600- When Emotions Block Learning for Students with ADHD

·59 min·5 clips

Gina Vandermuelen reveals why starting with a planner often fails students with ADHD.

The episode is a recorded webinar from the ADHD Experts Podcast, hosted by Nicole Carr. Guest Gina Vandermuelen, an academic ADHD coach, leads a presentation titled 'When Emotions Block Learning for Students with ADHD.' She begins by challenging the common focus on planners and time management, explaining that core executive functions—emotional regulation, working memory, cognitive flexibility—must be stabilized first. Gina introduces the neuroscience concept of allostatic load, where constant stress adjustment depletes a student's cognitive resources. She defines twice-exceptional (2E) students as those who are both gifted and have a learning challenge like ADHD. The bulk of the presentation walks through case studies and specific tools. For students Sally and Maya, who struggle with perfectionism, she uses the 'types of perfectionism' tool and Dr. Becky Kennedy's 'learning space' concept. For Lucy, who avoids self-advocacy, she employs the 'window of tolerance' model, creating a personalized plan with strategies like peppermint oil and color breathing. For college student Mary, she adds the 'levels strategy' to recalibrate assignment importance. For students Robbie and Matt, she uses the 'emotional learning ladder' to help them identify their emotional states. Gina emphasizes asking curious questions to unpack emotional blocks. The final segment is a Q&A with attendees. Questions cover rejection sensitivity, students in denial of their ADHD diagnosis, balancing one dysregulated student in a classroom, and practical tips for overburdened school counselors. Gina consistently advises getting curious about the student's experience, focusing on strengths and interests, and advocating for small adjustments. The episode concludes with logistical information about accessing slides and the webinar library.

As heard by us

When emotions push students out of their window of tolerance, the talk maps a practical way back.

Gina Vandermulen frames a real problem with enough clarity to make it stick: when students with ADHD move out of their window of tolerance, learning can drop away quickly.

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Why you'd press play

When school stress pushes you out of your window of tolerance, this gives you a way back in.

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