Our team has well over a decade of experience with coaching students to maintain mental health, achieve academic success, navigate the choppy waters of college, and become plugged-in members of the learning and social community at school.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of college? Is your GPA suffering because you struggle to focus, stay organized, or absorb material efficiently? Does your mind wander off in lectures or while reading? Do you procrastinate, have trouble following through on assignments, and come up against deadlines with anxiety?
Have you fully used your college’s support services or accommodations for your condition? Are you having difficulty finding or using critical supports? Or forming productive relationships with faculty or staff? What is the impact of all of this on your social life, self-esteem, and quality of life?
We start with a screening interview to determine whether it’s appropriate to pursue a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation first or to enter our coaching program immediately. The Leading Minds coaching services for student success are described below.
If an initial psychiatric assessment is necessary, the process begins with a thorough 1-hour consultation (in person or by video) with David Brendel, MD, PhD who is a Harvard-trained, Board-certified psychiatrist with 25 years of experience in this field. Dr. Brendel’s initial evaluation focuses on establishing the correct diagnosis and immediately constructing a treatment plan. Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and anxiety are among the most common conditions we address. Here are the psychiatric conditions that Dr. Brendel may diagnose and treat you for.
In addition to potential medication management for these conditions, Dr. Brendel often suggests cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or executive function coaching. The Leading Minds Executive Coaching team includes Senior Associate Stefan Kalt, PhD who has many years of experience providing superb coaching services for students. Dr. Kalt is a Professional Certified Coach of the International Coach Federation (ICF). He is a former Professor at Boston University who has successfully leveraged his work at a major college to provide game-changing support for students struggling to reach their highest potential.
Dr. David Brendel, MD, PhD
Stefan Kalt, PhD
Achieve Your Goals
Leading Minds coaching services are offered over several weeks to months, depending on each individual’s situation. Sessions usually take place every 1-2 weeks, and the coach is also available between sessions for additional, targeted support. Each coaching engagement is fully customized for individual client needs.
- set achievable goals and reduce stress
- manage time and tasks effectively and stay organized
- improve in-class learning and note-taking
- hone reading, research, and study skills
- learn test-taking strategies and techniques to reduce test-taking anxiety
- increase executive function capacity: improve focus and attention, stop procrastinating, complete tasks/projects, cultivate a productive mindset
- turn faculty and administrators into allies
- maintain health and wellness
- find study/life balance
- explore career options
- fully leverage college resources (including possible accommodations for ADHD and other mental health conditions)
About Us
About Dr. David Brendel, MD, PhD
Dr. David Brendel is an Associate Certified Coach of the International Coach Federation (ICF). Trained at Harvard Medical School, he has years of experience as a psychiatrist and hospital executive.
He has published extensively on his approach to executive and career coaching, including articles in the Harvard Business Review and Huff Post.
Dr. Brendel is Founder and Director of Leading Minds Executive Coaching, LLC. The firm provides a wide range of executive and career coaching services to clients in the Boston area, New York City, and throughout the United States.
About Stefan Kalt, PhD
Stefan Kalt is an executive coach with Leading Minds Executive Coaching, specializing in leadership development and organizational performance enhancement. With a focus on empowering leaders to achieve their professional goals, he leverages his expertise to help clients navigate complex challenges and improve their leadership skills. Stefan is dedicated to fostering organizational growth and effectiveness by providing personalized coaching and strategic guidance.
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF)
- Certified Executive Coach, Center for Executive Coaching
- Specializes in executive function skills: focus, organization, time management, and ADHD coaching
- Former Professor at Boston University, with deep experience supporting students and academics
- Certified in CliftonStrengths, Myers-Briggs (Steps I & II), Hogan Assessment, and Strong Interest Inventory
- Published in Dean and Provost and Inside Higher Ed
Call or email Dr. David Brendel for a consultation to assess whether his student success coaching services are a good fit for you. His office telephone number is (617) 932-1548, and his email address is david@drdavidbrendel.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student success coaching is a personalized service helping college students overcome academic challenges, improve focus, manage ADHD or anxiety, and achieve their potential. Sessions are customized and typically take place every 1-2 weeks over several weeks to months.
It is for college students who feel overwhelmed, struggle with focus or organization, have a declining GPA, procrastinate, or have difficulty leveraging campus resources — especially those dealing with ADHD, anxiety, or executive function challenges.
Leading Minds offers student success coaching in New York City (NYC), Boston, MA, and remotely via video conference. The NYC office is available for in-person sessions.
Yes, if appropriate. Dr. David Brendel, a Harvard-trained Board-certified psychiatrist, conducts a screening interview and, if needed, a comprehensive evaluation for conditions such as ADHD or anxiety.
The team includes Dr. David Brendel, MD, PhD (Harvard-trained psychiatrist and ICF coach) and Stefan Kalt, PhD (ICF Professional Certified Coach and former Boston University professor).
Call (617) 932-1548 or email david@drdavidbrendel.com. The process begins with a screening interview to determine whether a psychiatric evaluation or direct coaching is the right first step.
Get In Touch
Contact Dr. Brendel for a consultation to assess whether his Executive and Career Coaching services are a good fit for you.
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A brilliant counter-narrative for restoring humanity to the bottom-line, numbers-obsessed culture of the modern, 21st century workplace.