Neurodivergence Coaching & Mentoring
Create structure in YOUR world with your brilliant brain
The relationship between the chef and the kitchen is similar to coaching.
The chef decides what food to cook, when to cook it and how to prepare it, while the kitchen, like the coach, simply provides the space and equipment to facilitate the cooking. It is the chef who must invest the time and effort to learn about different ingredients and culinary techniques, and use the tools to create delicious meals.
Our brains are different, and we mustn’t compare ourselves with neurotypicals
Do you experience any of these?
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You feel overwhelmed by emotions on a regular basis, and your mind is constantly active; it’s exhausting.
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You hate the thought of rejection, so you find yourself saying yes to people all the time to keep everyone happy, which means you don’t have time left for yourself.
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You have many new ideas but not enough time to see them through.
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Staying focused is a challenge, or on the other hand, you frequently obsess over something and only to lose interest.
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You make impulsive decisions and maybe even rationalise them but later regret them.
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Being “the last picked and first picked on” is a common theme and you often feel left out, even with friends.
And many other challenges (see the full list here).
We’re often called stupid, lazy or crazy.
It’s estimated that many neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD or autism, by the age of 12, have heard approximately 20,000 more negative messages than their neurotypical counterparts. This can lead to a negative outlook later in life and, along with other executive function challenges, contribute to poor decision-making, life choices and self-esteem.
We can change that today. We don’t have a scrambled brain, we’re just different. Be kind to ourselves and start putting our needs first.
Life Coaching Alone Isn’t Enough
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) actively promotes inclusive coaching practices such as neurodivergence coaching to support neurodivergent individuals. There are executive function challenges unique to us that only a neurodiversity specialist is trained to understand.
Ideally, you’ll work with a neurodiversity specialist who has successfully managed their condition so you learn about your condition from someone who gets you.
My holistic approach combines executive function, burnout, life, nutrition, and health coaching with education to help you better understand your brain.
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The goal is to establish the building blocks of self-care and develop your executive function skills. We’ll start with an executive skills assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. From there, the coaching is customised to address the deficits.
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This is a collaboration between us where we focus on sustaining change to achieve your goals. Neurodivergent individuals are more likely to use negative experiences and messages when making decisions, which can result in poor outcomes. Life coaching helps you overcome this and supports your executive function challenges.
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Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. As a certified Burnout Coach trained under Balanceology, I can help you identify the early signs of burnout, develop effective coping strategies, and implement sustainable changes to prevent burnout from occurring again.
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Good nutrition and overall health are essential for managing your condition and improving your quality of life. You’ll discover how food and lifestyle choices impact your energy, focus, and mood.
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ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions are complex and are often misdiagnosed or overlooked. Education around neurodivergence will involve sharing scientific research to help you understand your brain, sharing from my own experience, and education around food and nutrition to help you eat better so you can take control of your symptoms.
A Holistic Approach to Building Balance
Holistic neurodivergent support requires looking at you as a whole:
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Food and Nutrition
Discover nutritious and tasty foods to manage your symptoms and perform at your best.
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Exercise
Studies have demonstrated keeping active benefits the brain through increased focus, better performance, planning and much more.
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Medication
Let’s remove the stigma around medication and focus on optimal treatment, as guided by your doctor.
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Self Care
To improve your executive function capacity, we must establish the building blocks of self-care.
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Coaching
We’ll collaborate to identify your challenges, set goals and reach them effectively.
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Creating Healthy Boundaries
Learn to say yes to yourself so you prioritise your wellbeing and learn to notice other people’s boundaries.
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Mindfulness
By training in mindfulness, you learn to pay attention to your thoughts, which helps you make better choices.
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Creating Healthy Routines
Add structure to your day by creating healthy routines that stick.
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Developing Healthy Interests
Neurodivergent individuals are creative and passionate people who love stimulation, but we need to become aware of interests that are destructive rather than healthy.
Ready to experience the above and transform your life?
The difference between coaching and mentoring
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Coaching
A coach listens, supports, and challenges you with thought-provoking questions to help you reach your goals. Think of a joint partnership where the focus is on where you’re at now and facilitating you to where you want to be. As your coach, I will anchor specific, measurable and time-bound goals and hold you accountable to ensure success.
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Mentoring
A mentor educates, shares personal experiences and strategies without attachment. Mentoring involves advising on best practices to manage your ADHD. Since my diagnosis in 1994, there’s a lot that I’ve learnt, and I share this with my clients.
Not a magic wand or a substitute for therapy
I’ll be honest, coaching isn’t for everyone. It only works if you’re committed to change. It takes time and effort as long-term sustainable results don’t happen overnight.
Coaching doesn’t replace therapy or advice from your doctor. While coaching is forward facing and beneficial for ADHDers, it isn’t suited to healing the deeper, emotional wounds. If issues come up that are outside the scope of coaching, I will bring this to your attention and recommend a trusted referral.
I abide by the ICF Code of Ethics in my coaching practice.
80% of coaching clients reported an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence
96% indicated they would repeat the coaching experience
The International Coach Federation (ICF) Global Coaching Client Study, Executive Summary 2009
An Investment In Your Health, Wealth and Quality of Life
How often have you incurred financial loss or lost time, or experienced guilt, self-doubt and other negative consequences due to your symptoms? This is known as the neurodiversity tax - the cost of living with neurodiversity and it’s high.
Research has shown those with neurodivergent conditions have a “significantly poorer financial situation” than neurotypicals. When left untreated, neurodiversity tax can add up and cause emotional and financial stress.
Coaching helps you identify and overcome challenges holding you back. A structure is put in place to manage your condition so you can lead a fulfilling, productive life and reduce your neurodiversity tax.
How much money would you save by investing in neurodivergence coaching now?
Format
I recommend fortnightly sessions over a minimum period of three months so you have enough time to implement the changes and begin to see results.
To ensure we’re a good fit for each other, I’d love to invite you for a complimentary intro session.
Meet Your Coach
Luke is a coach, mentor & neurodiversity specialist, diagnosed with ADHD himself in 1994. With over 20 years of experience as a qualified chef, he also incorporates education on food and nutrition into his practice.
He helps adults manage and maximise their gifts through executive function, burnout, life, nutrition, and health coaching to facilitate self-awareness. Luke believes being neurodivergent is an asset and a strength when the right balance and structure are created and viewed holistically.
Luke specialises in impostor phenomenon, perfectionism, and rejection sensitivity, creating a safe space for clients to uncover their strengths. He works with creative minds, freelancers, mid-career professionals, and entrepreneurs.