that I have ADHD? If so, when? How?In today's episode we'll talk about how to know whether or not to tell your employer about your ADHD diagnosis and look at how to navigate that conversation if and when you decide to do so.

Many people with ADHD struggle with the transition to college. College life requires more independence and offers less structure and these changes can be difficult to navigate when you have executive functioning challenges.   Today we'll discuss common challenges for students with ADHD and strategies that can help!