Debbie's hometown of Middlebury, Vermont
My Story
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 40, when a dear friend handed me Hallowell’s Driven to Distraction with the suggestion that I may have ADHD. When I checked off 19 of the 20
possible traits, a new chapter of my life began.
This was the beginning of my understanding that I wasn’t broken, defective, or ‘less than’
all of my friends and family.
I’ve always had a deep interest in understanding how our minds work. When I completed
my undergraduate degree in psychology, I had the intention of becoming a therapist. For a number of reasons, not least of all my undiagnosed ADHD, I didn’t pursue that path. After becoming a Reading Specialist and working with many students with coexisting ADHD, I attended my first course on ADHD Coaching. I was hooked!
Fueled by my insatiable curiosity about the human brain and the roots of function and differences, I am a lifelong learner who attends several conferences yearly, including those held by CHADD and APSARD, and eagerly participate in related courses and training. I have a Master's degree in Literacy and in 2014 received a Graduate Certificate from Johns Hopkins University in the Mind, Brain and Teaching. Since 2016 , I've taught educators in a master's level course titled ADHD, Executive Function and Literacy, at Castleton State University in Vermont. In addition, I provide consultancy and training to educators and mental health professionals in my community.
Currently, I coach primarily adults with ADHD, college-age and up. I love my work. I have learned that people with ADHD are interesting, curious, and often very funny. I am enriched daily by the people I coach. With each individual I coach, the most important aspects are creating a connection with them, listening to their story, and helping them understand how their ADHD may be creating difficulty in their functioning and achievement of goals. This often includes education about ADHD and executive function, recognizing both challenges and unique strengths of those with ADHD. I bring to each session my knowledge of the latest research as well as my lived personal experience, which provide me with new understandings, discoveries, and connections daily.
While ADHD does present challenges in my daily life, I’ve learned to change habits, apply strategies to support others and accept some every day activities will always be a challenge for me. I have also learned to cherish my very curious, intuitive, and analytical brain. My hope for each client is that they, too, can understand themselves through the objective lens of their unique ADHD brains and create acceptance and balance through this knowledge.
Credentials:
JST Coaching - Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD
Fast Track Coach Academy - Coach Certification
Johns Hopkins University - Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies: Mind, Brain and Teaching –
Institute of Advanced ADHD Coaching (IAAC) - ADHD Coach Certification
MA - Reading – Montclair State University
BA - Psychology - Humboldt State University
Memberships:
Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD)
ADHD Coaching Association (ACO)
Association Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD)
International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
The Dyslexia Foundation (TDF)
possible traits, a new chapter of my life began.
This was the beginning of my understanding that I wasn’t broken, defective, or ‘less than’
all of my friends and family.
I’ve always had a deep interest in understanding how our minds work. When I completed
my undergraduate degree in psychology, I had the intention of becoming a therapist. For a number of reasons, not least of all my undiagnosed ADHD, I didn’t pursue that path. After becoming a Reading Specialist and working with many students with coexisting ADHD, I attended my first course on ADHD Coaching. I was hooked!
Fueled by my insatiable curiosity about the human brain and the roots of function and differences, I am a lifelong learner who attends several conferences yearly, including those held by CHADD and APSARD, and eagerly participate in related courses and training. I have a Master's degree in Literacy and in 2014 received a Graduate Certificate from Johns Hopkins University in the Mind, Brain and Teaching. Since 2016 , I've taught educators in a master's level course titled ADHD, Executive Function and Literacy, at Castleton State University in Vermont. In addition, I provide consultancy and training to educators and mental health professionals in my community.
Currently, I coach primarily adults with ADHD, college-age and up. I love my work. I have learned that people with ADHD are interesting, curious, and often very funny. I am enriched daily by the people I coach. With each individual I coach, the most important aspects are creating a connection with them, listening to their story, and helping them understand how their ADHD may be creating difficulty in their functioning and achievement of goals. This often includes education about ADHD and executive function, recognizing both challenges and unique strengths of those with ADHD. I bring to each session my knowledge of the latest research as well as my lived personal experience, which provide me with new understandings, discoveries, and connections daily.
While ADHD does present challenges in my daily life, I’ve learned to change habits, apply strategies to support others and accept some every day activities will always be a challenge for me. I have also learned to cherish my very curious, intuitive, and analytical brain. My hope for each client is that they, too, can understand themselves through the objective lens of their unique ADHD brains and create acceptance and balance through this knowledge.
Credentials:
JST Coaching - Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD
Fast Track Coach Academy - Coach Certification
Johns Hopkins University - Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies: Mind, Brain and Teaching –
Institute of Advanced ADHD Coaching (IAAC) - ADHD Coach Certification
MA - Reading – Montclair State University
BA - Psychology - Humboldt State University
Memberships:
Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD)
ADHD Coaching Association (ACO)
Association Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD)
International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
The Dyslexia Foundation (TDF)