Eleanor Chapman
Executive Function Coach
Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences
Biography
Hi, I'm Eleanor! I grew up in the beautiful city of Seattle and moved to Portland as a young adult to pursue my college degree. A year and a half into undergrad, I hit a major period of burnout. This season, although difficult, led to the discovery and naming of my own neurodivergence. Like so many other women, I was not identified as and Autistic ADHDer growing up due to a narrow understanding of neurodivergence. This lived experience fuels my passion for the de-stigmatization and celebration of neurodiversity. After recovering from burnout, I attended the University of Washington where I earned my bachelors degree in Integrated Social Sciences. My journey has lead me here, where I am thrilled to walk alongside neurodivergent individuals, providing support and encouraging greater thriving. Today, I live in the Portland area with my wonderful partner and our two rescue cats, Bear and Crow.
What are some of your special interests?
Crafting! I have always been a creative person, but have sometimes struggled to learn new skills if I'm not immediately good at them. I also have a history of abandoning projects as soon as dopamine levels dip... but I'm proud to say I have pushed myself to both learn some awesome new skills and finish a ton of different projects these past few years! My collection of crafting hobbies include knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, drawing, collaging, embroidering, and decorating.
I am interested in all things health, especially as it connects to neurodivergence! So many neurodivergent people also face various health challenges like hypermobility, gut issues, autoimmune diseases, dysautonomia, and hormone disorders. Through lived experience of neurodivergence alone, it is clear that there is some link here. I am fascinated by theories about why this might be and spend a lot of time in my own life finding strategies to manage health concerns alongside neurodivergence.
What does executive functioning mean to you?
To me, executive functioning refers to the mental processes that help us plan, prioritize, and execute tasks effectively. It encompasses a wide range of skills like organization, time management, task initiation, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Developing these skills is especially important for neurodivergent individuals, as we may struggle more in these areas than our neurotypical peers. Developing and strengthening executive functioning skills is an important investment in our ability to thrive.
What is a strategy you use with clients and use personally?
Emotional regulation techniques! All the time, our bodies respond to non-life threatening situations with anxiety, stress, and even panic. This automatic response can help us a lot in dangerous situations, but not so much if its being triggered by laundry that needs to be done or bright grocery store lights. In my own life, I regularly use a ton of different parasympathetic nervous system activation techniques, or in other words, techniques to help me turn down my fight or flight response. Managing the chronic dysregulation that often comes with neurodivergence has been life changing for me! These techniques that have been so helpful in my own life have also been hugely helpful for my clients. We often work together on how they can recognize when they crossover into dysregulation and what they might be able to do to regain feelings of safety and stability.
How has your personal experience and professional development impacted your coaching?
My lived experience heavily influences my approach to coaching. I know how important it is to be validated when you've felt misunderstood by the world. At the same time, I know that thriving as a neurodivergent person is real and possible. I try to bring this nuance to coaching because I think we all need to be heard in our frustration or pain, but also encouraged in our strengths and aspirations. Life can be up and down, and I try to make room for everything in between.
How would you describe your personal approach to coaching?
In coaching, I prioritize getting curious and building trust. I take a relational approach that allows me to adapt to how I can best support my clients, whether that be by providing a structured environment with lots of measurable goals, or a more fluid space to process and explore, or most commonly, a bit of both!
Which of LSA's core values resonates the most with you, and how do you incorporate it with your clients?
Walk the Neurodivergent Walk! I am proud to be neurodivergent and I encourage others to celebrate the gift of their uniqueness.
Do you have an area of coaching you specialize in?
Managing burnout, unmasking, transition to high school/college, processing late diagnoses, working through rejection sensitivity, Autism in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB), the PDA profile of Autism, living with a chronic illness, neurodivergence in relationships, and general daily executive functioning skills.