Questions
FAQ
What is ADHD coaching?
ADHD coaching is a collaborative, practical and future-focused form of support. We look at how ADHD affects your everyday life, identify what you want to change and develop approaches that fit the way your mind works. The aim is not to make you behave like somebody else. It is to help you understand yourself, make clearer choices and build strategies you can realistically use.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Therapy and coaching can complement one another, but they serve different purposes. Therapy may focus on emotional distress, mental health conditions, trauma and past experiences. Coaching focuses mainly on your present situation and the direction you want to move in. We might work on planning, organisation, routines, time management, emotional self-regulation or following through on goals. Coaching does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and it is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical care.
Do I need an ADHD diagnosis before starting?
No. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from coaching. We can work with the challenges you are experiencing, such as procrastination, overwhelm, disorganisation or difficulty starting tasks. If you want diagnostic clarification, I can encourage you to speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional, but I will not diagnose you.
Will you advise me about ADHD medication?
No. Medication decisions belong with your psychiatrist, doctor or prescribing clinician. I do not recommend starting, stopping or changing medication, and I do not interpret side effects. Coaching can help you prepare questions for your clinician, organise appointments and develop practical support strategies, but medical advice remains outside the coaching relationship.
Can you tell me whether I have ADHD, autism or another condition?
No. A coach does not diagnose or decide whether an existing diagnosis is correct. I can help you explore the traits you notice, how they affect your daily life and what support strategies may help. For formal assessment or diagnostic clarification, I will direct you towards a qualified healthcare professional.
Can coaching replace therapy or psychiatric care?
No. Coaching is not psychotherapy, psychiatric treatment or medical care. Some people work with a coach alongside a therapist, psychiatrist or other professional. If your needs move beyond the scope of coaching, I will discuss that honestly and encourage you to seek the most appropriate support.
What if I am experiencing severe anxiety, trauma or a mental health crisis?
Your safety and wellbeing come first. Coaching can support practical next steps, routines and day-to-day functioning, but it does not treat trauma or acute mental health difficulties. If what you are experiencing requires clinical support, I will encourage you to contact a qualified mental health professional or emergency service rather than trying to address it through coaching alone.
Will you tell me what to do?
No. Coaching is not about taking over your decisions or giving you a set of instructions. I will ask questions, offer relevant psychoeducation and help you examine options. You remain responsible for choosing what fits your circumstances, values and goals.
Can you advise me about investments, legal matters or other specialist decisions?
I can help with the executive-function side of a decision, such as clarifying a goal, organising information, preparing questions or creating a plan. I do not provide financial, legal or other regulated professional advice. Where specialist expertise is needed, I will encourage you to consult an appropriately qualified professional.
What happens during the first session?
We begin by getting to know one another, discussing what has brought you to coaching and identifying what you would like to be different. We will also clarify how coaching works, the boundaries of the relationship and whether I am the right coach for you. There is no pressure to arrive with everything already worked out.
How long do people usually work with a coach?
There is no fixed length that suits everyone. Some clients work on a focused issue for a shorter period, while others continue for longer as their goals develop. We will review the value of coaching regularly. I will not encourage you to continue simply for the sake of continuing.
What if coaching is no longer helping?
We will have an honest conversation about it. We may adjust the focus, review what you need or decide that another form of support would be more useful. Coaching should continue only while it is genuinely benefiting you.
Is coaching confidential?
Yes. What you share is treated as confidential within the limits explained in the coaching agreement and the law. I will explain those limits clearly before we begin, including the circumstances in which I may need to act because of a serious safety concern.
Are sessions available online?
Yes. I am based in Malta and offer online coaching internationally, as well as in-person sessions where arranged.