What is Neuro-inclusive Coaching?

Great Coaching is Neuro-Inclusive

Great coaching is rooted in non-judgment and curiosity. Great coaching involves honouring the client as an expert in their experience and partnering with the client to establish their goals. These best practices support not only neurodivergent individuals, but neurotypical folks, too.

Self-awareness and self-acceptance are often a focus of coaching any individual, and they remain central to coaching neurodivergent individuals.

As coaches, the more we know about the various ways people experience the world, the better we are at withholding judgment and remaining curious. One of the competencies noted by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is that a coach “remains aware of and open to the influence of context and culture on self and others,” and understanding neurodiversity is an important part of this, and is fundamental to a neuroinclusive coaching approach.

Understanding the Neurodivergent Brain to Inform Coaching Practice

Understanding the neurodivergent brain and how memory, impulsivity, thought patterns, executive functions and more can vary is central to neuro-inclusive coaching.

Neurodiversity is a fact. People have different brains - different ways of learning, communicating, and solving problems. There are many different identities that are included under the neurodiversity umbrella, including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and OCD, and more.

Neurodivergent individuals may face challenges with executive function. In fact, 80% of autistic people and the majority of people with ADHD face challenges with executive function. Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior. Executive function involves selecting and successfully monitoring behaviors that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals, such as: proficiency in adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization.

Coaching is one of the most effective supports for individuals facing executive functioning challenges, which can also be associated with brain injuries or various learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

Coaches are called to listen and question without judgment in all conversations. Understanding the different ways a neurodivergent person may think, solve problems, understand and experience the world, and self-motivate is integral to neuro-inclusive coaching.

For example, a client with ADHD tells us that they experience shame and embarrassment because they struggle with writing and responding to emails and they frequently miss deadlines. As a neuro-inclusive coach, we understand this is not a result of laziness or a lack of willpower,

but understand how these behaviors may be related to challenges with executive functioning, allowing us to better support someone in navigating these issues at work.

We also understand that many neurodivergent individuals experience co-occurring conditions such as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). Understanding RSD means we know neurodivergent clients may respond to rejection, negative feedback, or feeling that they failed to meet their own high expectations, more intensely. A coach with this knowledge can support by partnering with them to process these thoughts and identify and manage triggers.

Finally, a critical part of coaching is supporting someone in questioning their current thoughts, beliefs, and approaches. A neurodivergent person may hold beliefs that they are lazy or they are poor communicators. A coach with expertise and knowledge of neurodiversity is equipped to support them in challenging these thoughts. We understand it is not “laziness” or “poor communication,” or personal flaws that need to be “fixed,” but rather areas of their life where they may wish to explore new strategies and approaches and also engage in greater self-compassion.

In short, when we understand neurodiversity and how it may impact unique individuals, we create a space that supports clients to identify strategies and approaches that support them in being successful on the job.