Live Happy ADHD Coaching

Welcome.

Are you ready for a change but keep hitting roadblocks?

I can help you move from survival mode to thriving and reconnecting to the joy of life. I help my clients stay on track, create calm, and bring out the best in themselves. I invite you to learn how to enhance the way your unique ADHD brain works, instead of working against it.

Meet your Coach

I used to struggle with exactly the same thing.

Dorsey McFadden currently lives in Richmond with her husband and pets. She earned a double BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Political Science & Communications and International Security Studies & Rhetoric.

In her previous life, Dorsey worked in digital marketing for over 20 years. Now she’s building a career as an ADHD coach, educator, and advocate.

She also cofounded FlexYourADHD.com as a platform with a significant community of adults eager to learn about their ADHD.

As the founder and coach of Live Happy ADHD Coaching, Dorsey is passionate about coaching adults living with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD to help them live happy and healthy lives.

Together, she works with her clients to develop techniques and approaches to better understand how to support themselves and their children.

Dorsey aims to empower those with ADHD to work with their unique brain, not against it.

Meet your Coach

I used to struggle with exactly the same thing.

Dorsey McFadden is a certified ADHD coach, educator, and advocate through training from the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), holding credentials from both ADDCA and the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC). Based in Richmond, she lives with her husband and pets. With over 20 years of experience in digital marketing, she brings a wealth of strategic insight to her coaching practice. Dorsey holds a double BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Political Science & Communications and International Security Studies & Rhetoric.

As the founder of Live Happy ADHD Coaching and FlexYourADHD.com, Dorsey is passionate about helping adults with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD build happier, more fulfilling lives. She partners with her clients to create personalized strategies that harness the strengths of the ADHD brain, focusing on empowerment, self-understanding, and practical support systems.

Dorsey's mission is simple: to help people stop fighting against their ADHD and start thriving with it.

While there's no magic solution in life, the supportive, practical, concrete, and collaborative process of coaching can help to bridge the gap between where you are right now and where you want to be.

Do any of these sound familiar?

  • difficulty with planning and prioritizing

  • feeling unfulfilled and unsuccessful

  • impaired communication or social skills

  • trouble getting started/lack of initiative

  • difficulty maintaining focus

  • poor self-care (exercising, getting to bed, etc.)

  • difficulty explaining their ADHD to others

  • getting easily distracted and overwhelmed

  • challenges with working memory

  • poor time and energy management

  • lack of organizational skills

  • trouble harnessing motivation and interest

  • impulsivity/lack of inhibition

  • procrastination (sometimes extreme and high stakes)

  • poor communication skills

  • difficulty with planning and prioritizing

  • feeling unfulfilled and unsuccessful

  • impaired communication or social skills

  • trouble getting started/lack of initiative

  • difficulty maintaining focus

  • poor self-care (exercising, getting to bed, etc.)

  • difficulty explaining their ADHD to others

  • getting easily distracted and overwhelmed

  • challenges with working memory

  • poor time and energy management

  • lack of organizational skills

  • trouble harnessing motivation and interest

  • impulsivity/lack of inhibition

  • procrastination (sometimes extreme and high stakes)

  • poor communication skills

What Does Success Look Like?

That depends on the client.

For some it will look like completion of a project while, for others, it may be development of self compassion and self

awareness which enriches all areas of their life.

What Is Coaching?

Coaching is the facilitation of growth and change. A coaching partnership helps close the gap between who you are, what's important to you, and what you're doing. so that you can lead a more satisfying and effective life. Coaches support our client's understanding of their ADHD brain and its related challenges. As well as how it impacts your personal and professional life so that you can utilize practical, realistic strategies to shift from chaos to calm.

What Does Success Look Like?

That depends on the client.

For some it will look like completion of a project while, for others, it may be development of self compassion and self

awareness which enriches all areas of their life.

What Is Coaching?

Coaching is the facilitation of growth and change. A coaching partnership helps close the gap between who you are, what's important to you, and what you're doing. so that you can lead a more satisfying and effective life. Coaches support our client's understanding of their ADHD brain and its related challenges. As well as how it impacts your personal and professional life so that you can utilize practical, realistic strategies to shift from chaos to calm.

More Topics to explore

Something for every reader

Have you noticed an increase in your ADHD symptoms lately? Feeling a bit off?

ADHD Wellness: June Health Check-In Tips

June 22, 20264 min read

ADHD, Wellness, Self-Care, Live Happy ADHD Coaching

ADHD Wellness Newsletter – June Edition: Your Gentle Health Check-In

Better late than never! This month’s Live Happy ADHD Coaching newsletter is about pausing and checking the basics of your health—because your brain needs your body cared for.

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Why These Health Basics Matter So Much with ADHD

Living with ADHD often means juggling appointments, reminders, deadlines, kids’ schedules, and a busy brain. In all that, it’s easy to skip the basics—blood work, vitamins, hydration, and sleep. Yet these foundations affect how clearly you think, how steady your energy feels, and how well you remember what matters.

When something is off in your body, ADHD symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and memory issues can feel louder. Sometimes what looks like “I’m failing at ADHD” is actually “my body needs support.” That’s not a flaw—it’s a signal to respond with curiosity and compassion.

How Physical Health Can Amplify ADHD Symptoms

ADHD already affects attention, focus, and working memory. Low nutrients, dehydration, or poor sleep ask your brain to run a marathon without fuel. You might notice:

  • More brain fog: trouble finding words, feeling “out of it,” or zoning out.

  • Increased fatigue: dragging through the day, or crashing in the afternoon.

  • Memory glitches: forgetting appointments, misplacing items, or rereading the same line.

These experiences are common with ADHD, and they grow when your body’s needs aren’t met. This June, treat a simple physical health check-in as self-respect—not perfection, just gentle awareness.

Your June ADHD Wellness Check-In List

This list is not for diagnosing or treating—that’s for your providers. Use it as a kind checklist for your next appointment or as journaling prompts to notice patterns.

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D supports mood, immunity, and energy. Low levels link to low mood and tiredness, which can make ADHD symptoms feel heavier. If you notice more sadness, sluggishness, or fog, ask your provider about testing Vitamin D and safe options if you’re low.

2. Zinc

Zinc supports the nervous system and brain signaling. Some research links low zinc with inattention and emotional swings. It’s not a magic fix, but knowing your level adds one more piece to the puzzle of your energy, focus, and mood. Always talk with a professional before using supplements, especially higher doses.

3. Iodine

Iodine is key for thyroid health, which affects metabolism, energy, and brain performance. When iodine or thyroid levels are off, you may feel tired, foggy, or low in motivation—easy to confuse with “just ADHD.” If you see big shifts in weight or energy, ask your provider if thyroid labs, including iodine-related markers, are right for you.

Professional neutral-toned scene of reviewing lab results for wellness

Reviewing lab results with support can turn confusion into clear next steps.

4. Vitamin B (Especially B6 and B12)

B vitamins help your body make energy and support the nervous system. When B6 or B12 are low, you may feel exhausted, irritable, and unfocused. That can feel like “my ADHD is worse.” If forgetfulness or mental fatigue are rising, ask your provider about testing B vitamins and safe options if you’re low.

5. Water (Hydration)

Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, slower thinking, and irritability, which can intensify ADHD challenges. Many people with ADHD forget to drink water, especially when hyperfocused or rushing. Try keeping a water bottle nearby or pairing sips with habits like meds, meals, or emails to support clarity and stamina.

6. Sleep Quality and Quantity

Sleep and ADHD often clash. Many adults and kids with ADHD struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake rested. Poor sleep can worsen impulsivity, emotions, and forgetfulness. If late nights, restless sleep, or groggy mornings are common, treat that as useful data, not shame. Track sleep for a week or two and share it with your doctor, therapist, or coach to explore strategies or medical support.

Putting It Together: A Compassionate Next Step, Not a To-Do Pile

If this list feels like “one more thing,” pause. You don’t need to do it all. Instead, you might:

  • Choose one area, like water or sleep, to notice this week.

  • Write questions for your next appointment about vitamins, minerals, or labs.

  • Ask a trusted person or coach to help you remember appointments and follow-up.

💡 Gentle Reminder: Needing support does not make you “bad” at ADHD. It means you’re human—and listening to your brain and body.

Partnering with Professionals and Caring for Yourself

This newsletter is for education and reflection, not diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Your body and brain are unique, and only licensed healthcare providers can interpret labs, recommend supplements, or adjust medications for you or your child.

As you explore Vitamin D, Zinc, Iodine, Vitamin B, water, and sleep, ask: “What would kindness to myself look like here?” At Live Happy ADHD Coaching, we believe understanding your body helps you understand your ADHD—and you deserve support that honors your whole self, not just symptoms.

If you’d like a collaborative space to sort what you’re noticing, build realistic routines, and move from survival toward thriving with your unique brain, you’re warmly invited to Book an Introduction Call with Live Happy ADHD Coaching. Together, we can turn insight into small, sustainable steps so you feel clearer, steadier, and more at home in your life.

ADHD wellnessself-carehealth check-inADHD coachingmental health
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How Does Coaching Work And How Does It Help You?

Coaching sessions create space away from day to day demands for a dialogue between the coach and client. The client determines the long-term direction of coaching and is responsible for bringing a topic/issue/question to each session. Together, the coach and client explore who the client is, who they think they are, and who they want to be in order to clarify desired outcomes and actions to further the client’s agenda.

As a coach, I will ensure we make the most of your time. My role is to be your sounding board, mirror, and champion your efforts. I will provide models and structure to help you organize your thoughts, beliefs, and values. I will help you to bring details into focus to reach a deeper understanding and appreciation of yourself. I will hold you accountable for your decisions and actions and challenge you to be compassionate with yourself while setting realistic and achievable goals.

However, I will never tell you what to do. Coaching sessions offer an opportunity for you to learn something new about yourself, a different way of thinking about a situation, or uncover a belief that was limiting the options you thought were available to you. The “work” to apply this learning toward changing your life continues beyond the coaching session.

Welcoming clients of all races, cultures, identities and orientation

Disclaimer: Coaching is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice by legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual or other qualified professionals. We encourage our clients to seek independent professional guidance for legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual, or other matters. With Coaching, all decisions in these areas are exclusively the responsibility of the client who acknowledges that decisions and actions as a result of coaching are their sole responsibility.

Example Topics for Coaching

ADHD Life skills & Executive Functioning

Relationship Skills

Friendship and Support System

Parenting Children with ADHD

Organizing Skills

Addiction Dangers

Emotional Regulation

Mindset Improvement

Work/Life Balance

Communication Skills

Self Awareness

Self Compassion & Mindfulness

Study Skills

Self Care Skills

Time Management

Task Management

Advocating Skills

Routines and Systems

Healthy Boundaries

Managing your life

Planning & prioritizing

Putting plans into action, task initiation

Goal-directed persistence

Taking actions that align with your physical & emotional needs

Learning new strategies to manage executive functioning

Navigating neurodivergent relationships

Self-regulation & interoceptive-awareness

Emotional impulsivity

Communication strategies

Physical health and wellness

ADHD Coaching & Consulting by Dorsey McFadden

Located in Richmond, VA

Accepting clients Worldwide