ADHD Coach vs ADHD Therapist: What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear the air: ADHD is not just “being a bit forgetful” It’s a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts attention, emotional regulation and hyperactivity — and navigating it can feel like running in the sand (if you know you know).

So, who do you turn to for help? An ADHD coach? A therapist who specialises in ADHD? What’s the difference? And more importantly — who can ‘fix’ me? As a CBT psychotherapist who works with ADHD, I get asked this all the time, unfortunately there is no person who can ‘fix’ you, because you aren’t broken. However, there is support available…

What’s an ADHD Coach?

Think of an ADHD coach as your personal executive functioning sidekick. They’re the person who helps you build practical strategies to deal with day-to-day challenges like:

· Keeping track of time (where does it go?)

· Planning and prioritising

· Getting started (hello, procrastination)

· Following through on tasks

Coaches are very action-focused. They won’t dig into your childhood or your deep-rooted beliefs — they’re more about “What can we try this week to make mornings less chaotic?”

They’ll ask questions like:

· “What system could we test to keep your inbox from eating you alive?”

· “How can we make this task 10% easier to start?”

· “What’s the tiniest next step you can take?”

Think of them as your ADHD accountability buddy — with less guilt and more cheerleading.

And What About a Therapist Who Specialises in ADHD? (Ahem, like me)

Here’s where we zoom out a little. As a CBT therapist, I’m trained to help clients understand why their brain does what it does, and how to work with it — not against it. Yes, we might work on strategies (Similar to a coach) but we also explore the emotional side of ADHD:

· Managing shame or self-criticism from years of “Why can’t I just…?”

· Tackling anxiety or depression that often comes bundled with ADHD

· Understanding limiting beliefs (like “I’m lazy” or “I’m not good enough”)

· Reframing past experiences through a neurodivergent lens

Therapy is often more reflective, helping people understand the patterns behind their struggles — not just put a Post-it on top of them.

So Who Should You See?

It depends! (Classic therapist answer.)

· If you’re mainly looking for support with day-to-day organisation, motivation, and action — and you’re in a fairly stable place emotionally — a coach might be a great fit.

· If you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, burnout, trauma, or shame — or just want to better understand your ADHD from the inside out — therapy might be the place to start.

Guess what? Some people work with both. One helps them build emotional insight, the other keeps their calendar from becoming an executive functioning nightmare.