ADHD coaching and related businesses are experiencing fast growth and growing challenges.
The ADHD coaching industry is experiencing exponential growth – but there is a huge gap between ethical, highly trained coaching practitioners and those who are well-meaning but untrained, who may have gone through poor training ‘certification’ and those who are simply exploiting neurodivergent clients.
This comprehensive white paper documents systematic failures that require immediate industry-wide intervention.
Download this 20 page research report and discover:
Why international regulatory actions across signal an urgent need for ADHD/Autistic community protection
How some training programmes charge more than £3,000 but deliver fewer than 40 hours of education
The economic pressures that are making professional quality practice financially unsustainable
Suggested list of immediate actions required to protect ADHD clients and improve training provision
ADHD Coaching – Explosive Industry Growth Without Oversight
The life coaching industry has experienced rapid growth, expanding from around 53,000 credentialed coaches globally in 2016 to well over 109,000 today (2025).
This expansion has occurred without a single organisation offering professional oversight, which has left a vacuum of regulation and standards that is critical when coaching focuses on ADHD and other neurodivergent clients with more complex needs, and who are at risk of significant power imbalances in both financial, social and access to support.
The rise in ADHD awareness, especially following growing diagnosis rates which exploded in the early COVID-19 pandemic, has created a demand for specialised support services which medical and diagnostic services are unable to meet.
Sadly this real and legitimate need has attracted a variety of coaching organisations and coaches who:
- lack appropriate training
- professional supervision
- ethical oversight
- putting clients at risk of exploitation and harm
- and leading many to doubt the efficacy of specialist ADHD Coaching.
ADHD Coaching Standards Crisis:
Key Research Findings
The Crisis in Numbers:
– Training costs which vary from £30-79 per hour for recognised programmes vs £3-6 for ‘verified’ but not accredited schemes
– Professional supervision costs which impact the availability of CPD*
– Private ADHD clinics employing non-specialist coaches giving the medical credibility ‘halo effect’
This white paper draws from:
– Analysis of regulatory enforcement actions across UK, US, Australia, Canada, and EU
– Comparative assessment of multiple UK and US training programmes
– Economic analysis of coaching practice sustainability
– Systematic review of peer-reviewed research on ADHD coaching effectiveness
*CPD in this context means ‘continuing professional development’- the ongoing learning requirements for maintaining professional qualifications and memberships, not the commercial course or training verification company.
Regulatory Enforcement Reveals Systematic Problems
Recent regulatory enforcement data reveals the scope of the crisis facing ADHD coaching in both training and ethical standards. Agencies across five countries have issued legal and regulatory actions targeting apps, supplements and coaching services for neurodivergent people.
These are not isolated incidents but the tip of an iceberg of systematic failure in industry self-regulation and the ‘commodification’ of ADHD.
The spread of these cases show us that the problems with coaching standards are not localised but represent global, industry-wide challenges. The consistency of violations suggests fundamental issues with public communication, training adequacy, professional oversight, and consumer protection in the coaching industry.
The legal actions have targeted various forms of exploitation including practitioners making unauthorised medical claims about ADHD treatment. Consumer protection agencies, advertising standards authorities, and healthcare regulators have all taken action, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the regulatory failures.
About the Research
Dr S Katherine Sanders, ACCG, PCC
is a practicing ADHD coach with certifications from ADDCA and PEERS. She is a Member of Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC), ADHD Coaches Organisation (ACO) and International Coach Federation (ICF). Her PhD is in an unrelated field.*
“This research represents 18 months of systematic investigation into an industry that claims to serve clients who are in desperate need of evidence based support and coaching. The findings demand immediate action.”
What This Research Reveals
Training Quality Crisis
Analysis reveals stark variations that put ADHD and AuDHD coaching clients at risk. Legitimate programmes cluster between £30-79 per training hour with substantial supervision requirements, while less rigorous schemes offer “certification” for as little as £3-6 per hour.
Some programmes complete “certification” in under 20 hours while charging more than £3,000 and claiming international recognition through commercial accreditation schemes which require little more than membership fees.
Economic Pressures Driving Poor Practice
Professional supervision costs can consume potentially up to 15% of a working coach’s revenue, making quality practice financially challenging for coaches charging lower rates or at the start of their career. This creates increasing pressure to limit professional development investment, directly impacting client safety and the future efficacy and well-being of the coach.
When clients can’t distinguish between training levels, competition occurs on price rather than qualifications, systematically punishing trainee coaches who are determined to ensure that clients are supported safely. Although unable to carry out quantitative research to confirm, it seems highly likely that these trainees are more likely to be among the neurodivergent community who are passionate about fairness and honesty, while also at a socioeconomic disadvantage.
“AuDHD” Marketing Without Robust Evidence
Investigation reveals concerning trends in marketing “AuDHD offers” without an established evidence base. While robust peer-reviewed research supports ADHD coaching effectiveness, autism-specific protocols remain in pilot stages with very small sample sizes.
No trials or research studies have tested a unified “dual-diagnosis” coaching model, yet a growing number of coaches and training organisations market “Advanced AuDHD expertise” with no evidence-based protocols.
Why This Matters for ADHD Clients
ADHD clients represent a specifically “vulnerable” population due to our neurological differences which can affect decision-making and information processing.
Executive function challenges can affect the ability to evaluate complex service agreements, while rejection sensitive dysphoria may increase susceptibility to emotionally charged ‘transformation’ promises.
Market information gaps are particularly problematic: ADHD clients and trainee coaches typically cannot evaluate coaching training quality due to jargon-filled and complicated credentialing levels where multiple certifications exist with varying standards that are not explained to non-professionals and can, at times, confuse coaches who want to train further.
Financial impulsivity and emotional need often drive coaching purchases among ADHD clients facing urgent employment difficulties or healthcare gaps where coaching is often more accessible to purchase than evidence based medical treatment.
Download the Free ADHD Coaching Standards Report
Get access to this industry-defining research on it’s release (August 31 2025)
A comprehensive 20,000 word industry report with detailed appendices is also available for stakeholders, researchers and policy makers. Read the details HERE.
Who should read this research?
This research is essential for several groups, including:
healthcare providers making coaching referrals,
training organisations developing standards,
professional coaches protecting their practice, and
most importantly, potential clients looking for quality services.
Policy makers, journalists, and researchers studying coaching effectiveness will also find valuable insights.
How current is this data?
The research covers regulatory enforcement actions up until July 2025, with training programme analysis updated June-August 2025. All professional body standards and economic data reflect current market conditions as of publication (August 2025)
What makes this research different?
This is the first comprehensive analysis to examine ADHD coaching standards across multiple contexts and training frameworks.
The research combines related regulatory enforcement data with economic analysis and training programme evaluation, providing unprecedented insight into industry-wide patterns.
Are specific companies named?
The research focuses on industry patterns rather than individual company criticism.
Where specific examples are provided, they illustrate broader systemic issues rather than isolated problems. The goal is industry reform, not individual blame.
Individual training courses ARE named with links provided in the Industry Report, detailing a comprehensive account of publicly available information. This was viewed as the best way to share information with multiple aspiring trainees and others assessing the qualification of coaches who they may want to employ.
What happens after I download the paper?
You’ll receive updates about ongoing research into coaching industry standards and client protection measures. Over the first 2-3 weeks, these are twice per week, but then will be monthly at most.
You can unsubscribe anytime, and your information will never be shared with third parties.
Is there a more detailed analysis available?
Yes, a comprehensive 20,000 word industry report with 7 detailed appendices is available for those requiring extensive analysis for policy development, academic research, or organisational decision-making.
Research Methodology and Scope
Comprehensive Multi-Source Analysis
This research employs a rigorous, multi-source analytical framework developed specifically to assess coaching industry standards and safeguarding of the ADHD community.
The methodology combines quantitative analysis of regulatory enforcement data with qualitative assessment of training programmes and professional standards implementation.
The research draws from:
– detailed review of regulatory actions across four countries (UK, US, Australia, Canada),
– comparative analysis of UK and US training programs,
– examination of professional body standards, and
– economic analysis of coaching business sustainability.
Primary research sources include advertising standards rulings, professional licensing actions, training provider websites, peer-reviewed literature, and financial records from established coaching practices.
Data collection focused on the period from 2013-2025, with particular emphasis on the acceleration of enforcement actions in 2024-2025. The research employs a risk-based assessment model, evaluating coaching practices against possible vulnerability of the ADHD client population, potential for harm by coaches and others practicing as coaches, and regulatory oversight gaps.
Evidence-Based Assessment Framework
The assessment framework evaluates coaching services against established criteria for professional competence, ethical practice, and consumer protection. These criteria are derived from recognised professional body standards (ICF, EMCC, PAAC) and consumer protection frameworks.
Professional competence assessment examines live (in person or online) training hours, supervision requirements, continuing education mandates, assessments, and scope of practice clarity.
Ethical practice evaluation focuses on transparency of qualifications, realistic outcome expectations, financial disclosure, and boundary maintenance. Consumer protection analysis assesses information imbalances or gaps, complaint resolution processes, and regulatory oversight adequacy.
The framework specifically addresses the intersection of coaching practice with ADHD client characteristics, including executive function differences, financial vulnerabilities, information processing challenges, and socio-economic power imbalances that may affect informed consent and service evaluation.
Research Impact and Applications
This research has already generated significant professional interest from healthcare providers, training organisations, professional coaching bodies, and regulatory agencies. Early responses indicate strong support for evidence-based reform measures and enhanced consumer protection standards.
The findings provide an evidence base for use in policy development, training programme evaluation, healthcare referral protocols, and professional standards enhancement.
Importantly, the research also supports individual practitioners in making informed decisions about their training investments and professional development priorities.
Future research will track any implementation of recommended reforms and try to assess their effectiveness in protecting ADHD clients while supporting legitimate coaching practice.
Essential Reading for Industry Professionals
This 20 page white paper provides the analysis, case studies, and recommendations needed for informed decision-making about ADHD coaching standards and client protection measures.
The research includes information not gathered elsewhere about training programme quality, regulatory enforcements, and the economic pressures affecting coaching practice.
Healthcare providers will find essential guidance for making safe referrals, while training providers will discover competitive analysis and quality benchmarking information. Professional coaches will gain insights into industry trends and training information, while potential clients will learn how to identify the training and experience of coaches and avoid potentially inexperienced or untrained service providers.
The white paper includes enforcement case studies, training programme comparison data, economic sustainability analysis, and step-by-step implementation frameworks for different stakeholder groups.
Get instant access to this industry-defining research by completing the form below:
The Path Forward
The choice is clear: professionalise immediately through co-ordinated stakeholder action, or face imposed regulation designed by authorities who understand neither coaching nor ADHD community needs.