The Anatomy of a Perfect Outreach Email for Executive Function Coaches
- Sean G. McCormick
- Oct 28, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 9
Last updated: February, 2026
In this post, you'll learn how to craft the perfect outreach email using a value-first approach tailored explicitly for executive function coaches reaching out to neuropsychologists.
This technique is the exact process I used to gain my first 100 hundred clients at EF Specialists and have taught to hundreds of EF coaches in the Executive Function Coaching Academy community.
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The EF coaches who build steady caseloads do one thing consistently.
They build referral relationships on purpose, and they do it with simple outreach that is easy to repeat.
Neuropsychologists are one of the highest leverage referral partners you can have as an executive function coach.
Families often meet them at the exact moment they are desperate for answers about ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia.
If you become a trusted coach they confidently recommend in their reports, you stop chasing clients one by one and start getting introduced to the right families, at the right time, for the right reason.
In this article, I’ll show you why outreach matters, why most coaches mess it up, and the exact email structure you can use to start real conversations with neuropsychologists without sounding like you are begging for business.
Why Does Outreach Matter as an Executive Function Coach?
Mastering the art of outreach emails can significantly elevate your impact as an executive function coach.
Neuropsychologists are often the first point of contact for families seeking help for their children's ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia.
By positioning yourself as a recommended provider in their reports, you can gain access to a steady stream of clients.
This enhances your business and allows you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.
And that's what I call a win-win.
If you prefer a video on this topic, watch my YouTube video on How I Enrolled 400 Executive Function Coaching Clients Without Using Ads👇
Why Do Most Executive Function Coaches Fail to Attract Clients?
1. They give up too early
So many coaches send 5 or 6 emails and then give up.
It would be best if you planned on sending these emails weekly for at least 6 months before expecting to get any clients.
If you want to lock in and follow a step-by-step system to land your first paying EF coaching client, I run a 90 day challenge inside my community for executive function coaches.
In it, you’ll complete daily 10-15 minute tasks for 90 days (skipping weekends) and if you follow the steps and show up with real effort, the process is designed to get you a paying client by the end.
If you do not land a paying client by day 90, you stay in the community until you do, as long as you keep doing the work.
If you're ready to jump in, you can click here to join the community and get started.
2. Lack of personalization
Many coaches struggle to personalize their outreach emails, which can lead to generic messages that fail to resonate with neuropsychologists.
Without personalization, your email may be overlooked or ignored.
3. They focus on themselves
Coaches often focus too much on their own services without adequately addressing how they can support the neuropsychologist's work.
This misalignment can hinder the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.
For my favorite 10 questions to ask neuropsychologists when building your referral network, check out this article.
4. Ineffective call to action
Crafting a clear and concise call to action is challenging for many coaches.
Your email may not prompt the desired response without a compelling invitation to connect.
Here is how you can overcome those barriers and create more meaningful connections with referral partners who send countless clients your way.👇
How to Craft The Perfect Outreach Email as an Executive Function Coach
Step 1: Start with a pleasant and knowledgable introduction
Spend 10 minutes scanning the neuropsychologist's website to gather relevant information.
Look for any books they've written or podcasts they've hosted.
Reference this content in your email to show genuine interest in their work. For example,
Hi, Dr. Brown, I noticed that you wrote a book on how to support kids with ADHD, and I was very inspired by it.
In the first lines of your email, start with a pleasant introduction that focuses on them and what they do.
Dear Dr. Gray,
I noticed on your website that you provide comprehensive evaluation services for children.
The mistake most coaches make here is that they focus on themselves:
Hey! Look at my one-sheet and what I do. Want to send me clients? 🙈
Step 2: Incentivize a response by offering value
Next, you can say you are creating a resource for parents you work with to help them find local assessment professionals.
Even if you don't have any clients yet, there will undoubtedly come a day when having a robust referral network will be beneficial, so why not start now?
You can say,
I am creating an article on my website to list out local neuropsychologists who support students with ADHD for the families and education community I serve.
Here is an example of a blog article I created to list local mental health professionals in my area.
The mistake most coaches make here is that they focus on what they can GET, rather than what they can GIVE:
Can you send anyone my way? Is there anyone else you suggest I talk to? Could you pass this along to someone else?
Step 3: Name your offer
After acknowledging their work, introduce yourself as a certified executive function coach.
Not yet certified? Check out the Executive Function Coaching Certification Course at EFCA.
Clearly explain how your services can complement their assessments and benefit their clients.
Highlight your local presence to emphasize accessibility.
If your offer is clear and straight forward, it will stick and the neuropsychologist will know how to refer to you. For example,
As a certified executive function coach for students, I guide clients to reduce missing assignments, improve their communication with teachers, and manage their time more effectively.
The mistake most coaches make here is that they try to offer too much:
I coach people of all ages on all issues, including life coaching, career coaching, personality assessment coaching, and math and Spanish tutoring.
For help on creating your own value proposition, click here.
Step 4: Request a meeting
Precede your request for a meeting by explaining what is in it for them if they take the meeting.
I believe I have many clients who would benefit from knowing about your services, but I would like to learn a bit more about your approach so I can make a targeted recommendation.
Step 5: Make a specific request
Conclude your email with a straightforward call to action.
Suggest a brief meeting, such as a 15-minute Zoom call or a coffee chat, to discuss potential collaboration.
Ensure your request is respectful of their time.
Request the meeting within the next two weeks so they don't push it off too long.
Urgency is key, but not too much.
Can we meet for 15 minutes sometime within the next two weeks so I can learn more about your practice and how I might refer clients to you?
Looking forward to talking with you,
Ginger Shantz, M.Ed.
Enhance your email's credibility by including hyperlinks to your certification and any relevant higher education degrees.
This provides easy access to your qualifications and reinforces your professionalism.
Don't give up!
If you don't get a response to your email, that is ok!
After 7-10 days, follow up with the person using this approach:
Forward the original email, but change the subject line to a simple question mark like this: ?
In the body of the email, write this: Did you receive my last message?
This approach is non-threatening AND shows the person that you can track things to completion, making them more likely to refer to you.
I've used the boomerang technique to build amazing referral partner relationships -- don't neglect it.
The Bottom Line
I had to send at least 50 of these emails before I received my first referral, but once they started coming in 2020, they've been flowing ever since.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively engage neuropsychologists and build a thriving coaching practice.
To craft the perfect outreach email, follow these key steps:
Review the neuropsychologist's work and reference it in your email.
Start with a positive introduction that highlights their contributions.
Clearly explain how your services can support their assessments.
Suggest a brief meeting to discuss collaboration.
Hope this helps! 🤙🏻
FAQs
What if I am not certified yet, can I still do outreach to neuropsychologists?
Yes. Be transparent about your training, keep your offer narrow, and focus on learning their process so you can refer families to them too.
If you want to get certified, click here.
How many emails should I send before I assume they are not interested?
Plan on weekly outreach for six months, not a one week sprint.
Most replies happen after you have shown consistency and professionalism over time.
What should I say if they already have an executive function coach they refer to?
Ask what they like about that referral relationship and what gaps they still see for families.
Then share one clear way you support follow through that makes their recommendations easier to implement.
This article is a part of the larger category of:
Related Articles:
How To Craft Your Unique Value Proposition As An Executive Function Coach
How To Build Your First Lead Magnet as an Executive Function Coach
How To Find Your "Unfair Advantage" As An Executive Function Coach
10 Questions To Ask Other Professionals When Building Your Network as an Executive Function Coach
How To Get Your First 100 Email Subscribers As An Executive Function Coach
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About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.