Navigating ADHD Barriers: Becoming a Student of Change

In this episode of Integrating ADHD, Cam explores what it really means to become a student of change—how we move from awareness to action to learning, and why that journey is often the hardest part for ADHD brains. Cam shares stories from three clients whose passions—golf, triathlon training and 3D printing—become unexpected laboratories for practicing and understanding change. These interests aren’t escapes; they’re low-stakes playgrounds for noticing patterns, navigating the three barriers of ADHD, and pulling that learning back into meaningful work and life decisions. Then Cam turns the mirror on himself, sharing a very real, very human “three-barriers face-plant” involving a stove, time-blindness, and a Thanksgiving deadline. What starts as a warm story about wanting a new oven becomes a slow-motion reveal of avoidance, emotional waves, problem solving, and eventually—growth. He unpacks how awareness unfolds, how stories we tell ourselves (“Crisis averted!”) can block learning, and how self-compassion and curiosity help us move from shame to insight. This episode is rich with relatable moments, practical language around the change process, and gentle reminders that none of us—coach or client—is immune to ADHD’s pull. Cam highlights the gold in reflection, the importance of closing loops, and the value of asking: What am I not seeing? What would help me move one step closer to the change I want? A thoughtful, funny, and deeply human conversation about learning, integration, and the everyday practice of navigating ADHD. Prochaska Change Model