Hi, I am Patty.

Allow me to share a bit of my “ADHD” story…

Patty Blinderman ADHD Friendly Expert Photo

Hi, I’m Patty Blinderman. I’d like to tell you about myself.

My ADHD journey has been fun, scary, uncomfortable, and instructive – sometimes all at the same time! At one point I was a struggling mother of four who felt lost in an incomprehensible wilderness. Over the years I learned what steps to take and cleared my own unique path so that I could better support myself and my children. I then paved that path so others who follow can use it, too! 

I always wanted to be a mom. When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answers always included “being a mom.” When I finally became a mom, everything was so hard. It felt unfair that I might not be good at what I had so longed for. 

When I was most lost and struggling, I could not see my way forward. It turns out the path I sought didn’t yet exist.

I did everything I knew to do, but nothing worked. I remember the precise moment when I realized that all my strengths, knowledge, and abilities weren’t enough. I simply could not see any way forward.

That moment occurred on a day like many others when one of my four kids was testing my limits. 

At that time in my life, I prided myself on my ability to hold boundaries. For reasons I couldn’t understand, it felt like my boundary enforcement was causing more harm than good for one of my children. It was not supporting them to learn and grow. What I knew worked for my other three children didn’t work for this one, and worse, I didn’t know why or what to do differently. We often ended up in screaming duels with both of us feeling worse than before.

It became apparent that I didn’t have the tools I needed to support them. I felt completely inadequate. To put it simply, I felt like a failure as a mom. 

I remember going to my bedroom and closing the door before going into my small closet (my go-to place when I needed privacy from my kids). I literally sat on the closet floor and cried in defeat and admitted out loud, “I am not enough.” 

I sat there picturing my failure in many ways, but one of the most uncomfortable was imagining people in my life judging me and my children – from my parents and siblings to neighbors and my children’s teachers. As I write this, I can still feel the emptiness of that moment. The hopelessness. I had no idea how to move forward. Without a plan or the necessary tools, I was stuck. I didn’t  have a path to follow. It was one of the lowest points of my life.

What I didn’t understand at the time was that my child and I had ADHD. Even after we received our individual diagnoses, I still didn’t understand what to do with that information.

My ADHD and the ADHD I observed in my child (and soon in my other three children as well) looked very different from what I had learned about ADHD in college and during my years as a special education teacher. Each of the five of us had different strengths and executive functioning challenges. Not one of us was “bouncing off the walls” or constantly in motion – the stereotypical characteristics of ADHD popular at that time. 

It wasn’t long after I came out of my bedroom closet that I had the realization I needed help. It wasn’t possible for me to know everything I needed to know and do to support my children. I was able to acknowledge that it was unrealistic to expect myself to learn everything I would need to know and to do everything myself. Though I knew I needed help, I had no idea how much help I would need, or how hard it would be to find.

From doctors and therapists to coaches and other specialists, the journey was long and riddled with successes and failures. I learned at each turn and documented what worked –  and what didn’t. My path become clearer as we reached each new milestone.

My journey continues to this day. I like to remind my child who struggled the most with their ADHD about all the gifts they have given me. I now have a deeper well of patience to draw from. I am able to observe a child melting down in public without judging the child or the parent. Instead I have compassion for what each of them is experiencing in that moment. These are just a couple of the tools I have added to my toolbox that would not have been possible without my child. 

Additionally, if I hadn’t been so motivated to find ways to help my kids, I would never have the career I have today. Since 2010 I have completed multiple ADHD-specific coach training programs, earned professional certifications from both ICF and PAAC, trained and mentored other ADHD coaches, created courses, started a podcast, spoken at conferences, and worked with hundreds of clients individually, in groups, and most recently through my ADHD-Friendly membership platform. 

My journey has helped me understand that my greatest desire is to find ways to tilt the playing field in favor of individuals impacted by ADHD or executive function skills challenges. The world is not organized in a way that naturally supports ADHD brains, but with ADHD-friendly approaches, we can each pave our own unique path and thrive with ADHD!

Join ADHD-Friendly, to access live and recorded offerings that meet every day ADHD challenges with ADHD-friendly solutions.

I firmly believe that coaches without ADHD-specific coach training, in addition to an intimate understanding of how ADHD shows up uniquely in each person, can unintentionally do more harm than good.

If you have ADHD and are looking for a coach, please confirm they meet these requirements: 

  • Completed ADHD educational training and Coach-Specific ADHD training to prepare them to coach individuals with ADHD.
  • Have a firm belief that ADHD can offer many strengths- and they coach each of their clients to utilize them. 
  • Are able to listen without judgment. (REALLY- NO JUDGEMENT!). People with ADHD are judged enough and do not want or need it from their coach!
  • When working with children and families, the coach has completed specific training focused on the unique skills needed to offer this service.

EDUCATION

  • Seton Hall University- BS in Developmental Disorders and Elementary Education
  • Positive Intelligence and Mental Fitness Coach Training with Shirzad Chamine, 2022
  • Shifting to a Social Justice Mindset; JST Coaching & Training, 2020  
  • ADD Coach Academy: ADDCA Certified Coach Graduate (ACCG) in 2017  
  • Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families, ADD Coach Academy, 2017   
  • Time Management Certification: Seeing My Time Professional Training, 2015 
  • CHADD Parent2Parent teacher training, 2014 
  • JST Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD, 2014
  • ADD Coach Academy: Graduated from Advanced Coach Training Program, 2013    

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • International Coaching Federation (ICF)  
  • Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC)
  • Professional Member of Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD)  
  • Professional Member of American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD)  
  • Professional member of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO)  
  • Professional member of Attention Deficit Disorders Association (ADDA)
  • Member National Alliance on Mental Illness- North Carolina (NAMI-NC)  
  • Former member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)

WHY HIRE ME…

In 3 words: I get it. I really do– and not only because I have over 25 years of experience living and working with individuals with ADHD and executive function challenges. That definitely helps, but by itself it is not nearly enough. My extensive training in ADHD and coaching individuals impacted by ADHD gives me a unique skillset that, when paired with my experience, adds incredible value for my clients. 

My credentials and training are listed in the “Credentials” box. I include them because they are important–and I am proud of them. However, I hope you will work with me not only because of my credentials, but because when you do, you know that what gets me up in the morning, every morning, is my passion for supporting individuals impacted by ADHD.  I know how often we hear our own inner “gremlin” or “Saboteur” saying things like “What’s wrong with you, why can’t you get started?,” or “Why can’t you just get out the door, on time?”. I love watching my clients change those negative thoughts into positive ones – and I can’t wait to talk with you to see if we are a good fit to work together.

CREDENTIALS    

  • Faculty Member- ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), 2019-2021
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and registered mentor coach- International Coaching Federation (ICF)  
  • Professional Certified ADHD Coach (PCAC)- Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC) 
  • Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC) Board Member, 2017-2021 
  • ADDCA Certified Coach Graduate (ACCG)- ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) 
  • Among the first ADHD Coaches in the world to complete the coach training course, Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families, 2017 
  • Completed the JST Coaching accredited coach training program “Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD” 
  • Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization  

TESTIMONIALS

“Thank you so much for everything you have helped me with. I’ve grown as a person in the direction I hoped I would and that’s all because of your coaching. It has definitely had a positive impact on my life. I can’t thank you enough!” 

M.C., NC
Entrepreneur

“You keep me moving and trying new things to help me continue finding the systems that work for me . . . so I can use that energy for other things! You have provided so much needed support and ideas on how to approach challenges. I am beyond grateful!! You have helped build up my confidence.”

B.M., CA
Entrepreneur

“Patty met me right where I was and honored my personal process. I am so grateful for the support to keep me moving forward!”

B.W., OR
Business Executive

“So much of our work together increases my awareness. More of the same please, Coach!”

C.I., IL
Entrepreneur

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