This paper presents the professional vision and goals of a psychology graduate student preparing to become a certified ADHD Parent Coach/Consultant. It begins by defining attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its three subtypes as classified by the DSM-5, then describes the coaching and consulting model as an action-oriented partnership tailored to individuals with ADHD. The author outlines specific academic and professional goals, including completing a master's degree, mastering empirically validated treatment approaches, and developing competencies to support ADHD-diagnosed children, their families, and their teachers. The paper reflects a scientist-practitioner orientation grounded in personal experience as a classroom volunteer.
There are many opportunities for those practicing in the field of psychology today. However, an undergraduate degree in psychology does not adequately prepare a person to practice in the field — a graduate degree is needed. While achieving an undergraduate degree in psychology requires the study of many different subspecialties, the attainment of a graduate degree is typically more specialized and career-oriented. This paper outlines how a graduate degree in psychology would benefit not only my own vision for the future and my goals for professional practice, but also how obtaining such a degree will benefit others.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous disorder that affects children (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). There are three general presentations of ADHD: (1) the primarily hyperactive subtype; (2) the primarily inattentive subtype (commonly known in lay terms as attention deficit disorder [ADD]); and (3) the combined inattentive and hyperactive type (APA, 2013).
My future career vision as a psychology practitioner and scholar is to work as a certified ADHD Parent Coach/Consultant. Coaching and consulting represent a collaborative, action-oriented partnership designed to help people make the changes they wish to make in their lives. An ADHD Coach/Consultant is a life-coaching specialty tailored to address the unique concerns of individuals diagnosed with ADHD. As a certified ADHD Coach/Consultant with specialized training, I would be fully versed in the research on ADHD coaching and treatment, the diagnostic criteria for all three subtypes, and the most empirically validated treatment plans for working with children diagnosed with ADHD and related conditions.
My passion for helping children with ADHD originated from serving as a classroom volunteer with third-graders and witnessing firsthand the struggles these children face daily. My vision is to understand these children from their own perspective and help them address the challenges they encounter.
My first goal is to complete my master's degree within three years. In doing so, I aim to learn as much as possible about counseling, psychotherapy, coaching, and assisting individuals in navigating their personal challenges.
While completing my degree, I intend to focus on applying the principles of counseling and coaching to children with ADHD and their families. This will require becoming well-versed in the empirical research on ADHD treatment, including counseling and coaching approaches that are effective for the specific challenges ADHD children face, evidence-based strategies that help parents and families support their ADHD-diagnosed children, and coaching and counseling techniques that assist teachers in motivating and working with ADHD children in the classroom. This requires substantial study, sustained practice, and the continual updating of a broad body of knowledge and clinical technique.
My broader academic goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of ADHD — from its neurobiological underpinnings to the range of behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments that have proven effective in supporting these children.
My ultimate professional goal as a practicing psychologist is to apply this knowledge both inside and outside the classroom — working with children who have ADHD, their teachers, and their families — in order to help them navigate daily life with greater ease and confidence.
My vision and goals as a practicing psychologist are focused on helping children diagnosed with ADHD, along with their teachers and families. In order to fulfill this vision and achieve these goals, I intend to become a dedicated scientist-practitioner in psychology.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Author.
You’re 97% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.