I’m looking forward to our call π
Ahead of our call please ensure that you have completed the Initial Questionnaire and you have checked you/your teen/young adult are available on the dates/times the programme is running, that they are the appropriate age group, and that you are aware of the course fee.
Check our events page for forthcoming PEERS program details and other ADHD events.
Click here for the Young Adults Initial Questionnaire
Talk soon!
Meet your ADHD coach…
- I’m Vivian Dunstan
- I have ADHD
- I’m mum to a daughter, now a young adult with ADHD
- I founded ADHD Support Australia in 2013
- I’ve organised 120+ expert ADHD talks
- I’ve facilitated the Parenting Children with ADHD 6-week course since 2015Β
- I’ve been a PEERS Social Skills Coach for Teens & Young Adults since 2019
- I graduated from ADDCA (ADD Coaching Academy) as an ADHD Coach in October 2022
- I’ve done many additional training courses, attended conferences & done heaps of research on ADHD-related topics
- I have a wealth of experience in all aspects of ADHD, including knowledge on holistic supports
- Masters of Teaching (Primary)
- Certified Tech Addiction & Digital Health Educator (NIDHW)
- Former Raise Mentor
- Mental Health First Aider
- Lifeline Accidental Counsellor
My teen enjoyed the weekly meetings and getting to know the other participants, even though sometimes she was a little shy. She enjoyed making the calls each week too, all of which was a surprise for us. My teen said she liked how nice everyone was and there was nothing she disliked about the course!
My teen enjoyed being with other teenagers who shared the same problems.
I enjoyed meeting new people and learning about different things and situations
The thing I found most helpful was learning how to talk on the phone.
Finding out about the social media do's and don'ts, like how many messages you should send. Also how to find common interests and ask questions so a conversation is two way was useful.
I enjoyed improving telephone conversation skills with easy to follow rules.
My son gained a lot of confidence in facing different social scenarios, it was easy for him to understand the rules and how to apply them in general situations. It was so nice to see him trying on the phone calls with his classmates. He was able to observe himself and make adjustments as necessary. The material can seem simple, but that is where the trick lays, so many times we don't teach those "simple" rules and they are absolutely vital.
My teen's social skills have improved enormously as a result of doing the course. For the first time since starting high school (currently in year 9), he has made strong connections with a couple of peers and has organised an outing with his group from school. None of this would have happened without completing the PEERS course. I love that we also have a reference manual for when challenging situations arise or we need guidance on how to handle a particular scenario.
The PEERS program has provided my daughter with explicit and detailed social skills that she can now practise and further develop going forward. Some children learn these skills as they go without intervention. However, my daughter needed extra help in this area. The topics covered were very relevant and were broken down into specific expectations or expected behaviour. Together with weekly skills practise and practical suggestions, she can now confidently begin to build and develop relationships with her peers. We have noticed an improvement in her social skills after completing PEERS especially in starting a conversation, asking questions and finding common interests. I would definitely recommend the PEERS program to any child who struggles socially.
My teen is currently attending school camp and his teacher reported that he is doing really well socially and that he was able to find common ground with some boys at school. It is really great to see him applying all the skills learnt from the PEERS course, and he is making great progress. Thank you so much for teaching him the skills.
My teen has certainly learnt more appropriate ways of approaching and interacting with peers and we have seen her behave more "sensibly" with family friends and relatives.
Getting to know the other teens on the course with similar social problems helped our child see she was not alone in her difficulties. As parents we found the content very useful and also found it very valuable to hear other parents' experiences with their similar children.
My teen learned how to start conversations and end them, especially on the telephone. He has knowledge that he can use when there are issues and has used some of these recently to have conversations with people he doesn't usually talk to and manage difficult situations with peers at school. It has also helped me have conversations with him about school life and he is now more open in talking about it.
This has been a great course for my son to attend. While he may not appreciate the cost, time and effort we have spent, he now has a lot more knowledge on how to manage real world situations including the aspects of making and keeping friends, dealing with all the different high school issues that arise and when to seek help from others. I have also been reminded of how to handle some of the situations my kids are experiencing and discuss options with them so that we work towards a good outcome.
My teen is definitely more willing to have a go at socialising, where previously he would avoid it at all costs!
After this course, my teen is much more willing to have a go at joining and even starting conversations, is less stressed in social situations, and has a more positive outlook on life.
My teen has actually had a good year. He started a new school this year and I can say with great relief, he was quite successful. He has a lovely group of friends and has grown his confidence. Thanks greatly to the social skills he learnt the year before. He went back over the PEERS papers many times and used many of the skills he learned and continues to use them.
Getting to know the other teens on the course with similar social problems helped our child see she was not alone in her difficulties. As parents we found the content very useful and also found it very valuable to hear other parents' experiences with their similar children.
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The PEERS program made my young adult's life a bit more enjoyable
My YA has evolved from being isolated in their room to regularly interacting with others outside our family.
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Vivian presents the PEERS program beautifully in a no-judgement environment. The content is invaluable for any parent with a child that has ADHD and provides the children with an opportunity to better their social lives and help them be happier and more secure in themselves.
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This has been a great course for my son to attend. βHe now has alot more knowledge on how to manage real world situations including the aspects of making and keeping friends, dealing with all the different high school issues that arise and when to seek help from others. I have also been reminded of how to handle some of the situations my kids are experiencing and discuss options with them so that we work towards a good outcome.
After this course, my teen is much more willing to have a go at joining and even starting conversations, is less stressed in social situations, and has a more positive outlook on life.