BERNADETTE

CERTIFIED ADULT ADHD LIFE COACH
‘123 MAGIC’ PARENTING PRACTITIONER
TEEN 16+ YOUTH COACH 

DIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA & AWAITING ADHD DIAGNOSIS
MOTHER OF ADHD SON

LOCATION ~ PR6

Bernadette is an ADHD coach who specialises in helping adults and older teens with ADHD – both those currently diagnosed or on the diagnostic journey.

In her work with clients, she hugely enjoys helping them understand their ADHD traits as well as coming to terms with the sometimes shocking knowledge that they have the condition but haven’t been diagnosed until adulthood.

She helps clients understand and learn more about their own unique ADHD brain enabling her to meet her client’s individual needs.  She works closely with each client to uncover how and what will work best for them to reach their chosen goals.

Bernadette’s experiences with ADHD began when she lived with siblings and other family members with ADHD, autism and dyslexia.  The fact that she herself is diagnosed with dyslexia as well as knowing she has ADHD, gives her a clear understanding of just how difficult and challenging life can be.

Bernadette has three children.  Two daughters and a son. Her son was diagnosed with ADHD aged eight. He was subsequently diagnosed with dyslexia, and he has an additional learning disability.

When her son started going through all his assessments in 2005, she was determined to learn as much as she could about ADHD.  She gained a deeper understanding of ADHD and the co-existing conditions through attending ADHD conferences and training courses both in the UK and Europe.

Once her son was diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and learning disabilities he was placed in special education school.  Bernadette’s son moved schools four times before he was in Year 5, and he had difficulty making and keeping friends.

As an advocate for her son, she attended countless meetings related to IEPs, SENDs and EHCPs. As a parent caring for a child with a diagnosis, it was difficult with very limited support, so she became a volunteer at the Lancashire Parent Carer Forum.  Here she provided support to families of children with all disabilities, working alongside the local authority.

While parenting her son, she had to deal with his impulsive behaviour which often put him in danger and escalated during his teenage years.  As a child, he was unaware of the danger and would often run off when stressed at school or in public.  Whenever he was upset at school, he would hide or climb, and Bernadette would frequently be called to pick him up.  Several times he was found on the school roof or high up trees needing to be rescued, and once in a school bin!  This resulted in a permanent exclusion from Year 5 due to the school not feeling they could keep him safe.

As a teenager, her son was vulnerable and just wanted to be accepted by his peers.  He had difficulty maintaining friendships at home because of his immature and impulsive behavior.  His search for friendship led him to move further away from home, where he became involved with a gang in the next town. He could not see the danger he was putting himself in and it took his family several months to get him to break away from the gang.

Having raised a child with extreme ADHD, Bernadette has gained extensive knowledge of ADHD, Dyslexia, EHCPs, and special education needs and is now passionate about passing that knowledge onto parents who are struggling with their children or ‘the system’.

Bernadette was selected as a Lay Member ADHD Topic Expert for the NICE Guidelines Update for Children with ADHD in 2015.  She later participated in the scoping meeting for the full update of NICE Guidelines for ADHD in 2017.

In her work with adults, teens and parents, Bernadette provides a deeper understanding of ADHD as well as support and guidance.  Her calm, understanding and comforting aura will put you at ease throughout your session.

Qualifications

• Certified ADHD Life Coach (IACTCentre) 2022
  
• Safeguarding Children Level 2 2022
  
• Safeguarding Adults Level 2 2022
  
• Equality and Diversity NCFE 2017
• Education and Training Award (Level 3) QCF 2015
• The Addicted Brain 2014
• ADHD Through the Lifespan – University of Pennsylvania 2013
  
• Enhanced DBS

Memberships

• Member of the International Coaching Federation
  
• Member of (ACO) ADHD Coaching Organisation 

Charity Positions

• ADDISS – ADHD Charity   2016 to date
• Lancashire Parent Carer Forum  2011-2017
• Lancashire Equalities   2018-2020
• Clayton Brook Community House   2016-2020
• Public Governor for Chorley at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust   2015-2018

BERNADETTE 

CERTIFIED ADULT ADHD LIFE COACH

‘123 MAGIC’ PARENTING PRACTITIONER

TEEN 16+ YOUTH COACH

DIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA & AWAITING ADHD DIAGNOSIS
MOTHER OF ADHD SON

LOCATION ~ PR6

Bernadette is an ADHD coach who specialises in helping adults and older teens with ADHD – both those currently diagnosed or on the diagnostic journey.

In her work with clients, she hugely enjoys helping them understand their ADHD traits as well as coming to terms with the sometimes shocking knowledge that they have the condition but haven’t been diagnosed until adulthood.

She helps clients understand and learn more about their own unique ADHD brain enabling her to meet her client’s individual needs.  She works closely with each client to uncover how and what will work best for them to reach their chosen goals.

Bernadette’s experiences with ADHD began when she lived with siblings and other family members with ADHD,  autism and dyslexia.  The fact that she herself is diagnosed with dyslexia as well as knowing she has ADHD, gives her a clear understanding of just how difficult and challenging life can be.

Bernadette has three children.  Two daughters and a son.  Her son was diagnosed with ADHD aged eight.  He was subsequently diagnosed with dyslexia, and he has an additional learning disability.

When her son started going through all his assessments in 2005, she was determined to learn as much as she could about ADHD.  She gained a deeper understanding of ADHD and the co-existing conditions through attending ADHD conferences and training courses both in the UK and Europe.

Once her son was diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and learning disabilities he was placed in special education school.  Bernadette’s son moved schools four times before he was in Year 5, and he had difficulty making and keeping friends.

As an advocate for her son, she attended countless meetings related to IEPs, SENDs and EHCPs.  As a parent caring for a child with a diagnosis, it was difficult with very limited support, so she became a volunteer at the Lancashire Parent Carer Forum.  Here she provided support to families of children with all disabilities, working alongside the local authority.

While parenting her son, she had to deal with his impulsive behaviour which often put him in danger and escalated during his teenage years.  As a child, he was unaware of the danger and would often run off when stressed at school or in public.  Whenever he was upset at school, he would hide or climb, and Bernadette would frequently be called to pick him up.  Several times he was found on the school roof or high up trees needing to be rescued, and once in a school bin!  This resulted in a permanent exclusion from Year 5 due to the school not feeling they could keep him safe.

As a teenager, her son was vulnerable and just wanted to be accepted by his peers.  He had difficulty maintaining friendships at home because of his immature and impulsive behavior.  His search for friendship led him to move further away from home, where he became involved with a gang in the next town.  He could not see the danger he was putting himself in and it took his family several months to get him to break away from the gang.

Having raised a child with extreme ADHD, Bernadette has gained extensive knowledge of ADHD, Dyslexia, EHCPs, and special education needs and is now passionate about passing that knowledge onto parents who are struggling with their children or ‘the system’.

Bernadette was selected as a Lay Member ADHD Topic Expert for the NICE Guidelines Update for Children with ADHD in 2015.  She later participated in the scoping meeting for the full update of NICE Guidelines for ADHD in 2017.

In her work with adults, teens and parents, Bernadette provides a deeper understanding of ADHD as well as support and guidance.  Her calm, understanding and comforting aura will put you at ease throughout your session.

Qualifications

• Certified ADHD Life Coach (IACTCentre) 2022
• Safeguarding Children Level 2 2022
  
• Safeguarding Adults Level 2 2022
  
• Equality and Diversity NCFE 2017
• Education and Training Award (Level 3) QCF 2015
• The Addicted Brain 2014
  
• ADHD Through the Lifespan – University of Pennsylvania 2013
  
• Enhanced DBS

Memberships

• Member of the International Coaching Federation
  
• Member of (ACO) ADHD Coaching Organisation 

Charity Positions

ADDISS – ADHD Charity   2016 to date
Lancashire Parent Carer Forum   2011 – 2017
Lancashire Equalities   2018 – 2020
Clayton Brook Community House    2016 – 2020
Public Governor for Chorley at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust   2015 – 2018