Executive Functions

Populations we serve

  • Executive functions are crucial cognitive skills that begin to develop in early childhood, governing behaviors like impulse control, problem-solving, and planning. In toddlers, these abilities are just starting to take shape and are essential for navigating daily activities and social interactions. Our practice offers specialized programs aimed at nurturing executive function skills in toddlers through engaging and age-appropriate activities. We focus on playful learning strategies that encourage self-regulation, attention, and flexibility, providing a strong foundation for future learning and development. Our supportive approach helps toddlers gain the skills they need to manage their emotions and actions effectively from an early age.

  • As children grow, their executive functions become crucial for academic success and social interactions. These cognitive skills, which include organization, task initiation, and emotional regulation, are vital for navigating the complexities of school environments. Our therapy sessions for school-age children are designed to enhance these executive functions through structured and fun activities. We use real-life scenarios and problem-solving tasks to help children practice time management, decision-making, and flexibility. Our approach empowers children to develop these skills in a supportive setting, enabling them to become more independent and successful in both their educational pursuits and personal relationships.

  • For teens and young adults, strong executive functions are key to managing the increased responsibilities and challenges of adolescence and early adulthood. These skills, including goal-setting, prioritization, and sustained attention, are essential for academic achievement, personal relationships, and workplace success. Our programs cater to this age group by focusing on real-world applications of executive functions. We offer strategies to enhance organizational skills, improve time management, and foster effective problem-solving abilities. Our supportive environment encourages self-reflection and adaptive learning, helping young individuals navigate their transition into adulthood with confidence and resilience.

Symptoms of Executive Dysfunction

(Barkley, 2012; Fahy, 2019; Pauls & Archibald, 2016; Sumpter, 2021; Ward & Jacobsen, 2022; Wexelblatt, 2020)

    • hyperfocus

    • inattention

    • off task

    • difficulty problem solving

    • doesn’t learn from mistakes

    • poor generalization

    • Emotional Reactions don’t match situations

    • anxiety about new situations

    • task avoidance/refusal/ defiance

    • Misses assignments and deadlines

    • Loses track of belongings

    • Poor time-management/sense of time

    • Takes longer than expected to do things

    • Difficulty estimating how long things will take

    • Not participating in the conversation

    • Blurting

    • Off-topic

    • Dominating the conversation/Info-dumping

    • Difficulty interpreting others' actions/how they come across

Our Treatment is Different

Barkley, 2012; Fahy, 2014; Turkstra & Byom, 2010; Witherington, 2015)

  • Time perception is a critical executive function skill that helps individuals estimate, track, and manage time effectively. Difficulties in this area can lead to challenges with planning, completing tasks on schedule, and understanding the passage of time, impacting daily routines and academic success.

  • Self-talk is an internal or external dialogue that supports executive functioning by guiding behavior, problem-solving, and self-regulation. Encouraging children to verbalize their thoughts can help them stay organized, follow multi-step directions, and manage emotions more effectively.

  • Future pacing involves mentally projecting oneself into the future to plan for upcoming tasks, anticipate obstacles, and visualize success. This skill is essential for goal-setting, time management, and making informed decisions about actions that lead to desired outcomes.

  • Episodic memory refers to the ability to recall personal experiences and specific events from the past. This function helps individuals learn from previous experiences, use context to make decisions, and apply past knowledge to new situations.

  • Encoding is the process of taking in, organizing, and storing new information for later retrieval. Strong encoding skills are crucial for learning, as they enable students to remember instructions, academic content, and everyday routines more efficiently.