What was the main challenge you had before starting coaching?
Before coaching, I had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and felt completely overwhelmed. I was struggling with confidence, procrastination, organisation and a severe lack of work-life balance. I often described my brain as having “too many tabs open”, and I felt constantly overloaded.
At work, I was masking all the time, pushing on regardless. I felt misunderstood and frequently told myself things like “I am my own worst enemy”. I was exhausted, spending extra hours in bed, assuming it meant laziness.
I didn’t just want strategies. I needed to make sense of what was happening to me following the diagnosis.
What has been the biggest benefit you have gained from the coaching?
There were so many:
Understanding my ADHD and understanding my energy levels and why they fluctuate so wildly.
But also learning about Energy Accounting, a new way of thinking about my day. The benefits have been noticed not only by me but also by family and work colleagues.
Reframing labels and beliefs has helped me see that things I had labelled as weird were often actually important forms of self-regulation. Some of the guilt and shame is beginning to drop away.
One of the most important moments was when Leigh named identity transition, this phase everyone goes through after they have been through a neurodivergent diagnosis experience. I felt so alone in the negative thoughts I had been experiencing until Leigh revealed it is a ‘thing’.
Through guidance from Leigh, I have embraced body doubling, developed clearer planning systems, and begun to challenge my negative voice. I have even developed my own wellness plan.
What did you like most about the coaching relationship?
I felt safe very quickly. Knowing Leigh is also neurodivergent seemed to make it feel safer to brain dump in a way I have not felt with people in the past.
Particularly valuable is the way she holds the ideas when my brain jumps between thoughts, which means nothing gets lost.
I also really valued the shared understanding of late diagnosis. The combination of professional structure and lived insight made me feel less alone. I had “eureka moments literally every session”.
If you were to recommend Leigh to a friend, what would you say?
I would say that whether you are newly diagnosed, overwhelmed, or stuck in negative self-talk, Leigh creates a space where you can get into it safely.
After we agreed on my coaching goal, Leigh created a structure that made each session feel like a stepping stone towards it. For me, this level of structure felt vital in a very chaotic time.
Coaching with her has helped me feel more normal. I like myself more. I am always quoting her to my friends about self-kindness and boundaries. I highly recommend working with her.