Executive-Function Skills Coaching

Here’s why they’re called “executive-function” skills…

The executive functions involve your brain’s frontal and prefrontal cortex, which are plan-oriented, organized, and intentional. That’s why they’re sometimes referred to as the “CEO” of your brain.

Some executive-function skills include behaviors like thinking before you speak, starting important tasks right away, planning, organizing, sequencing, focusing, and managing your emotions.

When your CEO goes on vacation – life gets unmanageable. Many high-priority tasks are put on the back burner, and things that are more interesting (or sometimes just more fun) are prioritized.

This is ok for the moment, but the “bill” always comes due. The annual review is not what you hoped. The project fizzles again, and you lose confidence.

“How can I be so dumb?!? Ugh!!”

Coaching can help!

Dr. Russell Barkley has gone so far as to state that ADHD is an executive-skills disorder. Consistent with Dr. Barkley’s statement, we find it helpful to think about what’s behind a lack of executive-function skills. As we highlight the skills that are a challenge, this allows you to have more targeted solutions.

Executive-function skills coaching happens two or five times weekly, with meetings lasting between 5 and 60 minutes. Often, we will have one 30– to 60-minute consult per week (telehealth or in-person) and between two and five phone or text check-ins per week. As you get more skilled with using the skills, our meetings will decrease in frequency, and we will together monitor how you are making progress on your goals.

Executive-function skills coaching starts by evaluating your executive-functioning strengths and weaknesses.

We will get started by having an interview and a couple of executive-function measures to assess your executive skills, strengths, and weaknesses.

We can use the ADHD Assessment for those who desire a more comprehensive analysis. Identifying your strengths is important because if you are over 18 and have dealt with these challenges, you have dealt with many setbacks.

It is easy to get disheartened in the process, and frankly, you’re probably not very good at noticing things sometimes. It is good to highlight what is working well so that we might access your strengths during the journey and recognize the things that you “get right.”

Hope is a powerful ally for change!

We’ll then establish a plan with goals to increase your functioning and performance.

We will start by clarifying what is going on with you, including looking at some assessments of your executive skills.

Together, we will identify a goal that you want to work toward. For example, you may want to study for 15 minutes per day for your professional certificate.

We will track your progress and the number of days per week you study and follow your efforts visually to implement your new behaviors. In addition, we will have brief text messages or phone calls to do such things as review how you did the previous day with your goals, what got in the way (if you had an obstacle), if you were successful (how were you), and what your goals are today.

Together, we will take the skills from theoretical and “good ideas” to behaviors that you are using. Our focused coaching can range from 8 to 12 weeks or longer. We maintain momentum by recognizing our wins together and making sure the goals are realistic and essential to you.

Together, we can do this!

We might also use Neurofeedback to train that “CEO” part of your brain.

Another name for Neurofeedback is QEEG Biofeedback, a form of computer-aided brain training. We can focus on your brain’s attention network and enhance your ability to focus and pay attention through training.

Using this or medications to help your brain be “awake” allows you to function optimally. The recommended path of change is assessment, psychological interventions (Neurofeedback, medication, and lifestyle changes), and then executive-function skills coaching. Once we have an “awake” brain, it is time for you to learn the skills to get some traction forward.