Hello everyone:
My husband and I have been seeing an ADHD coach for several months now. The change in our marriage is nothing short of a miracle. What is NOT such a miracle is the dent in our bank account and, at times, our credit card. The charge is $100 per session and insurance will only cover if there is a diagnostic and procedure code. The diagnostic code is easy but it's my understanding from our coach that there is no procedure code for coaching. Is she right? We are only going once per month now but I would love for my husband to be able to go by himself once a month to (as would he) but we can't afford more than the $100 / month and even that is sometimes going on a credit card.
Can someone give advice or help?
Thanks to all.
I agree with you on how much help coaching is!!
Submitted by Aspen on
I don't know anything about coding (not in that field) but I do know that our insurance pays for my husband's coaching between once every 2 weeks and every 3. He sees a psychologist who specializes in AD/HD and she has never done *coaching* per se, but when she asked my husband what he hoped to get out of their relationship and he explained why he needs coaching (diff doctor does his prescriptions), she was really excited about the prospect and has researched the subject & I feel she is an awesome coach. Husband agrees but he isn't fully participating in the process. They talk about what he needs to do and she assigns homework for him to do (tracking his time & commitments, writing down how long he thinks a task will take before he starts and then writing down how long it took after it was over--various things to help him get ahold of his time commitments especially) but he doesn't really follow through well in the doing partly because it is 2-3 weeks between visits. I think he needs more reminders than that. I'd be really interested in knowing how you keep your husband motivated between appts since yours are even further apart!
I know I could help him participate more by incorporating it into our meetings for what needs to get done in our lives, but I am just feeling tired and overwhelmed at the moment and I feel like his coach should see him as he really is and maybe be able to get him motivated to do these things on his own.
It sounds like you are really happy with your coach and the relationship benefits from it, so I hesitate to suggest that you change; but when insurance was requiring my husband to change to a different set of doctors (closer to home) and there was about a several month gap in his coaching visits while the records were transfered, we paid for him to do over the phone group coaching. HE REALLY LOVED IT, and I am sorry that we had to cancel his membership but once he got through the introductory visits with a doctor covered by insurance, we cancelled it for financial reasons and because he had stopped calling regularly. When his schedule changes at all it throws off everything in his life and he generally called on Monday night....when our Monday nights got busier, he forgot to call. There is also a forum, but few people participate there.
We went through addcoachingclub and I think it was $77 a month to call as many sessions as you choose for the month. There were 4 days/times offered a week, and each day uses the same coach. He could have technically called all 4 every week if he had the time which naturally he didn't, but he did try 2 different coaches whose times worked for his schedule and stuck with the one he liked best. He liked his coach a lot and looked forward to talking to her on Monday nights. Her suggestions were helpful and he was getting to know some of the other people who regularly called at that time too. I think generally he got to speak about 15 minutes of the hour and listen to other ppls issues/solutions the rest of the time. Sometimes there were fewer ppl on the call and he got more time to talk. He really seemed to benefit a LOT from the listening to other ppl explain their issues as sometimes he realized that was his problem too but he had never thought it through in that way.
I think it was the weekly thing that made it work best as well as her suggestions which he seemed to work on more promptly...again I think because he knew the checkup was coming much more quickly. The more immediate follow up was exactly what he needed, but once it wasn't new and shiny anymore, and he got busier, he just stopped calling. The last month we paid for I think he only called ONCE! I am just completely unwilling to waste money in that way though I am fairly sure he'd have kept up the subscription and just called as he felt like it.
Insc pays for talk therapy but not true coaching in our case
Submitted by gratitudeiskey on
Thanks so much for your response. You are right, the coaching really has been such a boost to the relationship. We always say that she's like an interrperater. She knows his brain and also understands mine and she sort of facilitates and leads us through conversations and strategizes with us on difficult tasks/areas. We are seeing a Coach in Monroe, CT. This is her specialty. She is NOT a psychologist or anything, she is a coach. He also sees a therapist each month but that is purly related to his meds. So, he sees a med Dr. (psychiatrist) every 6 months to have meds adjusted and talk strictly about meds. Then he sees a therepist (a requirement of the practice to have meds continued) once per month. They are stictly dealing with personal issues, childhood stuff, etc. Luckily she is not a therapist who thinks she can tackle ADHD just because she's a counselor. Your husbands counselor seems much more educated in the ADHD area. The coach is the one we see to find solutions and tools for our ADHD marriage. We tackle hard subjects like chores and such. She has a wonderful way of making him feel like he's not defective...even when the entire session is about him and the improvements he needs to make. She is also the non ADHD mom and spouse of an ADHD household. So, she sometimes relates her experience to help with a situation so that I am not seen as the bully. This helps so much. When he meets with her seperately, there are times that part or all of what they are work on crosses over to the joint sessions but mostly it's just between them. This also is a good thing for him to be able to work on issues that he is uncomfortable sharing with me. He has some addiction issues that are difficult...(i.e. internet/porn/attraction). He has an addiction to attraction. That was amazing to me. You know that feeling you get when you see something you want...almost like an excited feeling in the pit of your tummy? That is something that sets him on a path without thinking or caring anyting about the consequences. Inappropriate behvior is a big one too. He becomes inappropriate with new people in a crowd because he is actually feeling nervous and become overt instead. How many times have I wanted the ground to open up after hearing something come out of his mouth. But through CODA meetings I'm beginning to seperate his behavior from me. If he says something embarrassing there is no reason for ME to be embarrassed. That's all him...he owns that. I didn't say it. No reason for me to feel that way.
So, this coaching we go to doesn't carry a "code" to become covered. It's horrible cuz it's working so well. I will do whatever I have to do find the money each month. Also, she is very mindful of our budget so she always asks "is this in the budget this month". There are times when we answer no and she has us skip a month. UGH...I just wish this was more affordable. It's a sin that insurance won't cover it. Shame on them!!!
It's very rare that ADHD
Submitted by livingwithadd on
It's very rare that ADHD Coaching is covered by health insurance. Going back just 5 years ago it was totally unheard of that ADHD Coaching was covered. Coaching may be partially covered under some plans as a wellness benefit similar to a gym membership or a weight watchers membership. If you are in the United States, Vocational Rehabilitation may cover ADHD Coaching services too.
Group Coaching is a more affordable option than one on one coaching. Also some coaches do take clients on a sliding scale. This usually isn't advertised and people need to ask indivual coaches.
I suggest contacting the ADHD Coaches Organization (http://www.adhdcoaches.org) and let them know your situation and see what they suggest.
Tara McGillicuddy
http://www.taramcgillicuddy.com