Dr. John C. Shershow, M.D.: Adult ADHD Care, Costs and Telehealth

What is Dr. John C. Shershow's practice?

It is a solo psychiatry practice built around one condition: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, which the site notes is sometimes still called ADD. The website describes it as "one psychiatrist, from first evaluation to ongoing care": the same doctor does the evaluation, sets the treatment plan, manages medication when it is used, and sees you at follow-up visits.

The practice says it works with adults whose focus, organization and follow-through are getting in the way of work and life. Its home page lists patterns that often lead people to ask for an evaluation, such as trouble focusing at work, chronic procrastination and last-minute rushes, losing track of time and deadlines, starting many tasks and finishing few, forgetfulness, disorganization, restlessness, and working hard while performing below your ability. It also makes the point that ADHD is not the only explanation: anxiety, depression, poor sleep and long-term stress can look similar, and more than one can be present. Sorting that out, the site says, "is the point of a proper evaluation."

When we checked on 19 October 2026, the site said the practice is accepting new adult patients, that hours are by appointment only, and that follow-up visits are held by secure video.

Who is Dr. Shershow?

The practice is run by John C. Shershow, M.D., whom the site describes as a psychiatrist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of adults with ADHD. His About page lists this background:

• Educated at Harvard, Yale and the University of Southern California.
• Practiced for many years in Boston, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
• Came to New York to become Associate Dean of Downstate Medical School (the home page calls it SUNY Downstate and lists him as former Associate Dean).
• For many years a surveyor and faculty member of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
• Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

These are the practice's own statements; we did not check them against university or association records. The site describes his approach as starting with "a careful evaluation to understand what is actually driving your difficulties before any treatment is recommended," followed by individualized treatment. It also says he aims to keep care affordable by keeping charges for both the initial evaluation and follow-up appointments "as low as possible."

No other clinicians are named on the site, so expect to see Dr. Shershow himself. Office staff handle calls and scheduling.

Is Dr. Shershow legit? What you can check

People ask this about any doctor, and especially about ADHD care, where online services have drawn attention. Here is what can be checked:

• A federal provider record. The national NPI registry, run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, lists John Cutler Shershow, M.D. under NPI 1194039701, with an active status and the taxonomy "Psychiatry & Neurology, Psychiatry." It shows a New York license number (103476) in that record. The record was last updated in 2010, so its contact details may be out of date; use the phone numbers on the practice's website.
• State licenses. The site says Dr. Shershow is licensed in New York and New Jersey. You can confirm a New York physician license with the New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions verification search, and a New Jersey license with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs License Verification System. The practice's own NYC and NJ psychiatrist pages walk through those checks step by step. We did not complete either state lookup for this guide.
• Clear limits on what it does. The site says plainly what it does not provide (neuropsychological testing, therapy, coaching, and care for children or teens), and it does not promise a diagnosis or a prescription. It says medication is "never a requirement for treatment."
• A published editorial policy. Articles on the site are prepared by writers working with the website team. The policy says an article is labeled "medically reviewed" only when a named clinician actually reviewed it, and that Dr. Shershow is not credited as author or reviewer unless he wrote or reviewed it. Many pages show "Medically reviewed by John C. Shershow, M.D." with a date.
• Safety language. Every page tells people in crisis to call or text 988 or call 911, and says the practice cannot respond to emergencies by phone, email or the website form.

The site does not publish patient reviews or testimonials, so we have nothing of the practice's own to report there. If reviews matter to you, look at independent directories and read them with the usual caution.

What services does the practice offer?

The site lists five parts of care, all provided by Dr. Shershow:

The site also has pages for specific situations, which describe the same evaluation and care for particular groups: second opinions, restarting treatment, evaluations connected to school, exam or work accommodations, NJ residents who commute to NYC, women, professionals, college and graduate students, adults over 50, new parents, late diagnosis, and telling ADHD apart from anxiety or depression. Anxiety, depression, sleep problems and stress are presented as things the evaluation considers, not as separate services.

What the practice does not offer

The website is unusually direct about this, which helps you avoid a wasted call:

• No neuropsychological testing. That is a separate service done by psychologists. If a school or exam board needs test scores, the site says you would get that testing from a psychologist.
• No therapy or ADHD coaching. The practice provides psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management and follow-up. If therapy or coaching would help, the site says Dr. Shershow can discuss it as part of your plan.
• No care for children or teens. The practice sees adults 18 and older. The home page asks anyone looking for care for a child or teenager to call the office before booking.
• No emergency care. Call or text 988 or call 911 in a crisis.
• No care while you are outside New York or New Jersey. Video visits only work while you are physically in one of those two states.

What happens in an adult ADHD evaluation

The evaluation page frames it as answering two questions: is this ADHD, and if not, or not only, what else is going on? The site says there is no single test, scan or questionnaire that diagnoses ADHD, and that a diagnosis depends on understanding your symptoms, how long you have had them and how much they affect your life. It covers five areas:

1. Current symptoms: attention, organization, time management, restlessness and impulsivity, and where they show up in your day.
2. History: childhood and school history (since ADHD symptoms begin before adulthood), plus work and relationship history.
3. Health: medical history, current medications, sleep, substance use, and any past mental health diagnoses or treatment.
4. Other explanations: whether anxiety, depression, stress, sleep problems or another condition better explains the symptoms, or exists alongside ADHD.
5. Diagnosis and next steps: what the evaluation found, what it means, and the treatment options that fit.

How to prepare. The site suggests bringing a list of the difficulties that brought you in with a few concrete examples; any earlier evaluations, school reports or records from other clinicians; a list of current medications and doses, including supplements; your medical history, including heart problems and blood pressure; and, if possible, input from someone who knew you as a child or knows you well now. One NYC page adds old report cards or transcripts, especially teacher comments from elementary school.

How long it takes. Not published. The site says it depends on your history and asks you to check when you schedule and allow enough uninterrupted time.

Referral. The site does not say a referral is required; it asks you to check with the office when you call.

Diagnosed as a child? The site says a new psychiatrist will want to understand how your symptoms look now, and that care decisions are based on a current evaluation, though earlier records help.

Is this "ADHD testing"? Evaluation vs testing

Many people search for "ADHD testing." The practice's NYC testing page explains that three different things are sold under that name, and only one is what Dr. Shershow provides:

The site says Dr. Shershow's evaluation "is not a timed battery of tests and does not produce a neuropsychological report with standard scores." That matters if a school, testing agency or employer has asked for scores (see accommodations).

Treatment and medication management

According to the treatment page, the plan follows from what the evaluation found and from what you most want to change. When medication is appropriate, the site says Dr. Shershow explains the options, what to expect and possible side effects before you start. It describes medication management as:

• Choosing a medication and starting dose that suit your history and daily schedule.
• Checking at follow-up visits how it is working and how you are tolerating it.
• Adjusting the dose, timing or medication when needed.
• Reviewing other medications and health conditions, such as blood pressure and heart health.
• Following the legal requirements for prescribing controlled medications, which some ADHD medications are.

The site names the two main groups as stimulant and non-stimulant medications, and says which one, if any, makes sense depends on the evaluation, your medical history and your preferences. It says medication is "never automatic" and "never a requirement for treatment," and that a stimulant is not the only option. Follow-up visits, it says, should cover how the medication works across the day, sleep, appetite, mood, heart-related symptoms, and how you store and use it.

Refills. The new-patient FAQ says refills are handled as part of ongoing care and follow-up visits, and asks patients to raise refill timing well before they run out, because some ADHD medications have legal limits on how they are prescribed and filled. The NYC medication page notes that Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled, so if you are moving your care, plan the switch before your current supply runs low and bring your previous prescriber's records, a list of what you have taken and how it worked, and your pharmacy name.

Without medication. The site says some adults choose not to take medication or cannot, and that the plan reflects what you want and what is safe for you.

New Jersey note. The practice's New Jersey pages say New Jersey adds in-person visit requirements for adults located in New Jersey who start a Schedule II stimulant by telehealth, and that the office will explain how visits are arranged for patients in New Jersey. Ask about this when you call if you will take visits from New Jersey.

Second opinions, restarting treatment and accommodations

Second opinions. The practice offers a full psychiatric evaluation that can serve as a second opinion on an ADHD diagnosis or treatment plan. The site suggests requesting your earlier records in writing first.

Restarting treatment. For adults diagnosed as children, those who stopped treatment for a while, or people who moved to New York on medication, the site says to expect a fresh adult evaluation before any prescription. Bring whatever records you have, a list of medications you took as a child or teen and how they went, and a short description of what is hard now.

Accommodations for school, exams or work. The site says what the evaluation finds can be described for a school, testing agency or employer when it is clinically supported. It also says accommodations paperwork is never guaranteed, and that some agencies require psychological test scores that Dr. Shershow does not provide. The NYC page notes that the New York State Board of Law Examiners publishes its own ADHD documentation guidelines for bar exam accommodations, which ask for more than self-report. If you need documentation for a specific agency, read that agency's requirements before you book and bring them to the office's attention.

Telehealth: how video visits work

The site says ongoing care, including medication follow-up, is provided through secure, private video visits that work much like an office visit. For a video visit you need:

• A private, quiet place where you will not be overheard.
• A phone, tablet or computer with a camera, microphone and a reliable internet connection.
• Your current medication list and any questions written down.

Where you need to be. The site explains that telehealth rules depend on where you are physically located at the time of the appointment, not where you live. You must be in New York or New Jersey for every video visit. If you will be traveling or out of state, tell the office beforehand so the visit can be rescheduled. For commuters, the state you are sitting in also decides which state's rules apply: a visit from a Manhattan office follows New York's, a visit from home in New Jersey follows New Jersey's.

The first visit. Whether the first evaluation is in person or by secure video "depends on the practice's current scheduling," according to the site, and is confirmed when you book.

Where is the practice and what areas does it serve?

The website does not publish an office street address. It describes the practice as serving New York City and New Jersey, "on both sides of the Hudson," and it has area pages for:

• New York City and suburbs: Manhattan (with pages for Midtown, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Lower Manhattan and the Financial District, and Harlem and Upper Manhattan), Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk).
• New Jersey towns: Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair, Princeton, Morristown, Newark, Summit, Ridgewood, New Brunswick, and Red Bank and the Jersey Shore.
• New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Middlesex, Monmouth, Union, Somerset, Passaic and Mercer.

Because follow-up care is by video, the area pages are about where you are during a visit, not about travelling to an office. If you want to know whether an in-person first visit is possible and where, ask the office when you call.

Hours. By appointment only. No set weekday hours are published.

How much does it cost, and does it take insurance?

Fees are not published. The Fees & Insurance page says to ask the office for the current fees for the initial evaluation and for follow-up visits, and that Dr. Shershow keeps those charges "as low as possible." Call (212) 265-4310 for the current numbers.

Insurance is not listed either. The site says insurance arrangements vary by plan and asks you to check with the office how your insurance works with the practice before your first visit. It does not name any accepted plans, so do not assume a plan is in network until the office confirms it.

If you plan to use out-of-network benefits, the practice suggests asking your insurer:

1. Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits, and what is my deductible?
2. What percentage of the allowed amount is reimbursed for a psychiatric evaluation and for follow-up visits?
3. Are telehealth visits covered the same way as office visits?
4. Is pre-authorization needed for a psychiatric evaluation?
5. What documentation do I need to submit a claim, and where do I send it?

What affects your total cost. From the site: the fee for the initial evaluation, the fee and frequency of follow-up visits (more often while a medication is being started or adjusted), how your plan treats out-of-network or telehealth visits, and prescription costs, which depend on your pharmacy plan and whether a generic is available. The site says that if medication cost is a concern, raise it at your visit, as "there is often more than one reasonable option."

Payment methods, financing and superbills are not described on the site. Ask the office.

Cancellations. No cancellation policy is published. The new-patient FAQ says to call as early as you can and to ask about the cancellation policy when you book.

What happens step by step

1. Call or request a call back. Call (212) 265-4310, or leave your name, phone number and best time to call in the call-back form. The office talks with you about scheduling and answers questions about fees, insurance and how visits are arranged. The site says calling is the quickest way to find a time.
2. Prepare. Gather your medication list, records and concrete examples of what has been hard. Note which state you will be in for visits.
3. The evaluation. A full adult ADHD psychiatric evaluation covering symptoms, history, health and other explanations, in person or by video as confirmed when you book.
4. Diagnosis and a plan. Dr. Shershow explains what the evaluation found and the treatment options that fit, including medication when it is appropriate.
5. Regular follow-up. Video visits to check how treatment is working and adjust it, more often at first and less often once things are stable. You must be in New York or New Jersey for each one.

Clinical questions between visits should go by phone or be raised at your visit. The site says email and the website form are for scheduling and general questions only, are not secure for health details, and are not monitored around the clock.

Free guides and the self-test

The website carries a large free library, written by the practice's editorial team, with many pages marked as medically reviewed by Dr. Shershow:

• The New York Adult ADHD Guide: 113 articles on getting evaluated, medication and New York's prescribing rules, cost and coverage, rights at work and school, and finding care.
• The New Jersey Adult ADHD Guide: 59 articles covering New Jersey's evaluation, prescribing and telehealth rules, insurance and NJ FamilyCare, rights under the state's Law Against Discrimination, and finding care by region.
• The Adult ADHD Symptoms Guide: what adult ADHD looks like at work, at home and in relationships, and the conditions that look like it.
• The Adult ADHD Medication Guide: FDA-approved ADHD medications for adults in plain language, with New York and New Jersey rules.
• A six-question self-test based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) Screener, developed with the World Health Organization. It takes about two minutes, and the site says your answers are scored in your browser and are not stored or sent to the practice or to analytics. The page states clearly that a screener is not a diagnosis.

These are educational pages. The site's footer says its information "is not medical advice and does not create a doctor–patient relationship."

Contact form, email and privacy

The site has two forms: a short call-back form (name, phone, optional email, best time to call) and a longer contact form that asks which state you are in and whether you are a new patient, a current patient with a scheduling question, or something else. Both say not to include health details.

The website privacy policy says contact-form messages are saved on the server that hosts the site, where the office reads them, and may also be sent to the office by email through a third-party email service. It says the site uses Google Analytics with advertising features turned off, keeps a short note in your browser for up to 90 days about how you arrived (sent only if you submit the form), and does not sell or rent personal information.

How it compares with other options

Adults looking for ADHD care in New York and New Jersey usually choose among a few kinds of provider. This table compares categories, not named businesses:

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Questions to ask before you book

1. What is the current fee for the initial evaluation, and for each follow-up visit?
2. How does my insurance work with the practice: in network, out of network, or not at all? What paperwork will I get for a claim?
3. Will my first evaluation be in person or by video? If in person, where?
4. How long is the evaluation, and is it one visit or more?
5. How often are follow-up visits likely to be at the start, and later?
6. I'll be in New Jersey for visits: how does that change the arrangements if a stimulant is considered?
7. I need documentation for an exam or employer: can the evaluation meet that agency's requirements, or will I also need psychological testing?
8. What is the cancellation policy?

How to get started

1. If you're still deciding, try the free adult ADHD self-test and read what the evaluation covers.
2. Check appointments and telehealth for who can be seen and where you need to be.
3. Call (212) 265-4310 (or (800) 388-9299), or request a call back on the home page. For scheduling questions you can also use the contact page or email drshershow@drjohnshershow.com.
4. Ask about fees, insurance and the first-visit format, then gather your records and medication list.

Visit Dr. John C. Shershow, M.D.

Terms you'll see on the site

• ADHD / ADD: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. "ADD" is an older name some people still use.
• Psychiatrist: a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health and can prescribe medication.
• Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation: a clinical assessment by a physician of symptoms, history and other possible causes, leading to a diagnosis and plan.
• Neuropsychological testing: a battery of standardized tests given by a psychologist, producing scored results.
• ASRS v1.1: the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, a screening questionnaire developed with the World Health Organization.
• Medication management: choosing, starting, monitoring and adjusting medication over time.
• Stimulant / non-stimulant: the two main groups of ADHD medications.
• Schedule II: a federal category of controlled substances that includes many stimulant medications; the practice's site notes these prescriptions cannot be refilled.
• Telehealth: care delivered by secure video; the rules that apply depend on where the patient is at the time.
• NPI: National Provider Identifier, a federal ID number for health care providers.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

All pages checked on 19 October 2026.

1. Home page: drjohnshershow.com
2. About Dr. Shershow: drjohnshershow.com/about/
3. Evaluation & Diagnosis: drjohnshershow.com/adult-adhd-evaluation/
4. Treatment & Medication: drjohnshershow.com/adult-adhd-treatment/
5. Appointments & Telehealth: drjohnshershow.com/appointments-and-telehealth/
6. Fees & Insurance: drjohnshershow.com/fees-and-insurance/
7. New Patient Information & FAQs: drjohnshershow.com/new-patients/
8. Contact & Schedule: drjohnshershow.com/contact/
9. Areas We Serve: drjohnshershow.com/areas-we-serve/
10. NYC service pages: ADHD testing, ADHD psychiatrist, medication management, online treatment, second opinion, restarting treatment, accommodations
11. New Jersey pages: ADHD psychiatrist in NJ, ADHD testing in NJ, online treatment in NJ, Hoboken, NJ commuters
12. Guides and resources: resources, New York Adult ADHD Guide, New Jersey Adult ADHD Guide, adult ADHD self-test
13. Editorial & Medical Review Policy: drjohnshershow.com/editorial-policy/
14. Website Privacy Policy and Terms: privacy, terms
15. CMS NPI Registry, NPI 1194039701: npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov
16. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions license verification: eservices.nysed.gov