What Makes ADHD Coaching Different?

At Common Space ADHD, we often get asked: How is coaching different from therapy, consulting, or mentoring? A great way to understand the difference is by imagining you’re learning how to cook.

👨‍🍳 A Consultant gives you a detailed recipe and explains the science behind cooking. They might teach you about the chemistry of ingredients, the best kitchen tools to use, and the exact steps to follow for a perfect dish. But once they’ve handed over the instructions, they leave—you’re left to figure out how to actually cook the meal.

🧠 A Therapist helps you explore your relationship with food and cooking. They might talk about past experiences in the kitchen, why you feel nervous about making mistakes, or how cooking connects to your confidence and self-worth. They help you process emotions and past challenges around cooking.

👨‍👩‍👦 A Parent stocks the kitchen, buys the ingredients, and encourages you to try cooking. They might help set rules around meal times, remind you to clean up, and step in if things go off track. They want to see you succeed, but they can’t stir the pot for you.

🥘 A Mentor shares their own experiences as a cook. They tell you how they perfected their favorite recipes, what techniques work best for them, and what they wish they had known when they started. But their way of cooking might not be the right way for you—because everyone has different tastes and styles.

✨ A Coach? A coach is different.

A coach steps into the kitchen with you. They don’t hand you a strict recipe or insist you follow their method exactly. Instead, they ask: What do you enjoy cooking? What flavors excite you? What skills do you already have, and what do you want to learn?

They encourage you to experiment, adjust, and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t turn out right, they don’t scold you—they help you figure out what to tweak next time. If you’re feeling stuck, they remind you of the progress you’ve already made and help you come up with a plan to keep going.

At Common Space ADHD, coaching isn’t about forcing kids, teens, or parents to follow someone else’s recipe for success—it’s about helping them build the skills, confidence, and creativity to make ADHD work for them.

Because ADHD isn’t about following someone else’s instructions.

It’s about learning how to create something that’s uniquely yours.