In this guest episode, Erin Power sits down with Shanna Pearson, founder of ADHD Coaching and author of Invisible ADHD, to unpack why ADHD in women is often missed, what it feels like to live undiagnosed, and what support can look like when coaching is built specifically for ADHD brains.
They talk about the emotional side of ADHD, decision paralysis, misdiagnosis, and why Shanna’s coaching model is intentionally high-touch and directive: doing tasks together, practicing skills in real time, and using accountability to create momentum.
To learn how to become a health coach or to up-level your skills and credentials as a health coach, visit primalhealthcoach.com.
Shanna Pearson discusses why ADHD in women is often missed.
Episode Overview:
- 0:00 Erin welcomes Shanna (ADHD Coaching)
- 0:16 Why Shanna was asked to write a book specifically for women
- 4:08 What it feels like to live with undiagnosed ADHD
- 6:47 Shanna’s book title: Invisible ADHD
- 8:04 What “Invisible ADHD” means (symptoms + women going unnoticed)
- 9:28 Why assessments often miss women (male-centric traits)
- 9:52 Signs of ADHD in women: emotional overwhelm, paralysis, catastrophe thinking
- 10:19 The core concept: ADHD brains struggle to compartmentalize
- 13:02 The nuance: lifestyle distraction vs ADHD, and the “entire life” question
- 17:37 Decision-making struggles and second-guessing
- 18:54 Why Shanna rejects the “ADHD is a superpower” narrative
- 22:50 Why traditional client-led coaching models can fail ADHD clients
- 30:11 Hiring coaches: Shanna’s company is always looking for great coaches
- 31:29 Directive coaching: “Sometimes people need to be told what to do”
- 38:57 Accountability as a non-negotiable support tool
- 50:11 To-do lists and overwhelm: “Keep it to 3 and you’re free”
- 53:55 A transformation story: hosting family holidays after years of avoidance
- 1:01:36 Where to find Shanna + how coaches can apply
- 1:02:48 Closing (episode ends ~1:02:48)
Key Concepts in This Episode
Invisible ADHD in Women
Shanna explains that many women’s ADHD symptoms are internal and emotional, which can keep them under the radar and lead to mislabeling as anxiety or depression.
Compartmentalization and Emotional Flooding
A key framework in the episode is the inability to compartmentalize, which can make emotions, tasks, and decisions feel like they all hit at once.
Decision Paralysis
Shanna describes how too many open “paths” in the mind can make it hard to choose, follow through, and feel settled after decisions.
Why ADHD Is Not a Superpower
Shanna challenges the trend of calling ADHD a superpower, arguing it can make people feel worse or delay them from learning practical management skills.
Directive, High-Touch Coaching
Instead of only asking insight-based questions, Shanna’s coaching model focuses on real-time action: doing tasks together, role-playing conversations, and making plans that are individualized and highly supported.
Accountability and Skill Practice
Progress is built through repetition and simple weekly practice. Accountability is positioned as essential, not optional.
Keep It Simple
Tools like short to-do lists and habit “piggybacking” are discussed as practical ways to reduce overwhelm and increase follow-through.
Connect with Shanna at:
- Website: adhdcoaching.com
- Book: Invisible ADHD
Connect with Erin
- Submit your questions: podcast@primalhealthcoach.com
- Website: primalhealthcoach.com
- Instagram: @primalhealthcoach
Listen via the player below, or subscribe in iTunes or your preferred podcast streaming service.
Ready to turn your passion for health into lasting impact?
Health Coach Radio brings honest conversations and practical strategies to help health coaches and founders build sustainable, values-aligned businesses.
