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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

#131

Post by christalwang »

fragmede wrote: post #110
kevinqinhu wrote: post #76

Interesting concept. Personally, I'm not a fan of therapy (tried it 3 times and it didn't stick) because I felt like I wasn't learning anything tactical that I can apply to my life. I'm a founder with ADHD so I'm very focused on building and "unblocking" myself -- e.g. getting myself to do the thing I know I need to do but can't do for some reason. If having a coach who can help unblock me quickly when I'm in a state…

> I tend to try a bunch of different methodologies to manage my ADHD but have trouble sticking to them a therapist is going up help talk you through this but the point is you have ADHD so it's no system is going to stick, so what you need to do is reframe it so that it's not that you tried a system and it failed, but to look at the 3 days/weeks/months and celebrate the time that you had with it, and to see that as po…

I love this.

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

#132

Post by fragmede »

christalwang wrote: post #126
fragmede wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the right answer, with a pool of VC money, is to have a pool of coaches on tap, so the appointment is NOW. no scheduling stuff in the future to be missed or forgotten. expensive on the back end, but that's what the VC money is for. And also to have it in the middle of the night - so many people I know have their awake hours from 1-3am, meet people with ADHD where they are.

Thank you for the suggestion! Unfortunately for our specific service, where the focus is on the coaching relationship between the specific coach and member, doesn't make us best fit for a "drop in" session, at least for the core model. Creating and maintaining a trusting relationship with the coach is a multi-step (multi-week) process and for many members redeveloping this trust with a 2nd/3rd coach may be out of the…

fair point. I wasn't imagining as a sustained thing, but as a "it's 3am, my life is in shambles because I totally time-blindnessed forgot $very_important_thing, and now I'm going to get broken up with/fired and I'm desperate and crying and overwhelmed." kind of first meeting, for capturing forward momentum from new members who just signed up and need a shred of hope. not that something like that is finally what led me to get an official diagnosis, of course. being tired of feeling like a failure is a powerful motivator to sign up, but help later at an appointment I'm going to forget and not go to is worthless compared to any sort of help now.

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

#133

Post by christalwang »

kevinqinhu wrote: post #76

Interesting concept. Personally, I'm not a fan of therapy (tried it 3 times and it didn't stick) because I felt like I wasn't learning anything tactical that I can apply to my life. I'm a founder with ADHD so I'm very focused on building and "unblocking" myself -- e.g. getting myself to do the thing I know I need to do but can't do for some reason. If having a coach who can help unblock me quickly when I'm in a state…

I'm sorry that therapy didn't work out for you. It could be therapy being misaligned with your goals, or unfortunately it could also just be a bad fit in therapist-client match. I'm in the same boat though, I struggled to find a therapist who was ADHD-informed and solution-focused under my insurance. However, I did find good therapists in the past for my eating disorder and for some other more mood-related challenges present in my family.

I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but it's definitely an "it depends". Statistically, 83% of our members say by 2 months they're seeing improvement in reaching their goals but I must admit for now it's quite a high level metric with a lot to unpack. It'll depend on a few factors including how specific your goals are, how much time/effort you're willing to put into it, your attitude/mindset coming in, the coach/client rapport, to name a few things. For example, you could come in with 1 laser focused goal and achieve in a few weeks, or you could come in with the want to unpack your goals and find a new career trajectory etc., and that would take quite longer.

Most of our members work in 3-month goals. Some of our members are on their 2nd set of 3-month goals. However, of course there are some that found that they couldn't fit coaching into their life in the way they want and didn't continue after the initial 4 weeks. We do ask that all folks commit to trying for 4 weeks and giving it their best shot since as you mentioned, it's important to develop the coach-member relationship, set proper goals, and start to create some action plans!

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

#134

Post by samstave »

christalwang wrote: post #107
samstave wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cant believe you didnt even answer my question, a person who has already spent thousands on this problem personally and youre announcing a fucking launch IM YOURE FUCKING CUSTOMER

Thanks for your comment, and apologies on the delay here. > what specifically, or HOW specifically is your therapy different than the therapists I have already spent $$$$ on? First I want to re-clarify that we are not providing therapy. We providing coaching services for ADHD-related symptoms and skills (like executive function). However, coaching (along with therapy) definitely does not cure ADHD, as ADHD is a lifel…

Try me out. lets see if your shit works?

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

#136

Post by sirsinsalot »

I have ADHD (late diagnosis) and am both medicated and have had years of counselling.

The problem with ADHD is that a simple dopamine system deficiency expresses in ways as complex as humans themselves.

I found something that works for me but I imagine it wouldn't work for anyone else.

Even with thousands spent per year on the best help, I'm still my own worst enemy due to the constant brain discomfort.

As an example, my work focus is fine but I struggle with compulsion , impulsively, chronic boredom and addiction.

While I applaud any effort to raise awareness and develop solutions, the solutions I feel are as complex as the problems and they're not something you can encapsulate and charge $99/mo for.

Sorry.

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

#137

Post by TaylorAlexander »

christalwang wrote: post #129
TaylorAlexander wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 cost…

Yes! Actually we kind of have a soft rule that in the first few weeks we always make sure you get your session, even if it means rescheduling last minute. This isn't of course the best scenario for our coaches who are waiting on the other end, but we're happy to invest in this to make sure our members get off on the right foot (the onboarding call is very important and must happen to start the coaching relationship).…

Yeah. I mean if people cancel 20% of the time then you could pay the coaches either way and then charge 20% more for the service. At least that is what I am thinking. Maybe it wouldn’t bother the coaches as much if they’re going to get paid either way. Maybe with limits to how often this can occur without a penalty.

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

#138

Post by comprev »

cpsns wrote: post #82
kdkdkdkxin wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> At least not too long ago when I was young enough to be in that crowd - ADHD was the king of "cool" disorders. Everyone wanted to have ADHD. If you were "normal" - that was "uncool". It was like - what's wrong with you? Why don't you have some debilitating problem like everyone else? Speaking as someone who definitely, definitely has rather severe hyperactive type ADHD complete with anxiety comorbidity and tactile…

> How, just -how-, could anyone want this disorder? Because they don't understand just how debilitating it is and how much trauma it causes a person. It's absolutely shit, especially for those of us who find out later in our lives like both of us apparently. Aside from the normal issues that go with it, now I'm also plagued by the thought of how things could have gone had literally anyone picked up on it when I was a…

Don't look back with regret, frustration and anger. Look back and be proud at what you have achieved undiagnosed and what you could achieve going forwards with a diagnosis.

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

#140

Post by Dma54rhs »

christalwang wrote: post #20
lambic wrote: post #4

> If you have ADHD (or think you do) Does the "or think you do" mean you perform diagnoses too?

Unfortunately we don't perform diagnoses at this point. We do have some great partners that we refer out to for diagnoses, or we can help support folks through that process. What we mean by that is we coach people who don't necessarily have a diagnosis. We welcome anyone who wants to come and be coached on ADHD-related skills & goals. For example, if you want to work on your executive function but you don't have an A…

Well this pricing is out of reach from most of the minorities. I'm not even sure why bring that up?
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