True, good points! I may have misinterpreted the intent of op's comment
440 karma · joined October 5, 2020
In instances where it makes sense, we explicitly put the opt-in privacy choices right when that choice is necessary. For example, members have to opt-in (and coaches... double-opt in) before every single session if they want a summary to be generated after the call. We chose this route even though many of our members who opt in every time have given us the feedback that they wish they could just opt in once and never opt in again.
- What impact this will have on the current body doubling experience, where there's a certain "vibe" knowing that every other person in the room is actively engaging in coaching and you can ask them questions about their coaching etc.
- How that will change our team's focus since that product will require larger amounts of moderation, community management, and other tasks that we aren't currently focusing on. Since we're a small team (and mostly neurodivergent), we need to make sure we're super focused in our messaging and efforts
HOWEVER, it is definitely in the medium term roadmap. I think if we get enough people asking for it, it could get pulled forward.
Curious what you use now and what you like/ don't like about it — are you on other body doubling platforms?
I use medication myself, so by no means am I anti-medication.
I think the point I'm trying to make is that it's not a magic pill. And there are side effects as well. If you can layer in foundational lifestyle medicine and good, healthy choices, that makes the world of difference and can potentially allow you to take less medication.
The reason I say this is because we get SO many people who come to us feeling dejected that they put all their hope on medication and when their life didn't immediately get to where they'd like, they felt like there was no hope, like there is no other alternative.
I don't need people to use Shimmer, I just want people to know there's hope if your meds don't work, and there are other solutions beyond meds. This could be therapy, coaching, self-management, and other tools!
Maybe I should have specified: We discovered this for a subset of our users and wanted to help solve that problem
> Yeah, body doubling doesn't scale. The whole need for another human body thing is a real hurdle, huh?
I'm referring to ADHD coaching that is not reimburseable yet. Though some types of coaching like health & wellness coaching and mental health coaching already are, and weren't in the past. So there is precedent and potential path to reimbursement by health insurance. I didn't mean scaling the human body
> Too much text with numbers too big. I already utilize body doubling the analog way, you've told me absolutely nothing about what on earth you're adding to the equation.
I'm glad analog way works for you! Finding the strategies/methods that work for you is key.
Unfortunately that doesn't work for everyone, especially our members. Many of them want to body double with other ADHD-ers but don't want to tell the people in their life about their ADHD. Others also just want an online hosted space because it's too much effort to organize these themselves and want a consistent, reliable space where they're not the one organizing. A whole bunch of other reasons!
I thought you meant she worked for us or something like that
One of the best quotes I heard about prepping for Hacker News is that "You're speaking to the silent majority, not the loud minority" and I try to keep that in mind and just share useful information about what we're building and why we're building it in case someone reads it and finds it helpful!
But yes, anyone can call themselves a coach. They would not be credentialed though.
That's one of the challenges I personally felt when I was looking for a coach when I was diagnosed and couldn't really figure out what was legit and what wasn't. That's part of the mission behind Shimmer too, so that members know that if they come to Shimmer, they're getting a qualified coach who has went through a robust screening process, and undergo ongoing supervision, training, and community! Actually only 3.7% of qualified coaches who apply actually get through our 4-step process.
A lot of our members come to Shimmer after getting a diagnosis and the right dose of medication, or even with a therapist. And from that more calm, ready place, can they engage in the thought processes around planning for the future, building skills, etc.
It's great that you've got it largely down though!
Personally, I like to know that I have a foundation (and a person) to fall back on when all the med stuff doesn't pan out the way I want it to (which is unfortunately frequently), and a big part of the value of coaching & body doubling too is community and not going through this alone.
That's awesome that you have a whole bunch of skills that you've found that works for you! For some people, this takes months to figure out the right mix since what works for someone may not work for others. And also, HOW you do something is almost more important than WHAT skill you're using. I would also add that in coaching, in addition to skills, the coach is supporting in long-term thinking, goal setting, so that there's a direction forward as well, which is really important. I like the quote "medication is like glasses, it helps you see more clearer but it doesn't teach you how to read". I think about this quote a lot because for me, the value of coaching has been to help me set a new direction in life, be reflective in what I want, then work to build an ADHD-friendly life around me that helps me go in that direction.
Totally hear you on pricing. We're working on a few routes around reimbursement, partnerships with schools/workplaces, etc. Right now we are HSA/FSA eligible and also many of our members get it paid for through their work's L&D budget or disability/DEI budgets. Of course, that's a bit harder because it requires them to disclose. We also do a whole ton of scholarships for anyone with a financial need!
Also many of our clients have done (or are currently doing) therapy and come to Shimmer because their therapist suggested it.
And on your point of medication, many people do not want to take medication (cultural or other reasons), or cannot take medication (e.g. side effects or can't mix with their other meds).
Yes, agreed. People can probably back into our cash flow, but we have been pretty transparent at each funding round anyway. Not trying to hide anything!