Coaching and Family Dynamics

This week's guest blogger is Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, MCC, SCAC.

How can coaching help the dynamics of families with ADHD?

ADHD impacts all family members and family dynamics can get complicated. The coaching process helps families improve communication, learn time management and organizational strategies, find new ways to stay connected, and much more! Here are some tips for improving family dynamics:

• Make all family members accountable for household tasks. If everyone pitches in the work gets done faster. Decide in advance how the tasks will be divided and post a schedule where everyone can see it to avoid last minute “must-do” tasks.

• Reduce morning chaos by getting everything "ready to go" for work and school the previous night. This includes selecting clothing, setting out homework, book bags, projects, briefcases and preparing lunches.

• Parents—be curious and ask open-ended questions. Instead of “How was school?” ask “What did you do in school today?” to elicit conversation with your children.

• Hold weekly family meetings to review the past week and plan ahead.

Does this sound valuable for you and your family? Join Nancy Ratey and me for an interactive, thought-provoking preconference session on The Positive Impact of Coaching on Family Dynamics, at 1:30 PM on Thursday, November 11. Our session will be one of the dynamic preconference institutes offered by CHADD’s 22nd Annual International Conference on ADHD in Atlanta this year. See you there!


Considered the founder of the movement for ADHD coaching for youth, Jodi Sleeper-Triplett is the cofounder of the Institute for the Advancement of ADHD Coaching and the director of coach training for the Edge Foundation.

My Top Ten Reasons to Go Live

This week's guest blogger is Steven Peer.

Every week I'm invited to 2-3 teleconferences or webinars on this or that. Most invitations come from people I've never heard of. If no live conference exists on the topic, I consider the teleconference. But I vastly prefer live conferences, especially CHADD's conferences on ADHD. Why? Here are my top ten reasons.

1. There is little or no barrier to creating a teleconference—anyone can claim to do them. But the truth is that there are thousands of details that only years of experience creating conference events can anticipate.

2. Ask anyone who's attended a live conference: The joy, the fun, and the tears come from what happens before, between, and after conference sessions.

3. Luddites are welcome at live conferences. Even computer pros can find teleconferences daunting.

4. As a teleconference learner, you learn only what is directed at you. There's no overhearing of questions and comments, there's no body language, no inference, no bumping into world-class presenters in the hallway. There's nothing like face-to-face learning.

5. Checking OUT of your routine and IN to a live conference changes everything. No crying, barking, or other distractions from the sessions. Many folks with ADHD learn best in an immersion setting.

6. Airfares and hotel rooms are a deal right now. And Atlanta is a great place to extend your stay for some much-needed R&R.

7. If you have the chance, ask a presenter what he or she thinks of presenting for a teleconference—it's as awkward for them as it is for you.

8. Quit saying 'no' to yourself. This conference was designed to make your life better.

9. If you can't live without technology, we will have all the sessions on MP3 or video for you—taped in front of a LIVE audience.

10. No teleconference operator can claim a 22-year history of international, life-changing events. But CHADD's annual international conference on ADHD can. You owe it to yourself to treat yourself to this conference.

I hope to see you there.


Steven Peer is the president of CHADD’s board of directors. CHADD's 22nd Annual International Conference on ADHD will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from November 11 to 13. Learn more or register today.

Countdown to Atlanta

This week's guest blogger is Sharon K. Weiss, MEd.

The CHADD conference is, for me, a labor of love. It is the quintessential opportunity to get together with friends and colleagues to learn so much information that I sometimes think my head will explode because my brain can’t hold it all. Every year I come home with copious notes, great ideas, and greater insight into the challenges of living with ADHD. I’m also anxious to pass along what I’ve learned, with a renewed sense of being able to make a real difference. It doesn’t get better than that.

The speakers and topics are so exciting that it’s always hard to know what to attend. Many of my colleagues and clients get in touch with me and ask who would be the best speaker to hear or which topic would best apply. Every year it’s a difficult call—and this year is no exception.

Flyers from many conferences cross my desk. But the CHADD conference is special. It is the chance to go to one city (and Atlanta is a great city with great food) and hear noted speakers who have the best information on the cutting-edge research and the evidence- based practices.

The latter is my area and I’m so honored to have been invited as a plenary speaker. For years, wherever I go people want to know what works—how to make behavioral change with those children whose behavior is a real challenge. In my talk, I’ll cite specific examples of behavior, discuss reasonable expectations for change, and outline the steps to making meaningful change in behavior. If you read my comments on this blog, please come up and introduce yourself!


Sharon K. Weiss, MEd, is a behavioral consultant in private practice who focuses on parent and professional training. She will present the closing keynote speech at the 22nd Annual International Conference on ADHD in Atlanta, November 11-13. Learn more or register today.