Meet Our Team - Karina Bitman
Karina Bitman, M.S.
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:
ADHD/Executive Function Coach
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
Just started!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York but moved to Los Angeles very young.
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
Oh, this is a hard one. My favorite book of all time is Go Ask Alice, which is a diary of a teenage girl who discovers drugs. I can’t remember if the book is based on a real person, but it is a cautionary tale. It’s my favorite book because it had the most impact on me as a young person. It taught me how your choices and decisions can define you and take you to some dark places if you aren’t careful. My favorite TV show is Black Mirror, and my favorite movie will forever be Titanic.
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
I am totally not a sports girl, so I do not follow current teams. I do enjoy hiking and being out in nature.
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
at the gym, local coffee shop, my work office at home, hiking, or hanging out with husband/friends.
When I want to de-stress, I...
put my phone on do not disturb and unplug.
My favorite time of year is...
winter.
My favorite thing to cook is...
I do not enjoy cooking, but I can make a pretty decent pita pizza.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
all the natural wonders of the world.
The best gift I ever received was…
my husband restored old videos of my great grandparents for one of our anniversaries. They meant a lot to me, so it was very special.
What led you to pursue a career in helping others?
I love making an impact. It is my purpose and what lights me up. I spent a lot of my life trying to fit into a box of what I felt I needed to do to be successful. When I was 19, I fell through a roof and survived. That incident really guided me throughout my life as I constantly will pause and see if what I am doing is aligned to how I want to live.
What education, skills and expertise do you bring to your role?
I possess a diverse range of experience and skills that greatly contribute to my ability to serve others effectively. During my undergraduate degree, I had the privilege of serving on a crisis line, an experience that profoundly shaped my understanding of holding space for individuals facing challenging circumstances. This opportunity taught me the importance of providing a compassionate and supportive environment for those in need.
Building upon this foundation, I pursued a master’s degree in school psychology, where I gained valuable expertise in conducting psychoeducational evaluations and delivering individual and group counseling sessions to students of various age groups. Through these experiences, I have honed my ability to assess and address the unique needs and concerns of individuals within educational settings.
Additionally, I have had the opportunity to support staff members with ADHD in managing their symptoms through personalized coaching sessions. Given that I am diagnosed with ADHD myself, I possess a deep personal understanding of the challenges and strategies associated with this condition. I invest in my own ongoing coaching and therapy, which allows me to continually grow and develop as a coach. As a result, my clients not only benefit from my professional knowledge but also from the insights gained through my personal journey.
Who/what inspires you?
My great-grandparents. They immigrated to this country from Ukraine and worked hard for everything they had. My great-grandfather fought in World War II and had multiple heart operations. Despite both their struggles and challenges, they always looked to the bright side and found the solutions instead of the problems.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
As a coach, my personal philosophy is deeply inspired by the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, which refers to the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. This philosophy teaches us that even though something may be broken, it can still possess immense beauty and value. Moreover, when repaired with care and attention, the mended areas become even stronger than before.
In line with this philosophy, I believe that as a coach, it is my role to help individuals realize their inherent strengths and potential. Just like the broken pottery, we all have areas in our lives where we may feel broken or face challenges. However, I firmly believe that these perceived weaknesses can be transformed into sources of strength and resilience.
My approach is rooted in providing guidance and support to individuals as they navigate their personal journeys. I strive to create a safe and empowering space where clients can explore their strengths, discover hidden talents, and cultivate self-belief.
Ultimately, my goal as a coach is to assist individuals in recognizing their own unique beauty, both in their strengths and in their imperfections.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives / increase their happiness?
Look for the small wins in their day. We often focus so much on what we cannot do that we forget to acknowledge progress (even small progress).
We provide a range of support for people with ADHD.