Webinar Recording: From Friendly to Friends: The Friendship Skills Nobody Taught Us with Caroline Maguire, ACCG, PCC, M.Ed

It is a myth that friendship “should be easy.” Traditional friendship advice may not have worked for you because it did not keep your neurology in mind.

Many ADHD and neurodivergent adults long for close, reliable friends but feel stuck in the same painful patterns: oversharing with people you barely know, over investing in acquaintances who never really become “your people,” or rushing into intense friendships that quickly fizzle and leave you wondering what you did wrong. You may find yourself replaying conversations, assuming you were “too much,” or deciding it’s safer to pull back altogether. These aren’t personal failings. They’re often the natural result of ADHD-related social executive function challenges, rejection sensitivity, and years of confusing or painful social experiences.

Caroline will also talk about how to put parts of friendship on “autopilot” by using reminders, routines, and templates so it takes less executive function to keep connections alive. You’ll leave with a kinder lens on yourself and a realistic plan to create friendships that fit your brain, your energy, and your life, whether you are rebuilding a social world after burnout or cautiously ready to try again.

Learning Objectives:

• Use the 3 Ps (Participation, Practice, and Perspective) as a step-by-step framework to slowly build trust and connection over time
• Pace new friendships so you don’t rush in, overshare, or burn out, while still getting the closeness you crave
• Create realistic friendship habits (check-ins, follow-ups, “flavors” of friendship, low-pressure contact) that keep relationships going without overwhelming your executive function or emotional bandwidth

Who: Caroline Maguire, ACCG, PCC, M.Ed,

Biography

Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC, is an internationally recognized expert in social-emotional learning, ADHD coaching, and relationship development. She is the author of the award-winning Why Will No One Play with Me? and recently released Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults (Balance Books, April 2026) and hosts The ADHD Social Playbook podcast. An educator, coach, and sought-after speaker, Caroline developed a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) training methodology that equips parents, clinicians, and educators with practical tools to build self-awareness, emotional regulation, social understanding, and meaningful relationships. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work.

Find Caroline’s Website Here: carolinemaguireauthor.com/ 

Find Caroline’s Offer

Demystifying Making Friends

In this worksheet you will learn to spot the activities, environments and strengths that make the friendship building phase easier for you and your life.

Find the worksheet here: carolinemaguireauthor.com/demystify-making-friends/

Find Caroline’s Book

Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted

Friendship can be hard for many Neurodivergent adults. There is an assumption that good, worthwhile friendships “should” come easy. However, for Neurodivergent adults, there are brain-based reasons why friendship can feel less intuitive. From differences in the parts of the brain that are vital to managing the logistics of a fulfilling social life to difficulty with self-regulation, the way neurodiverse individuals experience social bonding and connection can feel unintuitive. Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults is a guide to navigate these differences. By the end of this book, readers will feel less alone and have the tools to understand the unique way neurodiverse individual can approach friendship.

Find your copy here.