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

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

#91

Post by ElijahLynn »

vsreed wrote: post #83
ElijahLynn wrote: post #72

I really resonate with this and I just signed up for the month intro package! It seems like a small price to pay if it works! My therapist (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS)) always says that the key to ADD/ADHD is to have structure, and this looks like shimmer could fit that prescription! Chris, I am in your knowledge learning section of the app and your videos are not able to be pl…

Thank you so much for signing up and really looking forward to your feedback about your experience on our platform! What Android device are you using for our app? We'll definitely investigate on our backend and see if we can reproduce the stuttering on our Android test devices as well. You can always email support@shimmer.care or message the Shimmer admin account directly within the app and we'll make sure to log you…

Thanks, I see the admin chat. I saw it after I posted this. It is a Pixel 3. It also took a while for the video just show up on the page, so I think it really is something with server overload, possibly from being on front page of HN? I'll message again if it is still happening in 24 hours.

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

#93

Post by xeniaangevin »

okhuman wrote: post #9

"ADHD" needs a rebranding... move away from clinical diagnosis from medical professionals which can be "heartbreaking" or "liberating" to coaches/advisors running community groups which build frameworks for these like minded, like personality individuals (and their associated family/friends) to operate in (like a 'club') and to help educate others (advocacy). People with "ADHD" are already covered by the Big Five Per…

As a coaching psychologist and a senior member of Shimmer team, I am ever so pleased to see you referring to the most validated bio-psychological model of personality traits. You are absolutely right that ADHD folk have a recognisable “signature” on a Big Five model, within the traditional and the modern interpretations of this theoretical perspective.

However, the Big Five model only talks about the most notable personality traits in statistical terms, whereas the lived experience of a person with ADHD is illuminated by the richness, variety and the amplitude of the rest of the personality traits which may be less statistically profound but critically important to a particular person and the way in which they relate to their ADHD.

While I can’t talk about the ADHD coaching overall, the “Shimmer model” is acutely attuned to the lived experience and phenomenology of each member we work with. And we always welcome critical and well-informed enquiries about what informs our approach. Thank you!

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

#94

Post by Mharedy »

christalwang wrote: post #29
elil17 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From their website: We’re looking for licensed coaches (ICF or NBHWC preferred) or licensed mental health professionals (e.g., PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LMFT, etc.) specializing in ADHD. Looks like they accept people with coaching licenses (this often means less than 200 hours of training). My understanding is that coaches are typically qualified to work with people who don't have acute mental health needs. For example a coac…

Yes! Thank you for that distinction. Exactly. Our coaches are not treating ADHD as a medical condition (which is why they don't diagnose or prescribe) but they are helping people with ADHD gain skills, build systems, etc. to help manage their ADHD symptoms. The reality is there are often co-occuring conditions in the mix here so we often either refer out or ensure our clients are also working with a therapist on othe…

Yes

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

#95

Post by Mharedy »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #61
cauthon wrote: post #2

Why do you describe your product as "coaching", and not "therapy"? Is this a marketing decision because of a perceived stigma around the term "therapy"? (The re-branding of CBT/ACT to "coaching" and "training" instead of "therapy" strikes me as odd, I don't understand the emphasis on avoiding the term.) Will your company be accepting medical insurance? $350/mo (~$90/session) is roughly half of what billed-to-insuranc…

> However, with insurance I've usually paid $25-40/session out of pocket. This is what insured people need to keep in mind. Always look up the actual cost estimation through your insurer's website first. It's not uncommon for health insurance at tech companies to have therapy options that come out to $20-30/session. Worth checking first! Also, note that the service offered here is explicitly "coaching" and not "thera…

No post body was provided.

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

#96

Post by Mharedy »

christalwang wrote: post #36
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…

Hi! Chris(tal) here (also, I'm a woman.. she/her, haha. I get that a lot using my nickname) Unfortunately, yes. There are many businesses that take advantage of not only people with ADHD but people in other vulnerable communities (e.g. other neurological conditions and mental illnesses). I've been in this space for a long time since I started with my Eating Disorder amongst other things in my teenage years. Of course…

No post body was provided.

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

#97

Post by Mharedy »

christalwang wrote: post #57
jasonladuke0311 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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

Yes

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

#98

Post by ttul »

This is definitely a service that needed to exist, so I'm really glad that someone finally did it. That being said, if you have ADHD or suspect you might have ADHD, I highly recommend seeing a medical professional to get diagnosed first before beginning any form of treatment.

ADHD is caused by poor functioning of the connections between neurons in certain areas of the brain that are responsible for impulse control and attention. You can't fight this functional deficit with willpower or coaching alone. Decades of research shows that ADHD is highly treatable with medication and there is almost no evidence that therapy or coaching is effective.

All this being said, I think that people with ADHD develop patterns of behaviour to cope with ADHD symptoms. Once medication has restored proper functioning in your brain, I think coaching and therapy definitely play a role in helping you learn new patterns of behaviour that are more appropriate in the context of a properly functioning brain.

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

#99

Post by TaylorAlexander »

iamdbtoo wrote: post #88

> We understand that life doesn't always go according to plan. Shimmer members can cancel or reschedule a coaching video call without penalty 24 hours in advance. If cancellation is within 24 hours, the session will be forfeited for the week. Thank you for your understanding! I understand your need to ensure your time is not wasted, but policies like this can wreak havoc on people struggling with executive dysfunctio…

Maybe an optional plan that costs a little extra but allows for last minute rescheduling within the week. And everyone starts with this feature at no extra cost at the beginning. The company leaves extra slots open for this possibility, treating it like an insurance scheme.

Also last minute rescheduling means last minute scheduling for other people too. They may find that they just offer this to everyone and the costs balance out. It does seem like imposing too many scheduling constraints on a specifically ADHD audience could lead to a lot of friction!

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

#100

Post by fortysixdegrees »

A message to those diagnosed or not with ADHD. It's also ok to be yourself, and not try to 'fix' yourself.

Shit at some aspects of life? All good. Good at some things? Great.

Not saying treatment is bad, just that being yourself, with all its costs and benefits, is a completely legitimate option.

Medicate always as a last resort

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