Executive Functioning Coaching

What is an executive functioning coach?  

An executive functioning coach is someone who can teach and reinforce executive functioning skills.

Executive functioning coaches are typically professionals with a background in Education, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, or Marriage and Family Therapy.

At this time, there is no specific certifications for an executive functioning coach.   It is advised to fully investigate your potential coach’s background thoroughly.  Look at your potential coach’s professional experiences and success rates.  

Executive functioning coaching is not typically covered by insurance.  You can check to see if your insurance will reimburse you after the sessions by submitting a superbill from your Executive Functioning Coach.

What is coaching for an executive functioning?

Once you have found a reputable coach, you may wonder what coaching sessions would look like, or what they would include. 

A quality executive functioning coach will start with an assessment to assess your child’s executive functioning strengths and weaknesses. 

Following the assessment, the coach will propose a plan on how to develop executive functioning skills that will help your child with their weaknesses, and build on their strengths.

Is executive function coaching worth it?

Executive functioning coaching can be worth it if your child struggles with time management, turning in assignments, starting assignments, remembering what is said, and/ or managing their emotions. 

Many people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), anxiety, depression, Autism, or learning disabilities struggle with executive functioning skills.

Executive functioning skills are used across ALL parts of academic tasks and social opportunities. 

What are executive functioning coaching lessons?

Executive functioning coaching lessons will vary by coach.  Many coaches will work with you via an online platform such as Zoom or Google Meet or via phone call. Other executive functioning coaches may offer to meet with your child in person for a few sessions, then proceed with lessons online or via phone. 

Executive functioning lessons may include: helping to set up an organized workspace, creating routines for morning and afternoon, setting up a homework space, creating a calendar, managing frustrations, study skills, and more.

Can my child get executive functioning lessons or help in school?

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a Section 504 plan, you can ask your team to consider adding in Executive Functioning strategies or accommodations to their plan.

Accomodations or strategies may include:

• helping your child write down the homework daily
• having the daily planner signed off on by teacher and parent
• access to coping skills visuals in the classroom
• access to a calm down space in the classroom
• being seated near an organized peer
• visuals on your child’s desk to remind them to turn in papers/ homework

Schools do not typically have an executive functioning coach on staff, but a School Psychologist, School Counselor, case manager or School Social Worker may help to build those skills as needed.

What if I can’t afford a coach?

Professional executive functioning coaching can be expensive.

There are many free resources available via google to help with executive functioning skills.

There are also two books that I frequently recommend to parents (full disclosure, I am an Amazon affiliate which means that I may make a small commission on any purchases I recommend from them. I only link what I actually LOVE and have), The Everything Parent’s Guide to Children with Executive Functioning Disorder: Strategies to help your child achieve the time-management skills, … needed to succeed in school and life  or Smart but Scattered. Both of these books have outstanding information that is easy to understand and use.

I am always happy to consult about executive functioning or strateiges. This is one of my most favorite topics! Contact me if you’d like to chat 🙂