Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to maintain attention, control impulses, and manage hyperactivity. One of the critical areas impacted by ADHD is executive function, which encompasses skills such as organization, time management, planning, and emotional regulation. College undergraduates with ADHD often face significant challenges in academic performance, social interactions, and overall daily functioning due to deficits in these executive functions. ADHD Coach Jane’s Executive Function Coaching aims to address these challenges by providing tailored support to help students develop strategies to manage their symptoms and improve their executive functioning skills.

Goals of ADHD Executive Function Coaching

The primary goals of Coach Jane’s ADHD Executive Function Coaching for college undergraduates are to:

Enhance Academic Performance: By developing better study habits, improving organizational skills, and managing time effectively, students can achieve better academic outcomes.
Improve Emotional and Behavioral Regulation: Coaching helps students recognize and manage their emotions, reducing impulsivity and enhancing self-control.
Foster Independence: Students learn to take responsibility for their actions, make independent decisions, and develop problem-solving skills.
Boost Self-Esteem and Confidence: As students gain mastery over their executive functions, they often experience improved self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.

Key Components of Coach Jane’s ADHD Executive Function Coaching

Individualized Assessment and Goal Setting: The coaching process starts with intake forms and assessments sent to all prospective clients to identify strengths and weaknesses in executive functioning.
Personalized Strategies and Interventions: Each student receives a personalized plan that includes specific strategies and interventions tailored to their unique needs. These may include:
- Time Management Techniques: Teaching students how to use planners, digital calendars, and timers to manage their schedules and meet deadlines.
- Organizational Skills: Helping students develop systems for organizing their school materials, homework, and personal spaces.
- Study Skills: Introducing effective study techniques such as active reading, note-taking, and summarization.
- Task Initiation and Completion: Strategies to overcome procrastination and ensure tasks are started and completed in a timely manner.
- Emotional Regulation: Techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to manage stress and emotions.
Ongoing Monitoring and Feedback: Regular monitoring and feedback are crucial components of the coaching process. Coach Jane meets with the student on a bi-weekly basis to review progress, discuss challenges, and adjust strategies as needed. This continuous feedback loop helps students stay on track and make necessary adjustments to their plans.
Skill Development and Practice: Coaching sessions focus on the development and practice of specific executive function skills. By utilizing the student’s school portal, students practice these skills with ADHD Coach Jane in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
Collaboration with Professors, Disability Services and Parents (depending upon the student’s preferences): Effective ADHD Executive Function Coaching often involves collaboration with the student’s support network. Coach Jane helps student’s with self advocacy and communication with professors to ensure that classroom accommodations and supports are in place. If the student wishes to include parents in the support network, Coach Jane can help facilitate that ongoing communication, as well as providing guidance and resources to parents to help them support their child’s development.

Techniques and Tools Used in Coaching

Digital Tools and Apps: Many students with ADHD benefit from using digital tools and apps designed to enhance executive function. These may include:
- Task Management Apps: Tools like Trello, Todoist, or Google Keep help students organize tasks and set reminders.
- Calendar Apps: Organize class schedules and what and when of assignments and homework, both short and long term.
- Time Management Apps: Apps like Forest, Focus Booster, and Pomodoro Timer help students manage their time and maintain focus.
- Note-Taking Apps: Tools such as OneNote, Evernote, and Notability assist in organizing and retrieving information efficiently.
- Testing Apps: link Quizlet and Anki for retrieval practice and preparation for quizzes and tests.
Visual Aids and Planners: Visual aids such as color-coded calendars, to-do lists, and graphic organizers help students visualize their schedules and tasks. Planners, both digital and paper-based, are essential tools for helping students track assignments and deadlines.
Behavioral Techniques: Behavioral techniques, including positive reinforcement and student’s celebration of tiny steps towards successful academic engagement can help facilitate and secure behavior change in positive ways.

Benefits of ADHD Executive Function Coaching with ADHD Coach Jane

Improved Academic Performance: Students who receive executive function coaching with Coach Jane often see significant improvements in their academic performance. They become more organized, complete assignments on time, and develop effective study habits.
Enhanced Emotional Well-Being: By learning to manage their emotions and reduce impulsivity, students experience lower levels of stress and anxiety. Improved emotional regulation contributes to better relationships with peers and professors.
Greater Independence and Self-Efficacy: ADHD Coaching with Coach Jane helps students develop the skills needed to become more independent learners. They gain confidence in their ability to manage their time, organize their tasks, and solve problems on their own.

Conclusion

ADHD Executive Function Coaching is a valuable intervention for college undergraduates struggling with the challenges of ADHD. By providing individualized support and teaching essential executive function skills, ADHD coaching with Coach Jane helps students improve their academic performance, emotional well-being, and overall daily functioning. Through the use of personalized strategies, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with peers and professors, Coach Jane’s ADHD Executive Function Coaching empowers students to reach their full potential and achieve long-term success.

The following is a partial list of colleges and universities my clients attend:

Princeton University
Rutgers University
The College of New Jersey
NYU
The University of Pennsylvania
Penn state
Columbia University
Montclair State
Drew
Harvard University
Elon University
Teachers College
University of Chicago
DePaul University
University of Kentucky
Boston University
Northeastern University
Drexel University
Rowan University
Stevens Tech
Bucks County Community College
Mercer County Community College
Middlesex County Community College
Adelphi University
University of California – (multiple)
University of North Carolina

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“I started working with Jane Milrod a year ago. At that point I needed 30 more credits to get my bachelor’s degree, which I’d been working toward on and off for over a decade. I was feeling discouraged because I’d recently failed twice to complete a gen ed required course because I found it so dull. Jane told me that she could help me graduate in a year, and she wouldn’t use shame—I didn’t believe that was possible. I thought that without shame, I’d find a way to lie to her and get out of working on my classes consistently. With her compassionate approach, Jane taught me how to realistically evaluate how much time I could work without burning out, determine how much time I needed to accomplish tasks, and break down assignments into chunks. By doing this, I was able to finish my homework in less time, learn the material better, and improve my confidence in my ability to produce good work.

Jane also taught me how to not give up. By encouraging me without shame, Jane made me less afraid to communicate when I needed help, and she helped me overcome my all or nothing attitude. At that time, I truly thought that my ADHD was debilitating and would prevent me from having a full life.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in high school, and the only treatment I received until I met Jane was medication. I thought that medication would fix all problems related to ADHD. If my medication didn’t work, that meant I was incapable of working past those problems. I was able to get through high school because of the competitive atmosphere, support from my teachers, and my highly structured schedule. My issues with time management combined with more free time and less peer pressure made college much more challenging.

I recently completed my final two courses for my bachelor’s degree. Jane helped me do this without shame, panic, or a constant feeling of dread. She supported me my trying to figure out how to overcome my mental blocks, without judgment. I now miss the feeling I got from completing an assignment.”

"As the parent of a student with lifelong ADHD, I am deeply grateful that we were referred to Jane Milrod to work with my son. Jane has been instrumental in teaching him essential organizational and time-management skills that have greatly contributed to his success in college."

"Jane has a remarkable ability to help students with ADHD navigate the demands and pressures of college life. Her patience, insight, and commitment to her students make her an invaluable resource. I am looking forward to working with her again this year as I continue my studies and advance toward my career goals."

Jane provided valuable support to my son with severe ADHD during his time at college. As a professional ADHD coach, she worked with him closely from the beginning of each semester through finals to help him stay on track with his workload. He naturally favored the sciences that interested him but was challenged by multi-step writing assignments and projects. Jane would help him break down these projects into steps and focus on the next step. Her coaching and partnership gave him confidence and greater autonomy. She partnered with us as parents and his other medical professionals as needed to optimize his support. I would highly recommend her as an ADHD coach.

I worked with Jane across my time at college and found her support to be very helpful. My majors were math and physics but I was also required to take several courses outside these sciences. With my severe ADHD, it was here where assignments could be complex and frankly outside my interest that Jane’s support was particularly valuable. With Jane as my coach, I didn’t loose track of what I needed to be working on and how to parse it out.