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Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

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Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#131

Post by munro »

idk much about this, maybe it's really great, but i get a lot of instagram ads from a lot of no-name companies preying on people with ADHD, and their tendency to forget. they all follow a similar cringe tiktok formula "I have ADHD, after using XYZ, i've become so organized and productive!". their aim is to hit the user with a high subscription cost after a short trial.

one of the scummier ads i've been shown is for "happyo", after digging in, it's just a collection of some lame ass planner apps. it costs $3 for the first week, but then jumps up to $67.99 for the next 3 months. to me, what they're doing is predatory.

my 2 cents is just go through some telehealth platform and find a therapist who specializes in ADHD that is covered by your insurance. if your copay is $25 for an HOUR session.... then 1 visit a week is only $100/mo. and if you want to go "immersive", schedule 3 visits a week lol

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#133

Post by Apocryphon »

haliskerbas wrote: post #129
Apocryphon wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about the details, but even simply from watching HealthyGamerGG videos (which are quite good), the way he pushes his group counseling service(?) using essentially volunteers(??) who are licensed through him does seem suspect. Guess enshittification applies even to internet individuals.

I mentioned this in the main comment but I believe if you try to sign up they make it clear it’s not professional mental health service.

That's fair. I'm not accusing him of pretending it's professional. More like it seems dubious of him trying to push his side hustle in his regular programming. It's like he's presenting a paid service as the natural progression from his free advice. And as if his trained coaches are a proxy for himself.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#134

Post by lukko »

I always wonder how this can be offered to patients when it seems like it should be classed as a medical device / service and regulated. It's intended for use in a named medical disorder and the guidance is very clear [1] (UK guidelines).

It is presented as having an evidence base with trained clinicians, but then the T+Cs state: 'Coaches are not trained or licensed medical professionals and are not qualified to diagnose, treat or manage any healthcare conditions, including behavioural health conditions.'

It makes me really sad to see so many companies like this - the services are always hugely expensive and target vulnerable people.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#135

Post by aaaaaaa9000 »

lukko wrote: post #134

I always wonder how this can be offered to patients when it seems like it should be classed as a medical device / service and regulated. It's intended for use in a named medical disorder and the guidance is very clear [1] (UK guidelines). It is presented as having an evidence base with trained clinicians, but then the T+Cs state: 'Coaches are not trained or licensed medical professionals and are not qualified to diag…

That was my initial question as well. What are their qualifications for calling themselves ADHD coaches?

I'm bombarded with ads from ADHD apps since my diagnosis and I have tried many. None, none at all, have helped me. It's praying on the weak.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#136

Post by aaaaaaa9000 »

talldatethrow wrote: post #105
NegativeLatency wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's absurd to claim that you're not trying to pass as a medical service when you're offering coaching for a neurological condition. You can argue medical vs healthcare or whatever semantics you want but if it quacks like a duck it's a duck.

Is my golf coach a physical therapist or a physical movement coach? He's been helping me improve my swing around an injury I had dirt biking.

My grandma once helped me with my math homework, was she a mathematician?

You might get lucky with your golf coach. There are people that went to medical school for that though. Your choice.

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#137

Post by christalwang »

p1necone wrote: post #125
christalwang wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've just changed our language with the support of our care team and the folks in this thread! Super open to more suggestions if it can better represent what we're doing (ADHD Coaching)

[flagged]

We weren't advertising anything that isn't true. We do have qualified mental health professionals on our coaching team (many of them are), but we changed the language so it didn't seem like they were providing medical services at all. The threads here helped us understand how it was coming off (not in terms of true or not, but in terms of how it read/implied) so we switched the ordering. Happy to expand more or change anything that isn't true or is deceptive!

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#138

Post by thenerdhead »

I see a hundred of these companies that apparently "specialize in ADHD". I see them all in the same light unfortunately of profiteering in various ways around the incompetent medical system the US has.

Is this a better price than a licensed therapist? Yes

Is this a more practical solution than what you might get? Yes

But it just feels ethically wrong to promote your services to people who are "undiagnosed" or "think they have" ADHD. This is exactly what social media is doing today in the sense of trying to convince you have something because you happen to engage in said content.

I mean just look at the eligibility:

- Adults 18+

- No formal diagnosis required

- Smartphone with internet access

- No suicidal ideation with plan and/or intent

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/29/well/mind/tiktok-mental-i...

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#139

Post by pedalpete »

I'm curious if you looked at neurofeedback/neurostimulation as an alternative to therapy based intervention when looking at your offering.

I don't have ADHD, but met the founders of https://neurode.com 2 days ago, and I'm in the neurotech space.

I'm surprised to see coaching based solutions continue to exist in a space where more direct interventions exist.

Can you give some of your thinking on this?

Re: Show HN: Shimmer – ADHD coaching for adults, now on web

#140

Post by lukko »

aaaaaaa9000 wrote: post #135
lukko wrote: post #134

I always wonder how this can be offered to patients when it seems like it should be classed as a medical device / service and regulated. It's intended for use in a named medical disorder and the guidance is very clear [1] (UK guidelines). It is presented as having an evidence base with trained clinicians, but then the T+Cs state: 'Coaches are not trained or licensed medical professionals and are not qualified to diag…

That was my initial question as well. What are their qualifications for calling themselves ADHD coaches? I'm bombarded with ads from ADHD apps since my diagnosis and I have tried many. None, none at all, have helped me. It's praying on the weak.

Exactly. Also, what is the intervention if the coaches cannot provide any advice or guidance[1] or manage the condition. I really think services like this should be regulated - I'm not sure why ADHD seems like a soft diagnosis and always slips through the net.

[1] (a) you acknowledge and understand that Coaches are not trained or licensed as medical professionals, and you agree to not request that Coaches provide you with any medical or healthcare advice or guidance, and (b) you agree to not rely upon any information provided to you by Coaches, content received through the Services or other Members when making important lifestyle, health, financial or relationship decisions.

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