Blog Post 3: 1!@#$%234567890

I’m so pleased to share the launch of Different by Design Coaching.

This practice has been created to support teens and young adults who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, misunderstood, or unsure how to work with their brain in a way that feels natural and sustainable. It is

also here for the parents and carers who want to support their young person with calm, practical guidance rather than pressure, conflict or constant rescue.

For those getting to know this work for the first time — whether you’re a prospective client, a parent, or one of my friends, family members or colleagues — I’d love to share a little about why this practice exists and what it is here to offer.

Many young people grow up receiving the message that they need to try harder, be more organised, push through, or fit a system that was never designed with their brain in mind. For neurodivergent young people, and especially those with ADHD traits or executive functioning challenges, that experience can be exhausting. It can erode confidence, create shame, and leave families feeling as though everyone is working incredibly hard without getting the right kind of support.

I created Different by Design Coaching because I believe there is another way.

A way that begins with understanding.

A way that honours strengths as much as struggles.

A way that helps young people build practical tools that fit real life, instead of asking them to force themselves into someone else’s version of success.

My approach is neuro-affirming, evidence informed and deeply practical. I bring together lived ADHD experience, more than 25 years of leadership and mentoring experience, and current professional coaching training to support young people with compassion, structure and realism. I also align my practice with recognised professional standards, including the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics, and I am a member of both ICF and AADPA.

References: International Coaching Federation, AADPA

At Different by Design Coaching, sessions are designed to feel calm, collaborative and hopeful. No shame. No one-size-fits-all hacks. No expectation that a young person should simply “push through” if the current approach is not working.

Instead, coaching focuses on helping each young person better understand their own patterns, strengths, needs and goals.

Through my Compass Model™, we work on four core areas:

• Confidence — building self-belief, self-understanding and emotional safety

• Clarity — identifying values, priorities and the next right steps

• Capability — developing practical tools for planning, initiation, regulation and follow-through

• Consistency — creating sustainable rhythms that suit real life

This work is not about perfection. It is about helping young people feel more grounded, more capable and more able to move forward in a way that makes sense for them.

For parents and carers, this practice offers a supportive middle ground. Many families are trying to strike the balance between helping and over-helping, between stepping in and stepping back. Coaching can create space for that balance. It gives young people room to lead, while keeping parents informed and involved in a light-touch, respectful way.

For my friends, family and colleagues, this launch also reflects something very personal. Much of what has shaped this practice comes from years of working with people, leading teams, supporting neurodivergent individuals, and seeing just how much can shift when someone feels understood rather than judged. I’ve seen the cost of environments that focus only on deficits, and I’ve seen the change that becomes possible when support is strengths-aware, ethical and genuinely human.

Different by Design Coaching has been built for young people who are bright, capable and full of potential, yet may not always feel that way day to day.

It is for the teen who knows they are trying, even when it does not look that way from the outside.

It is for the young adult who wants support with planning, motivation, study, work or life transitions.

It is for the parent who wants a calmer path forward.

And it is for families who want support that respects neurodiversity rather than trying to smooth it away.

If that sounds familiar, I’d love to connect.

You can book a free clarity call to talk through what is going on, ask questions, and explore whether coaching feels like the right fit. It is a calm, no-pressure conversation, and parents and teens are both welcome.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to bring this practice to life. Your support, belief and generosity have meant a great deal.

I’m excited to open the doors to Different by Design Coaching and to support young people in building lives that work with their brains, not against them.

Book a Free Clarity Call and learn more at Different by Design Coaching. Thanks, Kath