ADHD coaching in New York: what it is, credentials, evidence and cost

Coaching is one of the most common things adults look for after an ADHD diagnosis, and sometimes before one. It can be useful. It is also an open field, with no license, no required training and very little research. This article explains what coaching is, what the credentials mean, what the evidence says and how to choose a coach in New York, using sources read in October 2026.

One point first, stated plainly: Dr. Shershow's practice does not provide ADHD coaching. The practice offers adult ADHD psychiatric evaluation, treatment planning, medication management when appropriate and follow-up. Coaching is something a patient may arrange separately.

What coaching is, and what it is not

CHADD, the national ADHD nonprofit, describes coaching as a practical, collaborative approach to planning, time management, goal setting, organization and problem solving. Coaches mostly ask questions, and they offer encouragement, reminders and accountability through regular check-ins. CHADD calls it a wellness model and says it is "not designed to help a client heal or deal with psychological barriers to growth."

The licensed side of that table matters in New York. Education Law section 8402 defines mental health counseling, which includes psychotherapy, and limits that practice to licensed or exempt people. Psychology and clinical social work are licensed the same way, and both include diagnosis (Education Law sections 7601-a and 7701). A coach who starts treating depression, trauma or anxiety has moved into territory the state licenses. Therapy options are compared in finding ADHD therapy and CBT in New York, and who can diagnose is set out in who can diagnose and treat adult ADHD in New York.

Who ADHD coaches are

The most detailed snapshot of the field is a national survey published in JAMA Network Open in January 2026. Researchers surveyed 481 people working as ADHD coaches in the US between October 2024 and April 2025. Among their findings:

• 60.9% began practicing during or after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 85.0% had no professional license, and 89.3% reported no professional background in mental health.
• 72.7% had or suspected they had ADHD themselves, and 62.5% had completed an ADHD coach-led training curriculum endorsed by an ADHD coaching organization.
• 91.5% were self-employed, 80.9% served clients across state lines, and 90.5% worked without formal clinical supports.
• Coaches reported discussing clinical topics such as suicidality, substance use, trauma and medication adherence.

The authors call coaching an "unregulated support movement" and point to "the absence of standards and regulations about who can declare themselves an ADHD coach." They conclude that randomized trials are needed to establish its safety and effectiveness.

Credentials: what the letters mean

No credential is required. Several voluntary ones exist, and each is granted by a private organization, not by New York State.

• PAAC (Professional Association of ADHD Coaches). Offers tiered ADHD-specific credentials. Its requirements page lists the CACP level at 60 hours of ADHD coaching and the PCAC level at 250 hours, at least 90% of them paid, plus knowledge modules, a quiz and observed sessions.
• ICF (International Coaching Federation). General coaching credentials: ACC requires 60 or more hours of education and 100 or more hours of coaching experience, PCC 125 and 500, and MCC 200 and 2,500. CHADD notes that ICF recognizes ADHD coaching as a specialty but "does not provide specialized ADHD certification."
• A clinical license. Some coaches are also licensed social workers, counselors or psychologists. If so, you can check the license on the state's professional license verification search, and ask whether a session is coaching or therapy, since the rules differ.

What the evidence shows

Not much yet. The 2026 survey describes the research base as "slim," citing one randomized trial that helped college students with study skills. CHADD summarizes the studies as limited but consistent: individual coaching for college students was associated with better executive functioning, study skills and self-esteem, and one large study of first-year students found better retention and graduation rates among those coached. Most of that research involves students, not working adults.

Treatments with more evidence for adults are medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, summarized in does ADHD treatment work in adults. Coaching is reasonable as an add-on for practical goals. It is not a substitute for evaluation when symptoms might be ADHD, depression, anxiety or a sleep problem.

What it costs, and who pays

The survey found a median individual session fee of $150, with a reported range of $0 to $750, and that about 90% of clients paid out of pocket. Only 4.4% of coaches accepted health insurance. CHADD likewise says coaching is often not covered by traditional insurance.

A few other routes are worth knowing:

• ACCES-VR. New York's vocational rehabilitation program lists job coaching among its services for eligible adults with disabilities who want to get or keep a job. See ACCES-VR for adults with ADHD.
• Your campus. Students can ask their school's disability or learning center whether it offers academic coaching.
• HSA and FSA. IRS Publication 502 does not mention coaching. Whether a coaching fee qualifies as a medical expense is not settled by that publication; see using an HSA, FSA or tax deduction for ADHD costs and ask your plan administrator.

How to choose a coach

CHADD suggests interviewing more than one coach. Questions drawn from its list, and from the gaps the 2026 survey found:

1. What ADHD-specific training have you completed, and which credential, if any, do you hold?
2. Are you also licensed as a clinician? If not, what do you do when a client raises depression, substance use or a crisis?
3. What is your confidentiality policy, and do you keep notes?
4. What are your fees, contract length and cancellation terms? Is there a trial session?
5. Will you coordinate with my prescriber or therapist if I ask you to?

Be cautious with any coach who diagnoses ADHD, tells you to change or stop medication, or promises results. Those are outside coaching. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 rather than waiting for a coaching session.

Where coaching fits with medical care

A reasonable order for many adults is evaluation first, then treatment, then practical supports such as coaching for whatever remains hard. That way the coach is working with a clear picture. Dr. Shershow's evaluation covers current symptoms, history, health and other explanations, and ends with the treatment options that fit. The adult ADHD treatment page explains how care is organized, and the first 90 days after a diagnosis covers what usually comes next. Peer support, which is free, is listed in adult ADHD support groups in New York.