Beyond the Diagnosis: Why Adults with ADHD Are Turning to Strength-Based Coaching

Our modern medical treatments often focus on deficits where many adults with ADHD are seeking alternatives that recognise and build upon their inherent strengths. A qualitative case study from the Netherlands explored why adults with ADHD are opting for strength-based coaching over conventional public mental health services.

Through 23 semi-structured interviews, the researchers found that participants valued coaching for its optimistic, solution-focused approach, contrasting it with the symptom-centered methods of traditional therapy. Additionally, participants generally described long, negative histories with public mental health services such as delayed ADHD diagnoses, treatment for unrelated disorders, and interactions with impersonal systems. Public mental health care was perceived as deficit-focused, rigid, and medication-driven, often failing to recognise clients as individuals. In contrast, the coaching center was praised for its optimistic, strength-based, and person-centered approach. Clients valued the collaborative nature of coaching, where individual strengths and life goals guided the therapeutic process.

Participants highlighted several reasons for preferring coaching including

• Empowerment: Coaching was seen as a collaborative process that emphasised personal agency.

• Holistic Understanding: Coaches focused on the individual's entire life context, not just symptoms.

• Positive Reinforcement: The strength-based model fostered self-confidence and resilience.

"Public mental health care was perceived as deficit-focused, rigid, and medication-driven, often failing to recognise clients as individuals. In contrast, the coaching center was praised for its optimistic, strength-based, and person-centered approach"

These aspects led to a deeper self-awareness and better coping strategies, enabling individuals to navigate life's challenges more effectively. Many participants appreciated the personal relationships formed with their coaches, some of whom shared their own experiences with ADHD. This experiential empathy fostered trust and mutual respect, enhancing the perceived effectiveness of the coaching process.

While the findings cannot be generalised to all adults with ADHD, the study highlights a significant gap in public mental health services. It suggests that a subgroup of adults with ADHD feel underserved and benefit from approaches that emphasise strengths, personhood, and hope. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of person-centred approaches in mental health care, by shifting the focus from what's "wrong" to what's "strong," strength-based coaching offers a paradigm that aligns more closely with the lived experiences and needs of adults with ADHD.

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References:

Schrevel, S. J. C., Dedding, C., & Broerse, J. E. W. (2016). Why Do Adults With ADHD Choose Strength-Based Coaching Over Public Mental Health Care? A Qualitative Case Study From the Netherlands. SAGE Open, 6(3).