We’re not broken. Our behaviours make sense — until they start costing more than they give...
We all use coping strategies and ways of surviving that make sense at the time —they eventually stop working or no longer serve us. Understanding what our behaviours were protecting or providing opens the door to change without shame...
A little bit about how I got here…
Though hitting rock bottom in my 20s with alcohol was a profound wake-up call, over the years as I slowly peeled back the layers of my life in sobriety, I began to realize I was in many ways still stuck. Coping patterns that were no longer serving me showed up in my relationships, money, work, food — and ultimately in how I related to myself.
Though recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder at 26 was life-saving and life-changing, I was still caught in behaviours that, at the time, helped me function day to day but were now holding me back from fully thriving.
It wasn’t until my ADHD was diagnosed at 43 — and I began exploring new supports and tools that truly fit how my mind works and met my unique needs — that I started to understand why these strategies, though once necessary, had become so limiting. This realization helped me see beyond the behaviours to the unmet needs beneath them, which opened the door to healthier, more sustainable ways of living.
Who I am and how I work
I’m Diane O’Reilly. My coaching is informed primarily by my own lived experience of navigating ADHD, addiction recovery, and life’s many challenges as well as my professional training in ADHD and Addiction Recovery coaching, the CRAFT method, and Motivational Interviewing.
I bring empathy, insight, and practical tools to guide others through their own challenges, meeting people where they’re at, respecting and nurturing their innate wisdom, and supporting them to make choices that work for their lives.
'You are Not Supposed to Know... You are Supposed to be Shown!'
What Shapes My Coaching
I believe behaviours make sense in context. They’re often highly effective solutions to unmet needs — until they aren’t. When we understand what those behaviours were protecting or providing, change becomes possible without shame.
My holistic approach considers the complexities of ADHD and addiction, focusing on uncovering what drives behaviours, meeting underlying needs, and creating strategies that are sustainable and empowering.
Credentials/Experience
Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CCRC)
Recovery Coach Professional (RCP, CCAR)
ADHD Life Coach training
CRAFT-trained, family-focused strategies
Motivational Interviewing practitioner
Trained Mindfulness Guide
Member of the Helping Families Help Network and IARCP
What my clients say...
Diane helped me realize my issues with codependence, which I was unaware of, and how to implement self care and clear boundaries. This will be a lifetime practice, due to the strong pattern of codependence I have. But I’m fortunate that Diane identified this and helps me implement the practices needed in order to feel my own worth and take care of my own needs.
—L.G. Oakville, On
Life became extremely busy after our session, largely due to the spectacular success of the strategies you gave me to get unstuck. Not only did I get things moving, but I had major breakthroughs in just about every area of my life.
You, Diane, are spectacular, your knowledge and communication skills are aspirational!
—A.V. Cardiff, Wales
Honestly, tonight truly felt so amazing, it’s one of the nights that no matter where I land, it’s something I will always remember. All of this is because of you, I was in a dark hole with a variety of things clashing in at once, and you helped me to push myself forward, I can’t thank you enough.
—B.C. Toronto, On
The Antidote to Doubt is Positive Action...
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