San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the United States, home to nearly 1.5 million people, multiple military installations, a massive healthcare sector, and a growing tech scene. You would expect the ADHD coaching landscape to match that scale. It does not. Search for an ADHD coach in San Antonio and you will find a handful of therapists who mention coaching on their websites, a few life coaches with vague credentials, and a whole lot of results pointing you toward Austin instead.

The military community adds another layer. Joint Base San Antonio encompasses three major installations, and ADHD is increasingly recognized among active duty service members, veterans, and military families. Many of those families are used to structured support systems and know how to navigate large bureaucracies like the VA and TriCare. But ADHD coaching sits outside those systems entirely, which means the pathways people are familiar with don't lead where they need to go.

Then there is the sprawl. San Antonio covers over 500 square miles. Even if you do find a coach who looks promising, they might practice on the far north side while you live near Lackland. That distance, combined with the limited number of options in the first place, makes the whole process feel like it is stacked against you before you even start.

This guide covers what ADHD coaching actually is, what credentials matter, how to evaluate your options, and how to get matched with qualified support without spending weeks stuck in a research loop.

What is the difference between ADHD coaching, therapy, and psychiatry

These three types of support get mixed together constantly, and it is worth understanding how they differ before you start searching. Each one serves a different purpose, and many adults with ADHD benefit from more than one at the same time.

ADHD coaching is focused on the present and the future. You work with a coach to build practical strategies, systems, and habits that help you reach specific goals. Coaching is action-oriented. It addresses challenges like time management, prioritization, organization, and follow-through by building around how your brain actually works. A coach helps you develop personalized frameworks and keeps you accountable as you put them into practice.

Therapy addresses the emotional and psychological side of things. A licensed therapist can help you process past experiences, work through anxiety or depression that frequently co-occurs with ADHD (meaning they show up together), and explore emotional patterns. Therapy is especially valuable for adults who went undiagnosed for years and carry frustration, shame, or grief around what that cost them. In San Antonio, where mental health conversations are becoming more common but still carry stigma in some communities, finding a therapist who understands ADHD specifically can take real effort.

Psychiatry is the medical piece. A psychiatrist diagnoses ADHD, prescribes medication, and monitors how treatment is working over time. If you are considering medication or need a formal evaluation, psychiatry is the starting point for that.

For people connected to the military community, TriCare and the VA system cover therapy and psychiatry visits. That coverage is genuinely helpful. But coaching falls outside those benefits. It is not classified as a medical service, so the insurance and healthcare pathways that military families know well don't apply here. This creates a gap where people who are very familiar with accessing structured support suddenly find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory.

The important thing to understand is that these are complementary, not interchangeable. You might work with a psychiatrist for medication, a therapist for emotional processing, and a coach for the daily, practical systems that keep your life running. Coaching fills the gap between understanding your ADHD and actually doing something different because of that understanding.

What credentials should an ADHD coach actually have

One of the biggest problems in the coaching world is that anyone can call themselves an ADHD coach. There is no state license required in Texas. No board exam. No minimum training hours mandated by law. Someone can launch a website this afternoon, list ADHD coaching as a service, and start taking clients by tomorrow morning. In a city like San Antonio where options are already limited, that makes vetting even more important because the margin for error is smaller.

So what separates a qualified ADHD coach from someone who just decided to start coaching?

PAAC certification is one of the strongest signals. PAAC stands for the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches, and their certification requires completion of ADHD-specific training programs, supervised coaching hours, and demonstrated competency in working with ADHD-related challenges. This is not a quick online course. It represents a significant investment in specialized education and practice.

ICF credentials are another meaningful marker. ICF stands for the International Coaching Federation, which is the most widely recognized credentialing body in the coaching profession overall. An ICF-credentialed coach has logged substantial training hours, completed a minimum number of coaching sessions, and passed an assessment process. ICF credentials on their own don't guarantee ADHD expertise, but when combined with ADHD-specific training, they show someone who has committed seriously to professional development.

Lived experience with ADHD can make a coach more empathetic and intuitive. Many of us in the ADHD community value working with someone who genuinely understands the experience from the inside. But lived experience without formal training and a structured methodology is not sufficient on its own. The best coaches combine personal understanding with evidence-based frameworks and professional accountability.

Red flags to watch for:

• No specific training or credentials listed anywhere on their website

• The only stated qualification is personal experience with ADHD

• Promises of specific outcomes like eliminating procrastination or fixing focus permanently

• No mention of supervision, continuing education, or structured methodology

• Sessions that sound more like casual conversation than a guided process

Questions worth asking any coach you are considering:

• What ADHD-specific training have you completed, and through which program?

• Are you certified through PAAC, ICF, or another recognized credentialing body?

• Do you receive regular supervision or peer consultation?

• What methodology or framework guides your coaching sessions?

• How do you track and measure progress with clients?

• What does ongoing support look like between sessions?

A qualified coach will be glad to answer these. They have invested real time and money into their training and will be transparent about it. If someone gets evasive or defensive when you ask about qualifications, that reaction tells you a lot.

Why does virtual coaching make sense for ADHD in San Antonio

San Antonio's physical footprint creates a practical problem for in-person coaching. The city stretches across more than 500 square miles, and public transit options are limited compared to other cities this size. If you live in the medical center area and the only coach you can find practices near Stone Oak, that is a 30-minute drive on a good day and considerably longer during rush hour. For a 45-minute coaching session, that kind of travel commitment can turn a helpful resource into another source of stress.

Virtual coaching eliminates geography as a factor. You can meet with your coach from your living room, your office on base, a quiet corner of a coffee shop, or wherever works for you on a given day. Sessions can happen during a lunch break, after the kids are down, or in a gap between meetings. That flexibility matters for everyone, but it especially matters when the executive function challenges you are trying to address are the same ones that make rigid scheduling and long commutes feel overwhelming.

The bigger advantage is access to specialization. When you are limited to coaches who physically practice in San Antonio, you are choosing from a small pool. When location stops being a constraint, you can match based on what actually matters: expertise with your specific challenges, experience with your industry or life stage, and a coaching style that fits your personality. A coach who specializes in working with software engineers dealing with ADHD might be a better fit than a generalist who happens to be nearby.

For military families, virtual coaching solves another problem entirely. PCS moves (permanent change of station, the military's relocation process) are a regular part of life. If you build a coaching relationship with someone local and then get orders to move, you lose that support and start over. Virtual coaching travels with you. Whether you are stationed at JBSA today or reassigned to another installation next year, the relationship continues without interruption.

Virtual coaching also reduces the switching cost. If a particular coach is not the right fit, trying someone new does not require a new geographic search. You simply match with a different coach and keep moving forward.

What does quality ADHD coaching methodology actually look like

Methodology is where the real differences between coaches become apparent. Two coaches can have similar websites and similar pricing, but the structure and substance of what happens in sessions can vary enormously.

Evidence-based frameworks are the foundation of quality coaching. One widely used approach is the COM-B model, which identifies three drivers of behavior change: Capability (do you have the skills and knowledge), Opportunity (does your environment support the change), and Motivation (do you have the internal and external drive). Instead of generic advice like try harder or just use a planner, a coach working with COM-B helps identify which specific barrier is blocking progress and addresses that barrier directly. Another research-backed technique is implementation intentions, which are specific if/then plans that bridge the gap between wanting to do something and actually doing it. An implementation intention sounds like: when I sit down at my desk on Monday morning, I will open my project tracker before checking email. That level of specificity helps override the decision fatigue and task initiation difficulty that many of us with ADHD experience.

Structured sessions versus open-ended conversation is one of the clearest quality markers. In a structured approach, your coach prepares for each session, follows a consistent framework, and connects the work from one week to the next. Goals are tracked over time. Progress is measured against specific benchmarks. You are building on previous sessions rather than starting from scratch every week.

Between-session support is critical and often overlooked. ADHD does not take a break between weekly coaching calls. Quality coaching programs include some form of ongoing connection, whether that is check-ins, messaging, or access to community resources. This continuity helps new habits actually take root instead of fading by midweek.

Executive dysfunction-specific approaches are non-negotiable for ADHD coaching. Executive dysfunction refers to difficulty with the brain's management system, things like working memory, planning, task initiation, emotional regulation, and time perception. Generic coaching techniques often assume a baseline level of executive function that people with ADHD don't consistently have. A methodology designed specifically for ADHD accounts for these differences and builds systems around them.

Community and peer support adds something that isolated one-on-one coaching cannot replicate. Connecting with other adults who navigate similar challenges creates shared learning, normalization, and a different kind of accountability. Hearing from someone in a similar situation that a particular strategy worked for them carries weight that no amount of theoretical advice can match.

Coach supervision and ongoing training is something most people never ask about, but it matters enormously. Coaches who work alone with no oversight can develop blind spots or drift away from best practices over time. Regular supervision means a qualified professional is reviewing their approach, offering feedback, and ensuring the quality stays consistent.

The challenge is that none of this is visible from the outside. You cannot tell from a website whether a coach uses a rigorous evidence-based methodology or improvises based on personal experience. The only way to find out is to ask the right questions and know what the answers should sound like.

How much does ADHD coaching cost

Money is a real consideration, and it is worth being straightforward about what to expect.

Across the country, individual ADHD coaching sessions typically run between $150 and $300 per session. Ongoing monthly coaching arrangements range from $300 to $600 per month depending on session frequency, duration, and the coach's level of experience and credentials. San Antonio's cost of living is lower than many major metros, but coaching prices tend to follow national ranges since many coaches work virtually and set their rates independent of local markets.

The instinct to look for the cheapest option is understandable. Budgets are real. But the least expensive coaches tend to have fewer credentials, less specialized training, and less structured approaches. That is not a judgment on their intentions. It reflects the reality that coaches who have invested heavily in ADHD-specific certification, ICF credentials, and ongoing supervision carry higher overhead and charge accordingly.

Insurance generally does not cover coaching. This is true across Texas. Coaching is not classified as therapy or a medical service, so it falls outside typical insurance benefits. For those in the military community, TriCare and VA benefits cover therapy and psychiatry appointments but do not extend to coaching. This can be frustrating when you are used to having most of your healthcare needs covered.

FSA and HSA funds can often be used for ADHD coaching. If your employer or benefits package includes a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account, coaching may qualify as an eligible expense. Paying with pre-tax dollars effectively reduces the cost by 20 to 30 percent depending on your tax bracket. This applies whether you are using a civilian employer's benefits or benefits available through military service.

When evaluating the cost, consider what you are spending already by not getting support. Missed deadlines at work. Stalled career progression. Strained relationships. The mental weight of constantly feeling like you are underperforming. Effective coaching generates returns that compound over time as the systems and habits you build start producing results in multiple areas of your life.

How do you actually find and vet coaches in San Antonio

With a clear picture of what qualifications matter and what quality methodology looks like, the next step is the actual search. In San Antonio, this process has some specific challenges.

Where to search:

The PAAC directory (Professional Association of ADHD Coaches) is the most targeted resource. Every coach listed has met specific ADHD training requirements. The ICF directory is broader and useful for verifying coaching credentials generally. CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a national nonprofit that provides resources and support, but San Antonio does not have a dedicated local chapter. The North Texas CHADD chapter serves the Dallas area, and national virtual meetings are available, but local in-person community resources are limited. The ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) directory is another option worth checking.

Running these searches for San Antonio specifically will likely return a small number of results. For a city of nearly 1.5 million people, the coaching infrastructure has not caught up to the demand. You may find more results by expanding to virtual coaches who serve Texas broadly, which brings you back to the value of virtual coaching discussed earlier.

The vetting process:

Once you have a shortlist, the real work begins. Review each coach's website carefully and verify credentials independently rather than just trusting what their marketing says. Schedule consultation calls, which most coaches offer for free or at low cost. Use those conversations to ask the credential and methodology questions covered earlier in this guide.

During a consultation, pay attention to:

• Whether they ask about your specific challenges or jump straight into selling their program

• How clearly they can explain their methodology

• Whether they mention supervision or continuing education

• How natural and comfortable the conversation feels

• How transparent they are about pricing, structure, and expectations

When the first choice does not work out:

This is the part that does not get discussed enough. You might go through the entire vetting process, commit to a coach, invest several sessions worth of time and money, and realize the fit is off. Now you are back at the beginning. New search, new consultations, new financial commitment to try again. In a city with limited options to start with, that restart is even more daunting because the pool you are choosing from was small in the first place.

The entire burden of research, verification, and fit assessment falls on you. That is a heavy lift for anyone, and it is an especially demanding one when the executive function challenges you need help with are the same ones that make sustained research projects feel impossible.

Why did we build Shimmer

Every frustration described above is the reason Shimmer exists. We built it because we have been through the same exhausting, unclear process and knew there had to be something better.

The vetting is done before you ever show up. Shimmer accepts only the top 4% of coaches who apply. Every coach on the platform has ADHD-specific credentials, whether through PAAC certification or equivalent specialized training. They are not just hired and left alone to figure things out. Shimmer coaches receive ongoing supervision and continuing education, which means someone qualified is consistently reviewing and supporting their work. The methodology is uniform across the platform, grounded in behavioral science frameworks designed specifically for how ADHD brains function.

Matching is built into the system. Instead of spending weeks searching and guessing, Shimmer matches you with a coach based on your specific needs, preferences, and goals. If the match does not feel right, you switch to a different coach with no awkward conversation, no financial penalty, and no starting the search over from scratch. This is fundamentally different from the traditional approach where changing coaches means repeating the entire vetting process.

The methodology goes well beyond a weekly session. Shimmer's coaching framework is rooted in science-backed approaches to behavior change and executive function support. Sessions are structured, goal-oriented, and connected to each other over time. But support does not vanish between sessions. Shimmer includes community access where you connect with other members navigating similar challenges. That combination of expert one-on-one coaching and peer community creates layers of accountability and learning that a single weekly session cannot provide on its own.

The risk is low. Shimmer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with transparent, upfront pricing. You know exactly what the investment is before you commit. Compare that to booking a $250 first session with someone you found through a directory listing, only to realize after two or three sessions that their approach does not work for your brain.

Virtual-first covers all of San Antonio and beyond. Whether you live near the Riverwalk, out past Loop 1604, on base at Fort Sam Houston, or in any of the surrounding communities, you get the same access to quality coaching. No driving across town. No losing your coach to a PCS move. No limiting your options to whoever happens to practice in your zip code. And if you are a military family who relocates, your coaching relationship moves with you.

Shimmer's coaches work with adults across the industries and life stages that define San Antonio. Defense and cybersecurity professionals managing detail-heavy, high-accountability roles. Healthcare workers juggling unpredictable schedules. Entrepreneurs building businesses in a growing market. Military spouses balancing career ambitions with the unpredictability of military life. Veterans transitioning to civilian careers and discovering that the structured support systems they relied on don't cover everything they need. The matching process accounts for these differences so you work with someone who understands your specific context.

How do you get started with ADHD coaching

Taking the first step can feel like a big decision, and that is completely normal. If you have been reading about ADHD coaching for a while without taking action, that tracks. Decision paralysis around getting help for the thing that causes decision paralysis is one of the more frustrating loops many of us know well.

Getting started is simpler than the research process might suggest. You sign up, get matched with a coach, and have your first session. That initial conversation is about your coach getting to know you: your goals, your challenges, what you have already tried, and what feels most urgent right now. You do not need to show up with a polished list of objectives or a detailed history of your ADHD. Your coach is trained to guide that conversation and help you figure out where to focus first.

Early sessions are about building a foundation. You and your coach will identify what matters most to you right now and start developing strategies tailored to how your brain works. Expect it to feel exploratory in the beginning. You are testing approaches, discovering what sticks, and building a relationship with someone who is genuinely in your corner.

Set realistic expectations. Coaching is not a quick fix. You will not walk away from your first session with every challenge resolved. What you will have is a structured starting point, a coach who understands ADHD deeply, and a framework for making consistent progress over time. Most Shimmer members start noticing meaningful shifts within the first few weeks as new habits and systems begin to take hold.

San Antonio is a city with enormous potential and a growing recognition that ADHD support matters for service members, veterans, families, and the broader community. The coaching infrastructure has not caught up yet, but that does not mean you have to wait for it. Quality support is available right now, and it does not require driving across 500 square miles to find it.

If you are ready to work with a vetted, credentialed ADHD coach who understands your brain, Shimmer is a good place to start.