Recently articles were published in the French language Journal de Montreal about the high consumption of Ritalin in Quebec. I think it is very important, as a

professional who works with parents, to provide some clarification, and add another voice to the

controversy about ADHD.

The articles describe the tremendous consumption of drugs from the Ritalin family in Quebec compared

to the rest of Canada (41.4% of all prescriptions of Ritalin in Canada are filled in Quebec).

One article also mentions how parents and teachers, helpless and stressed out by the presence of an

ADHD child in their environment, call for the use of the drugs to reduce the challenges they face.

Even Dr. Annick Vincent, a psychiatrist recognized in this area, points out that "lack of resources means

that many people who could benefit from Ritalin have no access to it.

I am a certified ADHD coach and I work primarily with parents of children with ADHD, who feel

disillusioned, frustrated and often guilty by association for the way they have raised their challenging

children.

Besides Ritalin, there are other alternatives and professional resources in Quebec to meet the desperate

needs of these children and parents.

Coaching in ADHD is one of the alternatives offered by highly qualified professionals to provide effective

solutions to the symptoms being experienced by the ADHD child and his family.

In my practice I see that the methods used with the ADHD child, at home or at school, are often

inadequate both in their applications and their results. Why? Because they only address negative

behaviours, the failures of the child, rather than recognize, appreciate and nurture their experiences of

success when they occur.

The Nurtured Heart Approach that I work with is a powerful tool which offers parents remarkable skills

with the following benefits:

• Children develop better control and which results in deep inner transformation;

• Parents learn to intervene solely on the successful experiences of the child;

• Learning new effective parenting skills;

• More harmonious family relations;

• Improvement of academic achievement;

• Better management by the child of the challenges related to ADHD.

I am often asked to work with children with problems related to school (work, exams), managing time

and homework.

So that parents become important change agents in our Quebec society, I also cultivate a partnership

between parents, teachers and other school professionals to enable greater collaboration. Information

meetings are held with all these partners to explain the behavioural and learning challenges faced by

these children in their ADHD academia. As an ADHD coach, and in consultation with parents, I can

propose to the school realistic accommodations for the child for improved academic success and

enhanced communication with the community.

Furthermore, few parents realize the impact of toxins and nutrition on the challenging behaviour and

daily functioning of children with ADHD. My role as coach is also to refer to other professional resources

in the fields of ADHD and autism.

ADHD coaching is a more objective opportunity for families who opt for a more holistic and ecological

solution.