Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults • Hacker News Board

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#51

Post by PragmaticPulp » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:42 PM UTC

chrsig wrote: post #6

> It’s $99/mo. Person with severe adhd and disposable income here: Nope. This is too much. Especially if you're not offering psychiatric services (e.g., no meds). > in honor of our launch and celebration of October being ADHD Awareness Month, the first month is 40% off (offer until Nov 12). I can appreciate celebrating october being adhd awareness month in november. I also want to call out that there's no regulation…

> Person with severe adhd and disposable income here: Nope. This is too much

Even for people with disposable income, a rate like this should trigger some cursory research on your insurance provider's website. Common tech company insurance plans might very likely come out much cheaper than this when multiple sessions are considered across a year and deductibles are taken into account.

And you get to choose your provider and know their qualifications as a mental health professional. Telehealth is commonly available, too.

Don't let the high price of any of these cash-only services discourage anyone from seeking therapy. If you have insurance, always check that first and do the math.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#52

Post by WXLCKNO » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:42 PM UTC

tallytarik wrote: post #41

Lionga wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think exercise or some good habits significantly changes ADHD you don't know what ADHD is, sorry. I do both, does not change my ADHD at all (it has other benefits surely)

> If you think exercise or some good habits significantly changes ADHD you don't know what ADHD is, sorry. I think this is uncalled for, especially when in your very next sentence you clarify that you’re speaking about your own experience. Everyone’s can be different.

The effect exercise has on me is wanting to eat better, sleep better etc and it gives me more energy.

All of these things help with my ADHD and I'm much more affected by symptoms when my body is not in shape. Not sure why that other commenter insists on being so offended.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#53

Post by jasonladuke0311 » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:45 PM UTC

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same here. I think there is a natural undercurrent of skepticism on HN, a lot of which is well-deserved.

The ROI of this could be tremendous for someone in tech. If this helps you get your shit together enough to be promoted a cycle early, for example, or find a new job, it could be a bargain.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#54

Post by jasonladuke0311 » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:46 PM UTC

WXLCKNO wrote: post #49

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same. As someone well off with inattentive type ADHD, 99$ is money I wouldn't mind throwing away for a shot at getting better with the daily issues I face. And then if it works progressing to something more expensive is also not a problem. In my case the issue is that despite having a growth mindset for learning pretty much anything, in the case of ADHD stuff I've been trying for so long to fix myself that it feels l…

> In my case the issue is that despite having a growth mindset for learning pretty much anything, in the case of ADHD stuff I've been trying for so long to fix myself that it feels like I'll never be able to.

Oh man this hits too close

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#55

Post by PragmaticPulp » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:47 PM UTC

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

> As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market.

The issue is that this is likely more expensive for someone with health insurance than it would be to go out and engage with a guaranteed licensed medical professional for ADHD therapy.

They use some vague language on the website (look carefully for the "or" in the qualifications listing) to obscure that fact that you might be working with a "coach" instead of a licensed therapist. They also use some moderately misleading language to avoid saying they offer therapy for ADHD, instead offering things like life skills.

Basically, anyone looking at this should first go to their insurance company's website and check the price of true ADHD therapy from a guaranteed licensed medical professional that you can choose yourself. Over the course of several sessions, the cost of doing this through insurance could be much lower and you're arguably likely to get better treatment (coaches cannot provide therapy by law, so they're kind of coaching around it instead).

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#56

Post by christalwang » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

WXLCKNO wrote: post #49

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same. As someone well off with inattentive type ADHD, 99$ is money I wouldn't mind throwing away for a shot at getting better with the daily issues I face. And then if it works progressing to something more expensive is also not a problem. In my case the issue is that despite having a growth mindset for learning pretty much anything, in the case of ADHD stuff I've been trying for so long to fix myself that it feels l…

I definitely feel you, and that's the biggest "con" (in context of pros/cons) of coaching. It definitely takes significant sustained efforts, which is why medication and other methods are often the first line of defense.

We're trying to make it less effort and easier, but at the end of the day we know sustained behavioral change will take effort. Along that vein, it also may not always be the best time, and may not be best fit for everyone. We totally acknowledge that and hope to just be one piece of the greater ADHD-care pie!

Good luck with your ADHD specialized psychologist!!

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#57

Post by christalwang » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

jasonladuke0311 wrote: post #54

WXLCKNO wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. As someone well off with inattentive type ADHD, 99$ is money I wouldn't mind throwing away for a shot at getting better with the daily issues I face. And then if it works progressing to something more expensive is also not a problem. In my case the issue is that despite having a growth mindset for learning pretty much anything, in the case of ADHD stuff I've been trying for so long to fix myself that it feels l…

> In my case the issue is that despite having a growth mindset for learning pretty much anything, in the case of ADHD stuff I've been trying for so long to fix myself that it feels like I'll never be able to. Oh man this hits too close

:( +1

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#58

Post by PragmaticPulp » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

jasonladuke0311 wrote: post #53

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same here. I think there is a natural undercurrent of skepticism on HN, a lot of which is well-deserved. The ROI of this could be tremendous for someone in tech. If this helps you get your shit together enough to be promoted a cycle early, for example, or find a new job, it could be a bargain.

> The ROI of this could be tremendous for someone in tech.

Sure, but if someone in tech is seeking help it's better to start with ADHD therapy (not "coaching") from licensed medical professionals, utilizing their insurance to offset the costs.

The issue a lot of us are trying to raise in this thread is that the program seems designed to take advantage of the lack of understanding about therapy versus coaching and cash-only versus insured programs. They make it easy to pay and get connected with someone, but if you're looking for true therapy (not "coaching") then you want to go through traditional channels. It will likely be cheaper with most tech insurance plans anyway.

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#59

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:50 PM UTC

jasonladuke0311 wrote: post #53

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same here. I think there is a natural undercurrent of skepticism on HN, a lot of which is well-deserved. The ROI of this could be tremendous for someone in tech. If this helps you get your shit together enough to be promoted a cycle early, for example, or find a new job, it could be a bargain.

[deleted]

Re: Launch HN: Shimmer (YC S21) – ADHD coaching for adults

#60

Post by christalwang » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:51 PM UTC

jasonladuke0311 wrote: post #53

TheTaytay wrote: post #32

Im really surprised to see the intense skepticism here. As someone who is just stumbling into this world and studying ADHD as an otherwise successful adult, Chris’ description (and $99 price frankly) resonated with me and made me think I might be in the target market. Even one of his responses to someone thanking someone for feedback is being downvoted. Is there a connotation of ADHD being associated with snake-oil o…

Same here. I think there is a natural undercurrent of skepticism on HN, a lot of which is well-deserved. The ROI of this could be tremendous for someone in tech. If this helps you get your shit together enough to be promoted a cycle early, for example, or find a new job, it could be a bargain.

I came emotionally prepared for today (I hope enough).

Thank you for your point. Actually one of our members was recently working on a career change and their coach helped them get a job relatively quickly. Of course, the success is the members' and not the coach's! But the member cited it as a massive help :)