Merle Kaplan

Merle Kaplan is an author, an ADHD coach, and the creator of "A Brilliant Mess," an online course designed to help adults with ADHD become unstuck in their day-to-day lives. She draws her knowledge and inspiration from her graduate work in psychology at National Louis University, her volunteer work and clinical training in the substance abuse field at Hazelden, her passion for studying the Bible, and perhaps mostly from her personal experience attending and facilitating numerous support groups (12-step meetings, ADHD-specific groups, etc.), not to mention being in and out of therapy herself most of her adult life. Additionally, she completed training programs for, and led two church-based programs offering emotional support and help for people struggling with both chemical and process addictions: Celebrate Recovery and the Wounded Within Ministry.

Merle became passionate about helping others with ADHD as a result of her own ADHD diagnosis in 2012. She sees a strong correlation between ADHD, creativity, and codependency. She agrees with Dr. Peter Jaksa’s philosophy that ADHD isn’t a deficit—it’s a difference.