ADHD Coaching

Why work with me?

Hi lovely people, I’m Ying, a first-generation Asian Immigrant woman with a late ADHD diagnosis. I have been fascinated by the question of how people live a happy and meaning-driven life for as long as I can remember. That has led me to devour knowledge from the field of psychology, meditate for over 7 years, try countless strategies, become a life coach, and eventually discover I too have ADHD at age 26. Now I am passionate about helping ADHD individuals like you live meaningful and fulfilling lives and cultivate what is best within themselves by working with their ADHD brains by offering coaching in English and Mandarin.

I have worked with hundreds of clients, helping them prioritize their to-do lists, make progress by taking good enough steps forward, set realistic goals, sync their to-do lists with their energy rhythms, build their problem-solving skills by drawing on their strengths, enhance emotional regulation through mindfulness, navigate interpersonal challenges related to ADHD, and craft their unique ADHD toolbox. I have extensive experience in coaching ADHD BIPOC and immigrant folks while I work with everyone from all backgrounds. Prior to ADHD coaching, I worked in a mindfulness startup cofounded by some of the most influential meditation teachers in the U.S. I also received training in Positivity Psychology through the University of Pennsylvania and I am currently in a 2-year meditation teacher training program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.

If you are interested in working with me, please join my coaching waiting list. Once you fill out the waitlist, you will receive a list of resources and I will reach back out to book a free introductory call when I have openings in my schedule (usually within 3 months).

Coaching Style:
I blend a strength-based approach with tools backed by science and experience: drawing on your past success, your character strengths, your natural interests your innate creative problem-solving skills AND I will suggest tools and strategies, you are the one ultimately deciding what you want to try.

I can help you accomplish more by doing less: figure out your clear priorities and values, and do what matters to you well instead of trying to do everything. I advocate working with your natural energy patterns by helping you set realistic and achievable goals as well as envision different versions of success which leads to a greater sense of accomplishment and increased motivation. I can help you build a sense of accomplishment and resiliency by reflecting on what went well and what needs adjustment drawing from the gentle curiosity fostered by mindfulness.
I create a safe and judgment-free space, by bringing a gentle curiosity drawn from mindfulness as well as my own lived ADHD experience. Some of the ways my past clients have described my coaching style: are resourceful, empathetic, compassionate, and having an impressive ADHD toolbox.

Some of my unique approaches:

• I bring empathy and actively help you pinpoint key growth areas in a supportive, resource-rich environment.
• Draw from your strengths and past successes to help you understand what strategies have worked for you and propel you toward your current goals.
• Help you accomplish more by doing less: figure out your clear priorities and values, and do what matters to you well instead of trying to do everything.
• Align your to-do list with natural energy fluctuations for optimal focus, productivity, and enjoyment.
• Use my economics and operation-trained background, to help you see clearly how you can fit the to-do-lists into your schedule.
• Help establish realistic benchmarks, goals, and timelines to increase your chances of hitting your benchmarks which leads to an increased sense of accomplishment, and increases your overall motivation for life.
• Utilize the scientifically proven goal-setting methods WOOP and SMART to set achievable goals and problem-solve obstacles ahead of time.
• Offer creative approaches to kickstart and advance towards your meaningful goals.
• Help you adopt the lens of what is interesting and fun throughout the journey aka getting small rewards along the way.
• Help you reflect on what went well and what needs adjustment, what you are saying yes to, and what you are saying no to live a life according to your value.
• Provide a variety of tools for emotional regulation, including Tara Brach’s RAIN meditation and mindful movements.
• Help you manage mindful communication with people: advocate for your own needs, navigate boundary-setting conversations, and create mindful check-ins within relationships.
• Support in countering the inner critic with voices of compassion and celebrating progress.
• Help you cultivate your own ADHD toolbox

Praise for Ying’s 1:1 coaching:

“Because Ying knows and understands so much about how ADHD brains work, because Ying is so resourceful and patient, and because I sense that Ying feels genuine empathy and compassion for me in these efforts, I feel as if I’m in a safe place to be radically honest with myself about what I’m doing and what is and isn’t working, to be courageous about making change, and to work at it consistently. That’s huge! — Carrie H.”

“Ying aced at guiding me to create achievable plans and reach my goals. She helped me break down my plans. Ying offered practical examples of how to reduce task difficulty and enhance task completion. Ying also helped me manage my expectations during life’s highs and lows. — Tiffany”

“I really appreciate that Ying creates a safe and non-judgmental place for me to express myself. As I am easily triggered or feel insecure when expressing myself, Ying did a great job of letting me talk about my concerns and stress. She gave me suggestions and directions and they are incredibly helpful. — Dan Shu”

“I appreciate Ying’s patience and sharpness in each session. She always leads me to face key questions that I tend to avoid facing. She is the most amazing life coach I have ever encountered! While there are still areas in my life that need work, I have started to believe I can improve those areas too by finding my own strength and seeking support from others. — C.C.”

“Ying is so understanding and supportive, she helps me embrace my ADHD. She always listens to all my problems patiently and without judgment, so I can talk about my own difficulties openly with a sense of trust. The same challenge may be belittled when I tell other people, but Ying never belittles any seemingly insignificant difficulties and earnestly provides encouragement and help. She makes me feel understood and less alone in my journey toward self-acceptance.“

“Ying’s toolbox is truly impressive, filled with actionable solutions that have a direct impact on my ADHD challenges. Often solving the action problem also solves the underlying emotional problem for me. With a wide range of tools, I never worried about whether a tool would work forever. If a tool works, I will continue using it; if it doesn’t work, I will try the next one. I have created an ADHD toolbox that is the most suitable for me and my ADHD brain with Ying’s help.“

“Even when I am not in a good state or in the midst of emotional ups and downs, Ying’s accommodating communication style still creates a relaxed and stress-free atmosphere for me. I am very thankful to have met Ying. With her help, I can continue to develop my strengths and find tools for my weaknesses”

“Ying always has the ability to extract the most valuable bits from my ramblings, helping me to continuously try new methods and improve. Each coaching session gives me a boost for at least a week. I always look forward to the next session.”

“Thanks to Ying’s coaching. I feel like I’ve made some really great progress lately. Even though it might not always show in my actions or task completion, I genuinely believe my overall state has improved. This boost in confidence is definitely going to help me shine in my work. Now I have more courage in exploring tools and methods that work for me to tackle my own issues.”

Who is my ADHD Coaching for?

If these keywords and the following statements resonate with you, we probably are a good fit.

• While I work with everyone, a lot of the clients who gravitate towards working with me have been BIPOC and immigrants.
• Work-Life Balance, Prioritization, Life Goals, Relationships, Emotional Regulation, Coping skills
• You have too much on your plate right now because your ADHD brain has said yes too many times, but deep down what you truly want is an intentional life aligned with your value.
• You long for a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day and you want to be productive in a sustainable, feel-good way, instead of repeating a hyperproductive to burnout cycle.
• You want to establish a work-life balance (career is not the only focus you have).
• You want to cultivate realistic routines, and set aside time to nurture hobbies, relationships, and creativity aka you want to establish a full and fun life with your ADHD brain having a seat at the table.
• You care about happiness, meaning, relationships, community, creativity, not just being productive.
• You want to soak in the good moments of life instead of feeling days just go by so fast and your ADHD brain can’t even recall what happened.
• You want to grow by making good enough progress and getting out of the all-or-nothing thinking trap.
• You want to work towards realistic goals that align with your values and vision for life and feel good along the way of accomplishing your goals.
• You want to understand your own natural energy pattern better, and you want to work with your innate patterns instead of against them.
• You want to identify your strengths and see how you can leverage your strengths in different areas of your life.
• You want to work on a baseline level of wellbeing, no longer only fixing your habits when something is broken, but proactively cultivating wellbeing.
• You want to establish a meditation/mindfulness habit but you just can’t figure out how.
• You want to cultivate self-compassion and self-love, yet the inner critic is a little too loud.
• You want to learn how to better regulate your emotions in daily life as well as in stressful situations.
• You want to learn how to handle your rejection sensitivity dysphoria.
• You want to nurture your relationships and you just can’t figure out how to maintain relationships when your ADHD brain feels like it’s a big chore.

Ying’s Credentials:

• Certified Transformation Life Coach, graduated from a one-year-long program (ICF accredited Coaching Education Provider) with 60 hours of peer practice and a written exam as the certification requirement
• Continuous ADHD learning shared on Twitter
• Currently working as an ADHD Coach for one of the leading ADHD startups that specialize in providing coaching for adults
• Mindfulness teacher in training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s 2-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program
• 5-course training in Positive Psychology with the University of Pennsylvania
• 7-week training in Mindfulness – The Power of Awareness Course with The Awareness Institute in association with UC Berkeley, the Greater Good Science Center
• Have meditated for more than 7 years

Why choose ADHD coaching?

ADHD coaching is a great choice for individuals who want to focus specifically on managing their ADHD symptoms and improving their daily life functioning. I design my coaching to provide practical strategies, tools, and supportive mindsets for managing the day-to-day challenges of living with ADHD. Coaching is action-oriented and solution-focused, helping clients set goals, develop new habits and routines, and build the skills necessary to manage their symptoms effectively. I offer support, accountability, and guidance to help you stay on track and make progress toward your goals. If you’re looking for a hands-on approach to managing your ADHD, and want to work with a professional who understands the unique challenges of living with this condition, then ADHD coaching is the right choice for you.

By investing in ADHD coaching, you can address these concerns and benefit from a range of strategies and tools to help you succeed. Whether it’s improving your productivity, managing your time more effectively, or developing a greater sense of self-awareness and confidence, ADHD coaching can help you achieve your goals and live your best life.

Your Coaching Questions Answered

What to expect in a coaching session?

In our first coaching session after the discovery call, we will also discuss your top 3 goals for coaching and work to identify strategies and tools that will help you achieve those goals.

As we move forward with subsequent sessions, the agenda and priorities come from you. I will facilitate by helping you:

• Review the progress you made since our last session together
• Review what worked well
• Identify current priorities
• Identify any barriers that arose
• Adjust goals, timelines, and tools accordingly to make the goals realistic and achievable
• End the session by identifying clearly what you commit to accomplish before our next session.
• Each coaching session comes with in-between session assignments (you can opt out of them if you want to, but I strongly encourage you to give those assignments a try).
• After each session, you will get a wrap-up email from me that contains a brief summary of each session with any resources I mentioned

What happens in between coaching sessions?

By purchasing my coaching packages, you will receive complimentary text check-ins during the week to help you stay on track and make steady progress toward your goals.

Each coaching session also comes with in-between-session assignments (you can opt out of them if you want to, but I strongly encourage you to give those assignments a try). In between sessions, is the time to experiment with new tools and work on the assignments!

How many coaching sessions do you recommend to start with?

I recommend 8-12 30-minute session coaching sessions for my clients, meeting once a week or once every two weeks. 3-4 months are how long people need to build new habits and see real transformation.

If you feel hesitant to commit to a coaching session every other week, please make more room and bandwidth in your life for coaching before you commit to this process.

What methods do you prefer to use to track your clients’ progress and determine the effectiveness of specific methods or strategies for them?

I provide clients with three assessment points throughout the program: an intake assessment, a midpoint evaluation, and an end-of-program assessment. These assessments are designed to help clients reflect on their progress and growth in the key areas impacted by ADHD.

In terms of one certain method and strategy, I do not think there is a magic wand for ADHD. Instead, I help my clients cultivate their dynamic ADHD toolbox, aka three or more ways and tools for each area. ADHD brain loves novelty so keeping the tools and methods on rotation has worked well for my clients. Having a tailored and curated toolbox also prevents my clients from keep chasing the next shining tool and focusing more on working toward their goals.

Moreover, regular check-ins at the beginning of each session and open communication will allow us to assess the effectiveness of strategies and make necessary adjustments.

If some strategies aren’t working for your clients, how do you usually handle that?

If certain methods or strategies aren’t yielding the desired results, I believe in an adaptive approach and we will adapt often. We’ll explore alternatives, analyze challenges, and adapt our techniques, rewards, or environment to suit your needs better. I encourage open discussions to ensure we stay aligned with your goals and adapt our approach as needed.

How do you characterize yourself as a coach?

I embody empathy, actively listening to pinpoint the key areas for growth, and fostering a supportive and empowering environment enriched with valuable resources.

What level of engagement and commitment do you anticipate from your clients during your coaching sessions?

I encourage my clients to be present, embrace new experiences (try things on), and engage in open and honest communication. I place my trust in you as the expert of your own mind, inviting you to explore new tools and provide feedback on their effectiveness, so we can make necessary adjustments together. I believe in your innate creativity, wholeness, and resourcefulness, and my coaching approach will honor and nurture these strengths throughout our journey.

Coaching is a process that works best when the client can consistently commit to showing up to the coaching sessions and trying out new strategies in their life. I find clients who can commit to weekly coaching sessions make the most out of their coaching investments and build momentum and long-lasting changes, especially at the beginning.

If you feel hesitant to commit to a coaching session every other week, please make more room and bandwidth in your life for coaching before you commit to this process.

Do you provide a sliding scale?

I am committed to making ADHD coaching available for people who need help. To the best of my ability, I offer some availability for clients who pay with a sliding scale (usually there is a waiting list for these spots). If you are interested in my coaching but the cost is prohibitive, please join my coaching waiting list and we might be able to work something out.