--- title: What is an ADHD coach? (And do you need one?) description: 'ADHD coaches are life coaches who provide strategies to help you manage ADHD challenges and meet your goals. But they aren’t licensed mental health professionals, and they can’t diagnose ADHD. ' slug: what-is-an-adhd-coach-and-do-you-need-one author: Sherri Gordon, CLC reviewer: Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, NCC, DCMHS, LMHC published: '2024-09-26T00:00:00.000Z' date_modified: '2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3eZIWQyI6PxecUwMCEezeb/f7a32fbe2e9019b9faf7bc2997653962/G1497971296.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-an-adhd-coach-and-do-you-need-one lang: en --- # What is an ADHD coach? (And do you need one?) ## Quick take - ADHD coaching is a type of life coaching that helps people manage focus, time management, and organization. - Coaches aren’t licensed mental health professionals and can’t diagnose or treat ADHD. - Unlike therapists, ADHD coaches skip the emotional deep-dives and focus on hands-on strategies for the executive function challenges that come with ADHD. When ADHD challenges keep you from reaching goals or functioning the way you’d like to, it can be more than frustrating. Treatments like medication and therapy may help with symptoms and tough emotions. ADHD coaching can add new strategies and skills to your toolbox. ADHD coaches aren’t necessarily mental health professionals, and they may or may not be licensed or have a degree. If they’re not licensed mental health professionals, they can still be coaches. But they’re not allowed to assess, diagnose, or treat ADHD or any other mental health issues. Instead, ADHD coaches are “life coaches.” They may be trained to help adults and kids with ADHD manage the [executive function](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-executive-function) problems that come with it. For example, a coach might help you learn ways to get organized, stop procrastinating, build social skills, and more. ADHD coaches don’t have set protocols, so the experience can vary. But coaches may help you identify strengths, set goals, and improve skills. They’ll suggest strategies that fit your specific needs so you can get to where you want to be.  Coaches work privately and typically cost somewhere between $75 and $200 per hour. Some offer packages that include a flat rate, bringing the hourly rate down. Insurance doesn’t cover ADHD coaching, so you’ll have to pay out of pocket.  ADHD coaching often begins with a one- to two-hour session where you talk about your life and where it needs improvement. Your coach may ask a lot of questions to get to know you and what you’d like to change. If you decide to work together, the coach will help you set long-term goals and develop a plan to reach them. After that first session, your [regular coaching sessions](https://chadd.org/about-adhd/coaching/) will last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. A typical session might include: - **Review and reflection: **Your coach will ask about your progress since the last session, discuss any changes needed, and celebrate your successes. - **Goal-setting and planning: **Together, you’ll set short-term goals for the next week. This includes breaking down your goals into steps and setting deadlines. - **Tips and strategies:** Sometimes a coach will suggest techniques and tools that might be helpful. These are only suggestions — if you don’t feel like they’d work for you, let your coach know.  - **Accountability and problem-solving:** Before the session ends, you’ll discuss how to track your progress. Some coaches will [check in via text, phone, or email](https://chadd.org/adhd-news/adhd-news-adults/evidence-based-coaching-for-adults-with-adhd/) between sessions to see how you’re doing. - **Support and encouragement: **Throughout each session, your coach will encourage and guide you. Coaches want to empower you to stay motivated and build your confidence. How often you meet depends on your needs. Some people meet weekly, while others find that twice a week works better. You may decide to only meet once or twice a month. Ultimately, it’ll depend on your preferences and your budget. Many [coaches work with clients virtually](https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.52407). Unlike most clinical therapists, ADHD coaches can — and often do — work across state and international borders. ## How to find a coach Word of mouth is a common way to find out about coaches in your area. You can also look on the websites of non-profit organizations that focus on ADHD. For example, the education and [advocacy group CHADD](https://chadd.org/professional-directory/) has a professional directory. So does the [Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)](https://add.org/professional-directory/). ADHD coaches aren’t licensed or overseen by a governing body. In a[ 2025 survey of ADHD coaches](https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.52407), most said they had no professional license, and 91 percent said they worked with no formal clinical supports. While some professional groups and for-profit training centers give their own credentials, just two-thirds of respondents had completed a coach-led training program before working as a coach themselves. ## Questions to ask your potential coach Make a list of two or three coaches you might be interested in working with. Then, do a little more research by asking questions about their coaching style and their experience. Pay attention to how they respond and if you’re able to connect with them.  Often the best coaching relationships are with people you can build a rapport with. Here are some possible questions to get you started. Feel free to add to this list if there is something specific you would like to know: 1. How long have you been a coach?  2. What is your educational background? 3. How do you approach coaching people with ADHD?  4. What type of formal training have you received in coaching?  5. Do you have a certification or credentialing of any kind?  6. What makes you want to coach people with ADHD?  7. Can you explain your privacy policy?  8. How much does coaching cost and what are your cancellation policies?  9. How long do your sessions last and do you coach in person or over the internet?  10. Do you ever offer a trial coaching session?  ## ADHD coaching vs. therapy Both [coaches and therapists](https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2013.036) want to help people change, but they have different roles. Coaching helps you set and achieve goals important to you. Therapy addresses mental health conditions, helps you manage emotions, and addresses unresolved issues. Therapists also are licensed mental health professionals who use the *Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders* (DSM-5-TR). They’re trained to diagnose and treat conditions like depression and anxiety. They also use [different types of therapy](https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy), like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), supportive therapy, and more. Sometimes a therapist will also be trained to coach. But a coach (without the appropriate licensing and education) cannot offer therapy. In fact, coaches often refer clients to therapists when it’s clear that they might benefit from counseling. ## How to know if you need a coach Consider how much you might benefit from coaching. How much are your ADHD challenges interfering with your performance at work or school, your relationships, and your everyday life? Would having more guidance, strategies, and tools make a big difference? If you have specific things you want to accomplish or habits you want to change, coaching can help you make a plan for those goals. It may also help you recognize other ways ADHD is affecting you that you didn’t think about. The point is to target the challenges you want to address and find solutions so you can better manage them. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [“You can’t have ADHD” \(Farah Jamil’s story\) ](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/you-cant-have-adhd-farah-jamil) - [I’m a working mom with ADHD. Here’s how I get it done \(or don’t\).](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/adhdiaries-adhd-mom-rae) - Welcome to “The ADHDiaries,” the series where women with ADHD share 72 hours of their lives with us. The good, the bad, the messes, and successes. And how they do — or don’t — get it done. - [Tips from an ADHD Coach: Analysis paralysis](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/missunderstood/adhd-coach-tips-analysis-paralysis) --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-an-adhd-coach-and-do-you-need-one#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-an-adhd-coach-and-do-you-need-one","description":"ADHD coaches are life coaches who provide strategies to help you manage ADHD challenges and meet your goals. But they aren’t licensed mental health professionals, and they can’t diagnose ADHD. 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