You have decided to work with an ADHD coach. Maybe your therapist suggested it, maybe you read about coaching and it clicked, or maybe you are tired of white-knuckling your way through every week while your to-do list quietly multiplies. Whatever brought you here, you are now facing a new problem: how do you actually find someone who knows what they are doing?
This guide walks you through the entire process of how to find an ADHD coach, including where to look, what credentials to check, the right questions to ask, and how to avoid the expensive mistakes. These steps are designed for the ADHD brain, meaning they are concrete, ordered, and light on the kind of vague encouragement that sounds nice but leaves you no closer to an actual phone call.
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Why Googling "ADHD Coach Near Me" Is Not Enough
Finding the right ADHD coach starts with a simple search, but the real work happens after the results load. A search for ADHD coaching services will return dozens of options: directories, individual coaches, coaching platforms, and a fair number of people who added "ADHD" to their LinkedIn bio without relevant training. The challenge is not access. It is filtering.
A 2023 survey published in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that coaching credentials and training backgrounds vary enormously across practitioners, with no single licensing body governing the field. This means the burden of vetting falls on you. The good news is that with a structured approach, you can sort through the noise quickly and identify coaches who are genuinely qualified to help.
Key Takeaway
Most people spend too much time searching and not enough time vetting. Flip that ratio. Your goal is not to find the most options. Your goal is to eliminate the wrong ones fast.
Step 1: Define What You Actually Need From Coaching
Before you send a single inquiry, get clear on what you want coaching to solve. ADHD coaching is not therapy, and it is not tutoring. It sits in between: coaching helps you build systems, habits, and accountability structures that work with your brain, not against it.
1. Identify your biggest friction points
Write down the three situations where ADHD most consistently derails you. Is it starting tasks? Following through? Managing time? Emotional dysregulation after a setback? Be specific. "I am disorganized" is too vague. "I miss bill payments every month even though I have the money" is something a coach can build a system around.
2. Decide between general ADHD coaching and niche support
Some coaches specialize in particular areas: career and workplace ADHD, academic coaching for students, relationship and communication challenges, or executive function skills for daily life. If your struggles cluster around one domain, a specialist may get you further faster than a generalist.
3. Determine your format preference
ADHD coaching happens in person, over video, via phone, and sometimes through asynchronous messaging. Each format has trade-offs. Video sessions offer flexibility and access to coaches outside your area. In-person sessions provide structure through physical presence, which some ADHD brains find grounding. Decide what matters to you before you start comparing coaches, because format can narrow your options significantly.
Step 2: Search in the Right Places
A generic Google search will give you a pile of results. A targeted search across the right platforms will give you a shortlist of qualified candidates. Here is where to look, in priority order.
1. ADHD coaching directories
Start with directories that screen their listings. The ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) maintains a public directory of coaches who have completed accredited training programs. CHADD, the national ADHD advocacy organization, also lists professional resources. These directories do the first layer of vetting for you so you are not starting from scratch.
2. Professional coaching credential databases
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC) both offer searchable databases. A coach with an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) has completed supervised coaching hours and passed a competency assessment. While ICF certification is not ADHD-specific, it signals that the coach has formal training in coaching methodology, not just life experience.
3. Therapist and psychiatrist referrals
If you already see a therapist, psychiatrist, or primary care doctor for ADHD, ask them directly. Many clinicians maintain referral lists of coaches whose work they have seen produce results. A referral from a clinician you trust carries more weight than any online review, because the clinician sees outcomes across multiple patients. They know who gets results and who does not.
If you are searching through directories and feeling overwhelmed by the options, ADHD Care Connect filters providers by location, insurance, and specialization. You can narrow the list to coaches who match your specific needs without scrolling through dozens of irrelevant profiles.
Find a ProviderStep 3: Vet Credentials and Training
Not all ADHD coaching credentials are equal. Some represent years of rigorous training and supervised practice. Others come from weekend workshops with no assessment component. You need to know the difference before you pay for a session.
1. Look for ADHD-specific training, not just general coaching certification
The gold-standard training programs for ADHD coaching include the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), the JST Coaching and Training program, and the iACTcenter's ADHD coach training. These programs cover the neuroscience of ADHD, medication literacy, executive function frameworks, and coaching techniques adapted specifically for the ADHD brain. A coach who completed one of these programs has spent hundreds of hours learning how ADHD actually works, not just generic productivity advice.
2. Check for ongoing supervision or peer consultation
The best ADHD coaches do not work in isolation. Many participate in supervision groups or peer consultation circles where they discuss cases, get feedback, and stay current on research. When you interview a coach, ask whether they have regular supervision or peer support. Coaches who work alone with no external input are more likely to develop blind spots.
3. Distinguish between coaching and therapy credentials
Some ADHD coaches are also licensed therapists, which can be valuable if your ADHD is tangled up with anxiety, depression, or trauma. But coaching and therapy are different services with different goals. A therapist-coach should be able to clearly articulate when a session is coaching versus when it is therapy, and they should maintain boundaries between the two. If you need both, you may be better served by seeing a therapist and a coach separately rather than blurring the lines.
Step 4: Interview Before You Commit
The chemistry between you and an ADHD coach matters enormously. This is someone who will see your messy, unfiltered reality: your missed deadlines, your forgotten commitments, your bad weeks. You need to feel safe being honest, not performing competence. Interview at least two coaches before committing to anyone.
1. Ask the right questions in the consultation call
Most ADHD coaches offer a free 15 to 30 minute consultation. Use it strategically. Ask what ADHD-specific training they have completed. Ask how they structure sessions and how they handle accountability between sessions. Ask what a typical coaching engagement looks like, including how many sessions, over what timeframe, and with what milestones. If the coach cannot answer these concretely, that is a red flag.
2. Pay attention to how the conversation feels
An ADHD coaching session should feel structured enough to keep you on track but flexible enough to follow what is actually showing up for you that week. The consultation call is a preview of that dynamic. If you feel talked at rather than listened to, or if the coach seems rigid about a one-size-fits-all approach, trust that instinct. The right coach will make you feel understood, not assessed.
What to Expect: Timeline and Costs
ADHD coaching typically costs between $100 and $300 per session, with most coaches recommending weekly sessions for the first one to three months before tapering to biweekly or monthly check-ins. Some coaches offer packages that reduce the per-session rate. Insurance rarely covers coaching directly, though some health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) may reimburse coaching if it is prescribed as part of a treatment plan. Check with your benefits administrator.
Progress in ADHD coaching is rarely linear. The first few weeks often feel energizing as you start implementing new systems. Weeks four through eight can be bumpy. This is when old patterns push back and the real work of habit change begins. By month three, most clients report measurable improvements in at least one target area, according to research published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
| If you hit... | Try... |
|---|---|
| No noticeable change after six weeks | Revisit Step 1. Your goals may need to be more specific, or your friction points may be different than you thought |
| You dread coaching sessions | The coach may not be the right fit. Trust that feeling and interview someone else |
| Systems work for two weeks then fall apart | This is normal. Ask your coach to help you build a reset protocol rather than abandoning the system entirely |
| Progress feels slower than you expected | Compare yourself to your own baseline, not to someone else's coaching journey |
Warning
Do not mistake a busy feeling for actual progress. A good coach helps you produce outcomes, not just activity. If you are filling your calendar with coaching sessions and strategies but your real-life situation is not improving, reassess.
When Coaching Alone Is Not Enough
ADHD coaching is powerful, but it is not a substitute for medical treatment. If you have untreated or under-treated ADHD, coaching may feel like building systems on quicksand. The foundation keeps shifting. Medication, therapy, and coaching often work best as a trio, each addressing a different layer of the challenge.
If you are working with a coach and still struggling significantly, consider whether you also need a medication review with a psychiatrist or a course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address thought patterns that coaching alone cannot reach. Read more about ADHD treatment options and what to do when medication is not working.
Solution
Coaching builds the external structure. Medication and therapy stabilize the internal foundation. When all three are aligned, progress compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is ADHD coaching different from therapy?
ADHD coaching focuses on building practical skills, systems, and accountability for daily life. Therapy addresses emotional patterns, past experiences, and mental health conditions. Coaching looks forward and asks "how do we make this work better starting now?" Therapy often looks backward to understand how patterns formed. Many people with ADHD benefit from both, but they serve different functions.
What credentials should an ADHD coach have?
Look for training from an accredited ADHD coach training program such as ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), JST Coaching, or the iACTcenter. An ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) is a strong supplementary signal of professional coaching competence. Membership in the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) or PAAC also indicates engagement with the professional community.
How much does ADHD coaching cost?
Most ADHD coaches charge between $100 and $300 per session. Weekly sessions are standard at the start of an engagement, with many coaches recommending a three-month initial commitment. Some offer sliding scale fees or package discounts. Insurance rarely covers coaching directly, but check whether your HSA or FSA can be used.
Can ADHD coaching work virtually?
Yes, and for many adults with ADHD, virtual coaching is more effective than in-person. It eliminates commute time, allows you to be in your own environment during sessions, and opens up the pool of coaches beyond your local area. What matters more than format is consistency and the quality of the coach-client relationship.
How long does it take to see results from ADHD coaching?
Most clients notice small improvements within the first two to three weeks. A system that actually works. One missed deadline fewer than usual. A morning routine that holds. Meaningful, durable change typically takes three to six months of consistent coaching. The timeline depends on how specific your goals are, how consistently you implement between sessions, and how well the coach's approach matches your needs.
Is ADHD coaching worth it if I am already on medication?
Medication helps with focus and impulse control but does not teach skills. Many adults with ADHD find that medication makes them more available for coaching. They can actually implement the systems they learn because the biological noise is quieter. The combination of medication and coaching is often more effective than either alone.
Your Next Move
You do not need to have your entire coaching journey mapped out before you take the first step. Pick one action from this guide: searching a credentialed directory, booking a consultation call, or asking your therapist for a referral. Do it today. The goal is not to find the perfect coach on your first try. The goal is to get into a conversation with someone qualified and see how it feels.
Find an ADHD specialist near you to filter by location, insurance, and specialization.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.