CIRCLE: the new name of the monthly newsletter of the ACO.

It’s so simple. It matches our logo.

There is a certain amount of just plain subjective emotion that goes into choosing a name. Did you ever choose one for a new baby? Think of the huge industry in books that explain the meanings of thousands of choices. A name makes an impression -- sometimes even before a first meeting. A person carries that identity for life.

Likewise, we wanted to choose a name for this monthly newsletter that would reflect what we hope it will become – a strong voice for the profession, elegant and clear.

But most important, we hope that Circle will support this community where the exchange of ideas is welcome and the information useful. We want our readers, AD/HD Coaches, to understand that we're not just sending what we think you need. We want to build a community attentive and integral to the progress of the profession world wide.

Please keep in touch with us. Send us your ideas, your comments, and your concerns. Get the Circle rolling. Forward this newsletter to colleagues you think might be one of us.

Marketing Strategies: Getting referrals from doctors

Strategic Marketing Alliances:
The fast track to new clients

by Ken Zaretzky, MCC

Somebody else has your clients. But that doesn’t make them unavailable. Most of them are visiting someone in a different profession.

Build your practice using strategic alliances -- informal relationships between professionals who serve the same people. Call the doctors on the phone to introduce yourself and your business. Make an appointment to discuss how you might help each other.

Do a great job for the client who was referred to you. Don’t be late for appointments -- even by a minute. That client will report back to his doctor about his experience with coaching. If you do your job, the doctor will continue to make referrals to you.

For the specifics of what to say in the conversation with a doctor and more about how strategic alliances can help build your business, check out the online aricle.

New AD/HD book available

Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults

by Thomas E Brown, PhD
Yale University Press © 2005
$27.50 384 pp

Dr. Tom Brown, who is one of the keynote speakers at the ADDA conference this year, released a new book early last fall.

Dr. Brown takes the stories he’s collected from his clinical experience and pairs them with recent research to draw a picture of AD/HD from a slightly different perspective -- as “a complex disorder that involves impairment in focus, organization, motivation, emotional modulation, memory and other functions of the brain’s management system.”

He groups significant chronic difficulties which tend to show up together and improve together into six clusters of symptoms which he calls the ADD Syndrome. Check out Dr. Brown’s website for a taste of the information.

In addition, the book includes the clearest explanation I have ever seen of how the brain uses its proteins to move thoughts around and how different medications affect that process.

Read the full review of this book on line

Tracking Client Hours

Whether you have decided to apply to the ICF for a professional credential or not, consider collecting permission from your clients now for use in the future.

Include a release form with your discovery session packet and contract. File these forms somewhere safe and keep a list of from whom you haven't heard. It’s easier to get the paper work signed at the beginning of the relationship than to have to track the person down when you are no longer working together.

According to the ICF application for certification: (Please note: The ICF recently announced a substantial overhaul to their website effective January 31, 2006. Therefore, this link may no longer have the correct target address. We apologize for the inconvenience.)

In keeping with the ICF Code of Ethics, you must obtain consent from your clients to release their names to ICF and for the Application Review Committee to contact them in the event it becomes necessary.

Remember your client will only be asked to verify your working relationship, not to disclose the content of any conversations.

ACO Members can find a sample document on line.

From the Editor

We’re working on a list of topics for upcoming issues. You’ll find them listed in the navigation column on the right of the screen. We hope that having a target topic will help us present a better publication. If you have a thought that could be useful to other AD/HD coaches, please drop me a line so we can make a plan.

Here is a thought:
There are hundreds of books in print, and out, that could be useful to AD/HD coaches. Only a few of them are new. Others are on your shelves and may be full of notes in the margins or highlighting. We’d like to start publishing some information about them – more than a list of references and less that a full review. Think of it as more of a book report. Tell us why you like it, why it’s still on your shelf and how it’s useful to you in your business.

At this time we can't pay writers who submit articles to this newsletter, but we'll give you credit and links as appropriate. Articles received by the 15th of the month will be considered for the upcoming issue. Sometimes we'll elect to hold an article for later publication. Writers' guidelines are available on line at this minute at www.adhdcoaches.org/content/newsletter/writersguidelines.htm

I'm looking forward to making this publication top notch. So if you've got any questions, comments, concerns or gripes, please drop me a note. It does no good to grumble alone!

Onward and upward!
Keep the CIRCLE rolling.