Executive Function Coaching FAQs

Executive function coaching is a personalized approach to help you better manage various aspects of your life, from organizing tasks and setting goals to prioritizing and regulating emotions. Think of it as a supportive partnership in which a coach works closely with you to understand your unique challenges and strengths, and then provides strategies and tools to enhance your executive functioning skills.

You’ve likely lived most of your teenage years and whole adult life feeling like life is hard — like you just can’t wrap your arms around it and get control of it. You’ve probably had goals that you want to achieve, but just can’t get there for one reason or another.  You’re tired of just managing the way you have most of your life and want to feel better — less frustrated and overwhelmed and more calm and successful.

Maybe you’ve gotten a late in life diagnosis of ADHD or ASD and are thinking, ok, what next?

Investing in executive function coaching can be incredibly beneficial for women for several reasons:

1. Improved Productivity — You’ll be equipped with practical strategies to enhance your time management, organization, and task prioritization. By learning how to optimize your workflow and focus your energy more efficiently, you can accomplish more in less time and get to your goals faster.

2. Enhanced Performance —  Whether at work or home, strong executive function skills are essential for success. Coaching helps you develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, leading to improved performance and outcomes in many different areas of your life.

3. Reduced Stress — Many women juggle multiple responsibilities and commitments, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Executive function coaching provides techniques for better stress management, including effective planning, setting boundaries, and practicing self-care. By learning how to navigate challenges more effectively, you can experience reduced stress and increased well-being.

4. Greater Confidence — As you develop your executive function skills and see tangible improvements in your ability to manage tasks and responsibilities, your confidence will grow. You’ll feel more capable of taking on new challenges, making decisions, and pursuing your ambitions with conviction and self-assurance.

5. Career Advancement — Strong executive function skills are highly valued in the professional world. When you invest in coaching, it can enhance your leadership potential, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities, positioning yourself for career advancement and greater opportunities for growth and development.

6. Personal Fulfillment — Executive function coaching isn't just about achieving external goals; it's also about fostering personal growth and fulfillment. By gaining clarity on your values, priorities, and aspirations, you can align your actions with your vision for a fulfilling life and make meaningful progress towards your dreams.

Definitely NOT! There is no such thing as being “too old” for executive function coaching. I work with adults of all ages and phases of their career. Until recently, scientists didn’t believe the brain could continue to grow and develop beyond a certain age. Thanks to neuroplasticity, or the ability to rewire your brain at any age, you are never too old to learn new skills or build new habits.

Working with a therapist is invaluable for addressing underlying emotional and psychological challenges. However, an executive function coach focuses specifically on practical strategies and skills to enhance organization, time management, planning, and decision-making. While therapy delves into understanding and processing emotions, an executive function coach provides actionable techniques tailored to improve daily functioning. Think of it as a specialized support system to empower you in navigating the practical aspects of life more effectively, synergizing with the emotional insights gained through therapy.

In essence, both types of coaches aim to improve their clients' lives. However, they differ in their focus and methodologies.

Executive function coaches often work with individuals facing specific challenges such as ADHD, ASD, mood disorders, executive function disorders, or those seeking to improve specific cognitive skills. The techniques used are typically more structured and skill-specific, focusing on practical strategies for managing tasks and time. 

Life or career coaches work with a wider audience looking for guidance and support in achieving l goals. They use a more holistic approach, incorporating a variety of techniques to inspire and motivate clients towards their broader goals.

You certainly can be your own executive function coach. There are lots of free resources out there that you can engage with to support you in your journey.

If you do want to try implementing some executive function techniques on your own to see what it’s all about, we suggest going through this free course on how to build executive function skills. 

When you engage with an executive function coach, you are getting personalized 1:1 plans, techniques and strategies  for your own executive function challenges. That coach will help you get to your goals faster by providing the right support, encouragement, and accountability.

First and foremost, I have a certification as an Executive Function coach. I’m trained specifically to do this work.

Also, I have a deep understanding of life as a busy, sometimes overwhelmed, working woman. I have aging parents, a partner with an intense job, two teenage kids, both with executive function challenges, and one has neurodiversity, and significant mood challenges. Combining that with many years as a senior people leader in technology companies and my own personal growth journey, I have deep empathy and understanding of the struggles that women face every day. It’s my goal to help you feel understood and supported. To feel like you can step away from the constant deluge that life brings you and get feeling more confident and successful.

In addition, my coaching will be highly individualized for YOU, recognizing that you are unique and have your own strengths, challenges, and learning styles. I’ll tailor my approach to suit your specific needs, so you can maximize your progress and success.

Finally, I focus on you as a whole human. We’ll focus not only on the cognitive aspects of executive function but also factors like lifestyle, stress management, and self-care. This whole-person perspective will lead to more sustainable improvements.

Every week I’ll meet you where you’re at. Sometimes we’ll be able to make big strides, and other times we’ll need to focus on baby steps. Life gets messy and we need to adapt to that.

Generally, we’ll look at the previous week’s progress, set new goals, discuss strategies and techniques to be able to achieve those goals, create an action plan,and agree on where you want to be the next time we meet.

My goal is to create a positive and supportive coaching environment by offering encouragement, celebrating progress, and providing constructive feedback.

I offer services online via Google Meet.

I typically suggest 1 session per week, for 45 minutes to an hour as a starting point. We can work together to build a schedule that works best for you and your lifestyle.

The total number of coaching sessions you’ll need will depend on a number of factors. As we begin to work together, we’ll discuss your area(s) of focus and then will have a better understanding of your estimated total number of sessions. Generally, 10-12 weekly sessions are recommended to start to gain proficiency with new executive function skills.

Pricing can be found here

I don't accept insurance as I don’t work directly with insurance companies or provide codes regarding diagnosis or services. 

However, be sure to ask your employer about accessing professional development funds to subsidize the costs of coaching. Your HR team or manager should be able to answer questions about this. 

In addition, I encourage you to contact your health care spending account provider to see if our services qualify as an approved use of those funds. If they qualify, you can ask that Thriving Minds at Work be added to the HSA provider’s approved supplier list. 

I require 24 hours’ notice for cancellation or rescheduling of appointments. If you don't cancel within 24 hours or if you miss a session, sessions will be billed at the regular session rate.

I have created a directory of clinicians that I would recommend for assessments - ADHD, ASD, and other neurological and emotional issues. There’s a variety of virtual and in-person options. Please reach out to the individual clinicians for pricing and availability.

Getting emotional support alongside executive function coaching is a powerful combination. I have created a directory of clinicians that I would recommend for therapy. There’s a variety of virtual and in-person options. Please reach out to the individual clinicians for pricing and availability.