Meet the Owner

 

Patricia M. Hudak, BBA, CPC, PCC, BCC

Board Certified ADHD and

    Executive Function Coach

 

 

A little about me and how my practice started ...

 

Retiring after 30 years with the U.S. Government, I knew I wasn't ready to "retire". Looking back at my career, the most memorable moments were those where I felt I had made a difference to someone personally or professionally.  Teaching colleagues leadership skills, conducting seminars to train tax professionals, or mentoring employees aspiring to move forward on their career track – those were the times when I was happiest and felt fulfilled. As I thought about my post-retirement plans and reflected on what I had enjoyed most while with the Government, working with children and adults to achieve their full potential seemed to be the logical next step.

 

Over the next couple of years, I was employed and certified by a national learning center to teach K-12 and SAT-prep; began sub-contracting with area tutoring companies; applied to and was hired by Fairfax County Public Schools as an SAT-prep teacher; and eventually started my own business, PathFinder Tutoring LLC, in 2005.  I gained experience working with students and my company grew, primarily through referrals from pleased parents.  As my client base became larger, the types of services requested became more diverse:  in addition to subject-specific or test-prep tutoring, parents were looking for someone to work with their students to build study skills.  Many students had been diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or deficiencies in executive functioning skills (EF).  Also, I found that as I helped students become better organized and learn to plan and set priorities, my role was changing from “tutor” to “coach”:  the collaborative work I was doing went beyond academics and the demand for help with EF disorders included both students and adults.

 

I decided to pursue formal training as a life and ADHD/EF coach:   I am a graduate of the International Coach Academy, awarded a certificate as an internationally recognized Certified Professional Coach (CPC);  hold certificates as a graduate of  the JST Coaching's “Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD” and "Coaching Children with ADHD, Executive Function, and Behavioral Challenges"  training programs; and am recognized as an Edge Foundation Trained Coach (specializing in Executive Functioning challenges, including ADHD).  Additionally, I have completed the Mindful Schools "Mindfulness Fundamentals" course and have been trained in the Mindful School Curriculum, which focuses on bringing mindfulness to youth.  The concept of "mindfulness" or "awareness" is a key part of my coaching practice, particularly when an executive dysfunction exists.

 

I am a credentialed Board Certified Coach, and my 15 years working as a coach has earned me the designation of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coach Federation.  I am honored to serve as the President, Board of Directors at Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) and as the Co-Chair of the CHADD National Affiliate Advisory Board.  Additionally, I am the Past Chair, Board of Directors, CHADD Northern Virginia and District of Columbia Chapter; former Chair, Marketing and Public Relations Committee of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO); served as a Director-at-Large for two years on the ADHD Resource Group of Northern Virginia's Board of Directors; and am currently an active professional member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO), Children and Adults Diagnosed with ADHD (CHADD), Attentional Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD), the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA), and the Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources (WISER).

 

I have learned so much from my clients!  Working with them has reinforced for me that we all have an obligation to find our own passion and follow our dreams.  For a student trying to juggle school demands and achieve a satisfying balance between academics and personal/family life, or an adult struggling to feel “complete” in some aspect of his or her life, I can provide the guidance to identify opportunities for positive changes and the support to achieve self-identified goals.  My coaching style honors the client as the expert in his or her life and work or school, and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole. The vision for my practice is that clients find their unique path to a purposeful and fulfilling life.

 

It's easy to reach me:  click here to send an email.

 

Pat

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