About Light Spirit Coaching
What I Believe
Not only is ADHD challenging, but everyone needs support!
Having support brings ease to our challenges.
You have so many talents and skills, but you may not see or believe that about yourself. There is more to life than constantly taking care of details and people and trying to get organized. Receiving practical and emotional support from someone who knows and understands ADHD can make a huge difference in the quality of your life.
About Light Spirit Coaching
What I Believe
Not only is ADHD challenging, but everyone needs support!
Having support brings ease to our challenges.
You have so many talents and skills, but you may not see or believe that about yourself. There is more to life than constantly taking care of details and people and trying to get organized. Receiving practical and emotional support from someone who knows and understands ADHD can make a huge difference in the quality of your life.
About Christine Weddle
I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
I worked for eight years in counseling jobs — outpatient, inpatient, residential, and home-based. When I worked as an independent contractor, I was energized by the variety and flexibility, but at one point, I worked in three different settings, sometimes within the same day.
It was not sustainable, and I became exhausted physically and emotionally. I did not have the support I needed as someone with ADHD because I was not yet diagnosed.
Detour to Coaching
I left counseling because I was completely burned out. All I knew at that point is that I wanted to have a child and work with children. I was a nanny for five years, a Youth Ministry Director for ten years, and became a proud parent of a very active, full-of-life daughter. I loved this time of my life, but I began missing working with adults. When my daughter headed to elementary school, I stumbled upon the field of coaching.
I loved the forward-thinking, positive, strengths-based approach, and I knew it was the “right” next thing for me. I began learning not only about coaching, but also about ADHD. I worked up the courage to be formally assessed and diagnosed with ADHD and began taking medication, which helped enormously. I was coached by Kate Kelly, who co-authored the first book for adults with ADHD, You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!
I began working as a life coach and gradually developed a specialty in working with talented, creative, passionate women whose ADHD was preventing them from living the kind of life they wanted for themselves.
Why Did This Journey Take So Long?
“We’re all doing the best we can with what we’ve got.” Dr. John McGowan, one of my professors, said this over and over! If I had known more or had the resources and support I needed, then I could have chosen differently. It’s essential for me to remember that I did the best I could with what I had at that time.
Before I was diagnosed with ADHD, I wondered how I could be smart enough to have a Master’s degree and work in jobs I loved but feel so overwhelmed by life. I read all kinds of self-help books and did my best to apply the suggestions. Some of the suggestions helped other parts of my life, but not my ADHD. I went to therapy, which helped with my depression, but not at all with my undiagnosed ADHD.
When I finally found the courage to be assessed and diagnosed, I felt relieved but also grief about how difficult life had been because of not knowing. Once I received the support I needed, I was better able to handle my life as a wife, mom, and business owner. However, it took some time to develop compassion for myself and my struggles as a woman with ADHD.
What Feeds My Soul?
- Walking in nature
- Photographing nature
- Dance, especially tap dancing!
- Music, especially soulful music
- Swimming or being near water
- Laughter
- Lightheartedness
- Heartfelt connections
- Gratitude
- Color
- Comfortable clothes
- Good coffee (lots of cream & sugar)
- Hope
- Faith
- Love
I want you to have the compassionate and practical support that can give you more ease and joy.
One small thing that can make a big difference is daily planning. I have tried many forms of daily planning, both others’ and my own. Here’s a Daily Guide that incorporates what I have found to be most useful. It includes Helpful Hints to complete it. But, please use it in whatever way works for you!
Download your Daily Guide.
If you’re looking for support, ideas, or perspective, check out my blog.
by Heart Light Digital