What’s the Difference Between ADHD Coaching and Therapy?

If you’ve been reading about ADHD, you’ve probably heard of coaching. It’s a popular option—and for some people, it can be helpful. But coaching and therapy are not the same thing, and it’s important to know what each actually offers.

Coaching: Structure and Strategy

ADHD coaches help with things like time management, organization, and planning. They focus on action—getting systems in place, setting goals, staying accountable. Coaching can be a good fit if you’re emotionally steady and mostly just need help keeping your life on track.

But coaching doesn’t go beneath the surface. It’s not designed to address emotions, relationships, or the long-term impact of living with ADHD. Coaches aren’t trained to help with anxiety, shame, self-esteem, or trauma—and most will refer you out if those issues come up.

Therapy: Deeper Support

Therapy looks at the emotional side of ADHD—the frustration, the burnout, the sense of always falling short. It’s where you go when you’ve tried harder and still feel stuck. Many of my clients come in after years of being told to “get organized,” when the real issue isn’t their calendar—it’s how they feel about themselves.

In therapy, we look at:

- Rejection sensitivity and self-doubt

- Anxiety, depression, and emotional overload

- Shame and low self-esteem

- Relationship struggles and communication problems

- Patterns that keep repeating, no matter how hard you try

I work with adults who are tired of trying to “fix” themselves and ready to understand what’s really going on—and how to feel better from the inside out.

So Which Do You Need?

If you just need help sticking to a to-do list, coaching might help. But if you’re feeling discouraged, anxious, or overwhelmed—or if ADHD has been taking a toll on your confidence, your relationships, or your peace of mind—therapy is a better place to start.

Coaching can help with systems. Therapy helps with the stuff that’s harder to name—but just as real.