empowering adults, youth,
& families with ADHD
to catch up, keep up, & level up
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Head shot of Sarah
Meet Sarah Hershey, M.Ed.
In a nutshell...
I’m a parent, ADHD and Executive Function Coach, and Certified ADHD Educator who spent 10 years teaching middle school humanities and over 20 years facilitating deeper connection and empathy within school communities. I guide adults, youth, and families navigating ADHD in building awareness, strengthening resilience, and finding more ease in daily life. I also work directly with educators and school administrators—helping them understand ADHD so they can support their students more effectively. My coaching practice is rooted in neuroscience and incorporates parts work and trauma-informed somatic approaches.
My story...
I was in my early 40s when I realized that ADHD was part of my tangled web of depression, anxiety, and PTSD from childhood trauma. In so many areas of my life, I had seen myself as lazy and incapable (especially when my kids were little and executive function demands skyrocketed). The diagnosis gave me a new story that was more about my neurobiology and less about my inherent value as a mother, partner, and human in the world. Self-compassion started to inhabit the spaces that self-blame occupied.
But after years of trying to navigate my ADHD in therapy, I still felt stuck in insight without much tangible change. I listened to podcasts, read books, and tried a workbook, but it didn’t translate into how I was actually living. As a mom, figuring it all out felt especially critical.
Getting my own ADHD coach changed that for me. It was practical and collaborative—less about figuring everything out and more about experimenting, noticing, and adjusting in real time. In that process, I experienced what it feels like to have someone act as a thinking partner. With well-placed questions and skillful guidance, my coach helped me notice patterns I hadn’t seen before and made space for my own inner wisdom to come forward. I wanted to learn how to offer that same transformative support to others.
My experience of being a coaching client and my training at the internationally renowned ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) shape the way I approach coaching today. It is also informed by my decades of exploring how personal, collective, and intergenerational trauma live in our bodies. Rather than providing one-size-fits-all tips or strategies, I act as “a mirror that talks"—offering clients the space to slow down, identify what really matters to them, and define success on their own terms.
Beyond my professional experience and credentials, my lived experience as someone who has ADHD and who supports ADHD youth in my life makes this work deeply personal. What matters to me most is helping individuals and families find more vitality, joy, and self-trust in daily life.
Whether you're struggling, just getting by, or ready to grow, I know firsthand that meaningful change is possible when people feel supported in making sense of themselves. Everyone is wired to thrive!
Not all coaches are created equal...
Anyone can call themselves a coach, and anyone can call themselves an ADHD coach. What sets me apart is my training at the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). It is one of only three programs in the world that is accredited by BOTH the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC). These two global organizations set the most rigorous standards and competencies for the coaching and ADHD coaching professions, respectively. In short, ADDCA is the gold standard for ADHD life coach training. Regardless of whether or not I am the right fit for you, I encourage people seeking ADHD coaching to look for ADDCA-trained coaches.
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ADDCA (ADD Coach Academy) - Accredited ADHD & Life Coach Training Program
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"Sarah is the ally you want if you don't want to do ADHD alone."
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ACO (ADHD Coaches Organization) Member
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ADHSpace Approved Professional
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Evergreen Certifications: Certified Professional
ADHD-CE
ADHD Educator
Adults Impacted by ADHD
Many adults with ADHD realize they’ve been working incredibly hard to function in ways that don't fit their brains' unique wiring. At the same time, their partners, parents, and other loved ones may feel frustrated and unsure how to help. On the outside, people with ADHD may appear capable or high-functioning, but the internal narrative can sound like this:
‣ “This should be easy. Why can’t I do it?”
‣ "I keep letting people down. I'm ashamed."
‣ “What’s wrong with me?”
This accumulation of unmet goals, unfinished projects, and inconsistent follow-through can feel like failure — even when there has been real effort and intention underneath it all.
For those whose ADHD isn't identified until adulthood, diagnosis can bring clarity and validation. Suddenly, past experiences make sense. There is often relief in finally having language for it, alongside a very real “now what?”
Regardless of when people learn they have ADHD, things can feel stable — until something shifts. This is especially true during life transitions:
‣ starting college
‣ becoming a parent
‣ moving from in-person to remote work
‣ living independently for the first time
‣ starting a new job
‣ ending an important relationship
In these moments, strategies that once worked no longer hold under new demands...it can feel like everything is suddenly falling apart at once. And while medication helps some people with ADHD, pills don't teach skills.
At the same time, ADHD brings real strengths: creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and expansive, non-linear thinking that doesn’t always fit into standard boxes — but often holds real insight and originality.
I work with ADHD-impacted adults through a collaborative, reflective process with no preset agenda or direction. Through listening deeply, reflecting what is shared, and offering gentle observations, she creates a safe, compassionate space that helps reveal patterns and meanings that may not have been evident.
When people are able to turn down the noise, they often begin to recognize what truly matters to them. Instead of imposing structure or providing answers, Sarah helps people unlock the inner wisdom that lives beneath the noise. The result? Defining success on your own terms, building a life that feels more sustainable, and living in greater alignment with who you are and what matters to you.
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"Sarah just gets ADHD."
Youth and Families
As young people grow, expectations increase — often in ways that require skills they have not been explicitly taught. They are expected to manage their time, plan ahead, stay organized, and regulate their emotions with increasing independence. Yet many schools do not directly teach the executive functioning skills needed to do this well. Early support is often more structured, but becomes less consistent as academic and social demands increase.
For young people with ADHD, these expectations can feel even more daunting. Skills like organization, time management, and emotional regulation can feel overwhelming — and at times even impossible — without supports that truly fit their unique brains. Many kids also feel misunderstood at school and at home, which can erode self-esteem.
For parents, this often leads to a cycle of frustration — trying new strategies, working harder, and still not seeing the changes they hoped for. Over time, communication can become strained and everyday interactions may feel reactive or discouraging. Many parents feel like they’ve tried everything.
I work with families to shift these dynamics.
What becomes possible when families begin to understand ADHD — not just in the child, but in the patterns between parent and child? I supports young people and their families in:
‣ Experimenting with routines and strategies that fit each young person’s unique ADHD brain
‣ Recognizing patterns around schoolwork, responsibilities, and emotional regulation
‣ Moving from reactivity and self-criticism toward greater calm and self-compassion
‣ Understanding their brains in ways that strengthen self-awareness, communication, and self-advocacy
‣ Reframing challenges through a strengths-based lens so families can experience more harmony and connection at home
‣ Practicing parenting strategies that work with ADHD brains rather than against them
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Consulting: Educators and Administrators
Students with ADHD are more likely to thrive when the adults around them comprehend how their brains work. Without this knowledge, opportunities for growth are missed. I help educators and school administrators understand ADHD in practical, classroom-relevant ways that improve how students are perceived and supported in school. This includes:
‣ Viewing ADHD through a strengths-based lens
‣ Understanding how ADHD impacts attention, motivation, and behavior in classroom contexts
‣ Using neuroscience to reduce misinterpretations and improve clarity
‣ Guidance in reimagining classroom practices and expectations to better support ADHD learners (benefiting all students in the process)
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"I can't believe how much happier and more confident my daughter is now."
“The welcoming enthusiasm Sarah has, accompanied by her approach of explaining the physiological processes in simple yet comprehensive ways, was just the sort of energy I needed to start gaining traction with my ADHD. She’s the ally you want if you don’t want to do ADHD alone.”
— Ashley W.
"I can't recommend Sarah highly enough for any parent whose teen needs support with executive functioning, study skills, & academics. She has worked with my son on writing strategies and study techniques, and the difference has been remarkable. Sarah has a real gift for connecting with students and translating ADHD-friendly approaches into practical skills they'll actually use." — Beth (parent)
"I have been working with Sarah for the past few months and the benefits have been transformative. I have always struggled with staying on task and keeping organized. Working with her, we have developed strategies to help me level-up, and the results have been immediate. In my job I used to feel like I was busy all day… yet I somehow at the end of the day it would feel like I got nothing done. Working on simple strategies each week I have new tools in place that are making a difference. I can’t recommend her enough." — Seth K.
“Sarah just gets ADHD. A lot of people understand the behaviors, but Sarah knows how it affects self-esteem. I can’t believe how much happier and more confident my daughter is now.” — Paula (parent)
"I came to Sarah with a list of tasks I'd been avoiding and wanted her to help me make a plan to complete them. I left my first session with a total paradigm shift: it's ok to say "no" when other people ask me to do things at the expense of my own well-being."
— Sam Z.
