ADHD Adults’ Success Stories
As you explore coaching as an option to help you manage your ADHD and reach your goals you want to know what benefits you will receive, of course. Read below what former clients say about their coaching experience and its impact on their life.
Then, if you are ready to learn more about how coaching can help you, schedule a Complimentary Consultation.
Marla has an excellent understanding of ADHD and a great knowledge base of related topics. She was able to expertly guide me through decisions I needed to make and helped me tackle big and small things I needed to do.
Knowing I had adhd was only 25% of the battle for me. I’m so glad that I chose to stay committed to coaching. Now that I have more self awareness about myself and my adhd I trust myself to get what I need done. I don’t try to do too much anymore and when I’ve done all I can on my own I’m more willing to reach out for support. My production is way higher than I expected, but I’m also way less stressed and that makes it easier on a personal level at home too.
- —A.V.
- Vice President - Investment Sales
I get it now. I understand why I do what I do and how to address my ADD challenges. I'm not just walking around scared of what will happen next.
Honestly, when I started coaching I wasn't sure it would help. For so long I just ignored my challenges and didn't think I could change because this is just the way I was... I had this magical kind of thinking. But I got to the point where I thought my ADD was going to eat me alive, and had no idea what to do to make things better. I was totally baffled!
I'm glad I gave coaching a try. With a good dose of humor, compassionate understanding and an ability to take charge during each session Marla helped me face my challenges, figure out what was important to me, and successfully tackle my responsibilities at home and work.
So, now I'm really clear and confident about my professional expertise, what I bring to the table and my abilities to do my work. And I'm taking care of stuff on the home front, too. No more magical unicorns...
- —Michelle C.
- Professional Development Director and School Design Consultant
Cost might have prevented me from hiring Marla but I decided that life is too short not to invest in something to make my life and the lives of the people around me better. I was able to sort through issues, and put the spotlight on what was important, instead of letting the ideas swirl about in my head. I also gained self awareness and self acceptance through our work together.
Marla is an excellent coach; she is a student of her work. She is also smart, warm and compassionate. I always felt respected when working with her.
If you are ready to work, I would recommend working with Marla.
- —P.M.
- Career Counselor
When I started with Marla I thought I just needed the right organizational system because I came to this thinking it was just like an engineering problem. But it wasn’t. We got into how I thought and felt. We really got into my relationship to things like my work, commitments and planning. I think it worked way better this way than if we just focused on how to organize stuff. Because I ended up changing my thinking, not just my practice and habits.
I was struggling and feeling pretty desperate when we started. Because of the combination of practical organizational work and focus on my feelings and thinking I’m feeling more in control than I ever have even though I have more work than I ever have. That that has made me feel more competent and confident that I can continue to stay in control and get things done!
- —David W.
- Attorney
I have been for help many times, and I’d gotten to the point where I thought I was so unusual that there is no help. But now I know it was because people were giving me models, like GTD, that did not work for me because the models did not work with how my brain works.
When I started working with Marla I was at the tipping point at work and was not coping. I was just feeling negative about myself and beating myself up a lot. It felt like work had all of me and there was nothing left. I didn’t think there was any way out of my situation.
Now I have tons of tools to use in different situations. I know how to structure my week and I have a structure for routines and reviewing what I am doing. I can even take out time for hobbies without feeling guilty! And I’m doing all this without feeling rushed internally, inside my head or getting mentally exhausted. I feel a lot calmer!
- —Karyn W.
- Business Change Consultant
I knew what I should have been doing but wasn’t doing it. Like doing deep thinking and setting aside “me time.” Looking back, I wonder why I wasn’t doing these things all along. Maybe I didn’t have the proof that it was the right thing to do. Now that I’ve used the strategies I know it’s the right thing to do. I have the proof.
I also think before I was being held back because I was trying to do too much by myself. I mean I’m not the first one to be dealing with these ADD challenges. There are ways that I can reach my goals. I just needed help learning new strategies. It’s empowering to know that it wasn’t because of my laziness.
Marla really got my thought process and understood my professional and personal life. So, she could help me think through my options by asking questions and not just telling me what to do. Now that I realize a lot of the answers are really in me already I’m much more methodical about giving myself time to think about my challenges and decide how to best work through them.
- —A. B.
- Partner, EdTech Startup
Coaching with Marla was very useful, and also essential. I do not know what I would have done w/o the Sunday night periods of going over the past week, looking forward to the next week, and making a plan. The actual phone check ins on Tuesdays…crucial, to help me get clear, as well as for the simple act of accountability.
Marla served as a focal point (as in, ‘oh, yeah, this was what I was doing’), and–at times–as an anchor that grounded things. I can not imagine having had to go through the past 6 months w.o. someone ‘outside’ me, and my life, to help me stay the course.
Now, I feel more confident in my abilities, in what I have to offer. I realize I do have options. How freeing! Lastly, but certainly not least, I have a very, very clear sense of my values, and I am using those to guide me, and that helps me to trust in my course.
- —Cindy R.
- Writer and Editor
What I gained from working with Marla was invaluable. Marla was consistently supportive, positive and uncritical. I learned to honor the way I work best, and am more accepting of my ADD and other characteristics. Now I ask myself, how can I get what I need to get done without running against my own personality? After learning more about ADD from Marla, I don’t think of my challenges as a personal weakness. This change in my thinking allows me to better handle my challenges by thinking of strategies to manage them, rather than engaging in self blame!
Yes, cost was definitely a factor when I decided to work with Marla, but I knew that this is what good professionals charge. Being able to make choices that are right for me and learn strategies that last a life time is invaluable to me. The investment was certainly worth it.
From working with Marla, I learned a lot about goal setting, meeting objectives, and doing that as a person with ADD.
If you are stuck or frustrated, I would certainly hire Marla as a coach.
- —C.O.
- Financial Manager
When I started working with Marla I had just been diagnosed with ADHD after getting burned out at work. I loved my job but had spent years relying on anxiety and a sense of urgency to compensate for my disability. Ultimately I wasn’t able to keep my commitments to my colleagues and was feeling very disappointed in myself.
Along with therapy and starting ADHD medication, coaching with Marla taught me how to manage my ADHD and modeled how to be kinder to myself. One year later, I’ve just received the best performance review of my career! With the skills I’ve learned through coaching, I’m excited for the future and ready to focus on my strengths.
- —S.P.
- Urban Planner
I have a lot more peace of mind, less stress, much less anxiety… I feel that we make progress in every session and always feel more confident that I am learning skills that will help me personally and professionally.
I particularly like that I do not feel ashamed when I talk about areas I want to improve. Understanding that I wasn’t broken, and just think about things differently was key. Trying to learn the way non-ADHD people learn was a mistake I have repeated my whole life.
I now know what the best environment is for me and can recognize distractions and noise immediately.
I am now able to have way more confidence to let go of the recurring thoughts about tasks, because I have tools that remember for me. I drop a lot less balls. In fact, typically, if I don’t do something now, it’s because I consciously lowered it on my priority list. I couldn’t do that very well before. I used to just shut down and drop everything because the stress was so great. That never happens anymore.
Thanks again for all your help. Your coaching was probably the best investment I've ever made in me!
- —T.D.
- Sales Professional
Together we identified obstacles that were preventing me from truly going after the job that I would be happiest in. I’m balancing a full workload (I currently have 4 part-time jobs), graduate school, and 15-20 hours of training as a competitive cyclist. For a few years, I was having trouble committing myself to finding a new job and this was, in turn, making it difficult for me to work toward my graduate degree. I recently overcame a major hurdle in my progress toward my degree and am in touch with an increasing pool of potential employers.
Marla is a time management guru, to be sure, but her most unique skill is her ability to ask questions that help me to step outside of myself for a moment and take a hard look at my motivations and decision making processes. Her questions have helped me to become more independently active in that I now know how to ask myself the kinds of questions that Marla might ask me. Without Marla’s help, I probably would not be as far along in my job search as I am now and would still be far from finishing my degree. Thanks, Marla!
- —Paul D.
- PhD Candidate / High-School Teacher
Through our work I clarified my goals, identified communication issues, fuzzy planning and established personal accountability. In working with Marla, I received practical organizing and planning techniques, inspiration and empowering suggestions. Marla helped me work with each issue as developing life skills and emphasized personal responsibility. Marla is an excellent coach and compassionate, encouraging mirror. I recommend her without any reservations.
- —Fred B.
- Business Consultant
The coaching worked so well because it was tailored just for me - not a cookie cutter type of experience. It was exactly what I needed! We identified and worked on my concerns - got at the root cause and figured out what I could do to make it better. I proved I am capable of growth and change.
For one, my communication has improved through the different departments and with my own team. My email and task organization are better, too. I have more tools at my disposal to help with my organization which helps me feel more calm and settled, even when things start to get hectic at work.
I have tried to be perfect for too long and it was causing me to focus on the wrong areas... I stopped thinking it is always my fault and I've started to develop a thicker skin when I do make a mistake. I can move on more quickly and stay focused on the current tasks instead of worrying unnecessarily.
I am more confident in my abilities and I have learned how to stop worrying as often about things outside of my control.
Marla did a wonderful job with everything. Everything we worked on I made improvements in!
- —E.A.
- Human Resource Manager
Marla has been tremendously helpful in keeping me “on track” with important and complex projects during a time when I cannot afford to get lost.
At the same time, she is helping me realize that while avocational goals are important, so too are relationships and personal fairness. In our last meeting, Marla helped me begin to tackle a lifelong misapprehension of time and how to gain control of it.
More important than problems solved is my greater confidence in addressing problems and trying to solve them, rather than simply quitting because no resolution is apparent.
Marla offers a non-judgemental, objective appreciation for the large and small difficulties and success that are not apparent to myself, and a way to order these things so that they can be confronted and appreciated, respectively.
She has helped me see what appear to be insurmountable problems as just small impediments. Specifically, she has goaded me into making phone calls to people that I didn’t think would want to hear from me, and to do everything to keep communications channels open.
She has also helped me by keeping a focus on the challenge I feel in organizing and constantly reviewing how to strike a balance between letting my schedule get out of control and focusing too intently on it and thus losing track of the bigger picture.
- —Josh D.
- Professional Writer and Editor
Marla was my second coach. The first one did not really help me, so I was kind of skeptical.
Marla’s help was astonishing. After only a few calls she seemed to have me figured out pretty well.
She called me on empty promises, pushed me just enough never too much, and together we came up with tools that actually work and which I actually use. She has an uncanny ability to know how far she can push me without ticking me off. Thanks to that I never felt pressure to lie about or excuse what I had done or how I was doing.
After living with ADD for many years I started believing that I was lazy, stupid, and crazy. Marla was able to convince me that I was none of these by helping me solve small issues and get a track record of success. Once those things were accomplished, many of the pieces sort of fell in to place.
- —Marc D.
- Software Engineer
Marla, thank you for introducing me to the tools and skills I need to radically change my life in a way no one in my life has ever done! I loved that you met me where I am and never forced me to do anything a certain way. Your perspective was always: "You are ok. Now let's figure out how we can get you where you want to go."
I used to bounce from thing to thing, and wanted to excel at all of them, but was doing done of them! Now I focus on the ideas that matter! Sure, some things are difficult and that is ok. I have the tools, skills and routines I need so I no longer get down on myself and think I can't do something just because it is hard.
Now I look forward to my work! It's even fun. I have more confidence. I'm also feel better about myself because I am better at keeping my word. Thanks to coaching I'm enjoying my life a whole lot more!
- —Elizabeth B.
- Writer
When I decided to try out coaching things were really messy and I couldn’t move in any direction. It’s far from perfect now. But that's okay because I don’t get hung up on being perfect anymore.
I’ve started doing things routinely that I’ve been thinking about for a long time, like regular exercise, a better diet and more professional projects and speaking engagements. I can do this because I do a lot more planning, am much more conscientious about what I put on my calendar and don’t commit to too much.
I’m also much more conscientious of my reaction to people. For example, I hate getting interrupted, but now I know how to handle it better. Also, I’m networking more with people, rather than avoiding them because planning with others can be so hard.
Thanks Marla for helping keep me on track and keep things in perspective.
- —Irene T.
- Psychiatrist
...while working with Marla, I have been able to move into a career that I have always wanted to be in. I spent many years with undiagnosed ADD not knowing why I had such difficulty with staying focused, starting projects and having difficulty finishing them, unable to prioritize what I needed to do in my life, and many of the other symptoms. I finally sought help through a physician who recommended taking medication. It was also suggested I find an ADD coach to help me re-learn new ways of managing my ADD. I contacted Marla, and after the first conversation I felt comfortable enough to give the coaching a try.
After a few sessions working with Marla, she was able to help me start developing the goals and tools I needed to start clearing the clutter in my life. Today using the different techniques that I have learned while working with Marla, I manage my time more efficiently, and complete projects to the end. It is good to know that you do not need to make the journey alone with ADD. I look forward to working with Marla now and in the future.
- —Chris E.
- Support Analyst
I definitely make better decisions now! I’ve even raised my prices. I now have money in savings! When we first spoke I was going to 0 every single month.
Thank you so much for all of your help. Working with you was truly life-changing! You ROCK!
- —Jessica P.
- Professional Photographer
I've never felt as hopeful as I am now. Marla's reassuring voice and straightforward manner helped me to internalize a consistent approach to each problem.
Before I was frazzled, couldn't do what I needed to do and felt like a fraud professionally. When things weren't working before I saw it as a personal failing. We figured out what I needed to do. And now stuff is not falling through my fingers and I'm not surprised by things that come up professionally.
Every accomplishment felt reinforcing. I remind myself when I have organizational challenges now that it is my neurobiology, not me! I don't see myself as defective and am not ashamed anymore. I just think about the next step I need to do to figure it out.
- —Deborah
- Psychologist
I didn't see any avenues to adjust and couldn't effectively keep on top of the whirlwind. Even though I felt scrambled and overwhelmed before it was too difficult to talk to others to get help because they didn't get what it is like to be an ADHD Adult.
So it was helpful working with Marla to get out of my head and hone in on the issues with someone who understands what I am going through. Now I understand my condition and am more accepting of how I am wired. I even think differently about solutions to problems that I run into. I think about how I can come up with solutions that work with my brain wiring.
Marla was never about "this is the way you should do it," but about what works best for me. Best help I've ever had! We got to the root of so many of my problems. So now I have a better relationship with myself and I know I'm not crazy!
- —Randy W.
- Senior Associate, Professional Services
If you are interested in learning more about how coaching can help you achieve similar results, please use the form below to set up a time for us to talk.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly,
