Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that we rely on every single day to help us manage our daily lives. Executive function skills include planning, organizing, prioritizing, sustained attention, time management, task initiation, problem solving, and flexible thinking.

Executive function skills are learned throughout our lifetime and strengthened with practice. Sometimes people have challenges with their executive functioning skills which may make navigating school, work, and tasks in daily life more difficult and that's where an executive function coach comes in!

Executive function coaching involves self-reflection and learning and practicing concrete strategies to strengthen executive function skills with the support of a coach.

No a diagnosis is not required. Many students who benefit most from executive function coaching have never been formally diagnosed.

If your student struggles with procrastination, time management, overwhelm, perfectionism, or staying on top of assignments, executive function coaching can help.

I do have extensive experience working with individuals with diagnoses including:

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Learning disorders/ learning differences

• Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger's

• Post Concussion Syndrome

Your college student may benefit from executive function coaching if they:

• Chronically procrastinate and are burning out 

• Get zeros on smaller assignments they forgot about

• Struggle to manage their time without external structure

• Have strong ideas but can't seem to follow through

• Are dealing with anxiety around schoolwork and don't know how to get unstuck

• Have accommodations they aren't using

• Have withdrawn from a class or are at risk of doing so

High school comes with built-in structure:  teachers follow up, deadlines are frequent, and parents are close by.

College has much less structure. Students who relied on external structure to stay on track often hit a wall when they're suddenly managing everything on their own.

Executive function coaching helps college students build the internal systems they need to succeed when there is less external scaffolding.

Coaching is individualized & each session is unique to match your learning style, personality, and goals; there is no curriculum.

Coaching sessions typically follow a similar structure each meeting:

• General Check-in (what’s new, exciting, or challenging?)

• Share computer screen to look at assignments (and create a plan for the day/ week/ month)

• Look at specific assignments to gauge difficulty, determine starting points, and possibly take the first step in the meeting.

• We create a workflow to make sure assignment requirements are met before submitting them (on time!). We also review feedback from professors and keep track of grades.

• Body-doubling: some students have a hard time starting assignments and use our meeting time to jump-start homework that they are avoiding and carry the momentum into continuing it outside of our meeting

• Identify potential challenges or barriers that might pop up in the next week and create a plan/ identify what strategies might be helpful

I am a firm believer that each person is an expert in themselves, so I ask a lot of questions to help my clients think about what has worked and not worked in the past. We create a plan together and adjust each week.

Coaching is flexible; most of my clients meet once a week; others meet more or less frequently.

Some of my clients start with regular meetings once a week and then transition to every other week or "as needed."

Some clients work with a coach short term (3-6 months).

Some clients work with a coach longer term (1-4+ years).

College is often the first time young adults are either living away from home or receiving less support/ oversight from parents.

As a coach, I ask students lots of questions to get them thinking and help guide them. With time, students start asking themselves these questions internally (or even out loud in our meetings!).

In addition to working on strategies to improve executive function skills, coaching helps students advocate for themselves (ex. communicate with professors, request/utilize accommodations, set boundaries).

We research resources and support on campus and schedule appointments for the student to access these resources, as necessary.

Yes! Many of my college students have good grades and still feel lots of stress and anxiety related to their coursework, managing their time, and creating a healthy school-life balance.

Coaching is appropriate for any student who would like to create systems, learn new skills, and have support and accountability to continue to do well in school with less stress.

Coaching is not counseling/therapy.

Coaching focuses on concrete skills and strategies. While we do talk about stress, anxiety, burnout, and overwhelm - it is not from a therapy or counseling perspective.

Coaching is not tutoring. I can’t help you solve a chemistry problem (but we can work together to figure out what resources are available to you, create and execute a plan together!)

Coaching teaches the "how" and tutoring teaches the "what." Coaching focuses on learning and applying new skills and strategies to improve academically, while tutoring often just focuses on the content being studied.

Coaching focuses on skills and strategies that are transferable. Clients build executive functioning skills that they will use in school, work, and their personal lives.

I’ve coached college students studying engineering, computer science, pre-med, history, chemistry, creative writing, and many other areas of study. I do not need to understand the content to help students strengthen their study skills or executive function skills.