About Keltie

Hi there! I’m an ADHD coach based in Chicago, and working with clients globally. I provide coaching for adults (18+) with ADHD and other attention and focus challenges. As an architect with over a decade of experience, I can relate to folks who work in passion professions, or have creativity at the very center of their personal or professional lives. I would love to help you find balance, energy, and a renewed creative spark through coaching.

The start of this journey was receiving my own ADHD diagnosis in 2022 following a significant burnout in the wake of the pandemic. Once I realized that I have ADHD, I began obsessively learning everything I could - a path which eventually led me to ADHD coaching.

Life is so much better now that I understand how ADHD impacts me and can work with my brain instead of fighting against it. For example, I recognized that the divergent thinking that comes with ADHD made me very creative and an excellent problem solver, especially in a "crisis." This was such an asset in my career as an architect, but there were also some serious challenges. Frequently working in "crisis" mode, combined with the effort required to show up for consistent 8 hour workdays, left me with a ton of internalized anxiety and was so draining that I had almost nothing left to give to other spheres of my life. Eventually, this led to me burning out. 

Understanding ADHD has allowed me to accommodate myself - doubling down on my strengths, and letting go of the urge to "fix" weaknesses - finding workarounds instead. It gave me the courage and self-trust to strike out on my own and launch my own business, and has brought a lot more balance and joy back to my life. It means the world to me that I'm now in the position to help others the way I needed to be helped back then. If you recognize yourself in any aspect of this story, I would love to hear from you! 

Is ADHD a superpower or a disability? My answer: it’s neither. Your ADHD shows up as a set of traits that’s unique to you, including incredible creative strengths and well, um, possibly some challenges too. In a world that’s set up to work against our unique brain wiring, many of us with ADHD end up building a life that focuses on overcoming our weaknesses. This is so draining and depleting for us that we end up with no energy left to develop our strengths - that is, if we can even remember what they are.

My approach to coaching is to begin by embracing where you are right now, including working with you to uncover strengths that may have been neglected or underused for years. Finding and embracing your strengths is essential not only because they can help you build a positive core identity, but also because using our strengths gives our brain the fuel (ie. dopamine and norepinephrine) to tackle life’s important challenges. Learning to work with your ADHD instead of fighting against it will not only help you re-connect with your authentic self, but will also give you back more energy to build a life you love.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” 

I genuinely enjoy getting to know people and tend to approach others with friendliness, interest, and non-judgemental curiosity. Whether you’re coming to coaching for help achieving a goal or because you’re facing a challenge, I would love to meet you where you are and work with you to build a foundation of self-acceptance and self-compassion from which meaningful change can begin to take place. If you are interested in working with me, I would love to hear from you - please click  Book Now or email me at adhd.embraced@gmail.com to schedule a free, no obligation 30 minute discovery session so we can get to know each other.

Qualifications: 

• Professional ADHD Coach, ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO)

• Certification by ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), AACC (ADDCA Associate Certified Coach) 

• Licensed Architect, Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)

• Masters of Architecture (MArch), University of Toronto

If you'd like to find out more about my coaching, click Book Now to schedule a free 30 minute no obligation discovery call!