What is an Executive Function Coach?
Executive Function coaching is an ongoing collaborative partnership created to facilitate greater self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-initiative for clients with Executive Function or ADHD challenges. It is built upon unconditional acceptance and a powerful appreciation of the client’s potential, uniqueness, strengths, capabilities, and wholeness. Executive Function coaches are well-versed in specific coaching competencies. Through inquiry, exploration, discovery in conjunction with education, encouragement, structure, support, and accountability, a client is empowered to identify and reach his or her own goals. The coaching process is strengths-based, forward-looking, action-oriented, and solution-focused.
What is Executive Function?
Executive function is a set of mental skills that include flexible thinking, self-control, self-monitoring, planning, prioritizing, task initiation, persistence, and organization. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Having trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, regulate emotions, and follow through on certain tasks. Coaching assists clients with Executive Functioning difficulties to stay focused on their goals, face obstacles, address core Executive Function-related issues like time management, organization, and self-esteem, and gain clarity and function more effectively. Executive Function challenges can arise for many reasons, and I work with clients and their families to understand each client's unique learning profile.
What happens in a Coaching Session?
Each session is tailored to the client and will vary based on individual needs, but follows a consistent structure. The coach and client create an agenda for the session based on insights from the previous week and then determine a plan for generating ideas, completing work, and then reflecting on the tools and skills used, and their efficacy. The coach asks the client to commit to completing tasks during or by the next session such as reaching out to a teacher for extra support, completing a study plan or using a strategy to help with organization or work completion. This is also a time to acknowledge obstacles, explore alternate perspectives, and celebrate successes. With the conclusion of each session, we will revisit client goals and evaluate the next steps that are needed to achieve these results. As needed, the coach reaches out to the client between sessions to provide encouragement and accountability.
How is Coaching different from Therapy?
While the coaching I provide can be therapeutic, it is not therapy. Coaching is distinct from traditional therapy because it is not designed to address psychological issues. While emotional issues may arise, the primary focus of Executive Function Coaching is to help clients identify their goals, achieve them, and develop constructive habits and skills. There is less emphasis placed on the past with coaching, but instead, the focus is on creating what the client wants now and in the future.
How long do people generally work with a Coach?
Empowering students and young adults to move towards independence by building long-lasting goals and habits, skills, and strategies takes time. Coaching creates the space for clients to self-evaluate their strengths and challenges and to then learn from their failures and celebrate their successes in an accepting and supportive framework. Each client has his or her unique path; therefore, each person will reach independence at the time that is right for them.
Is coaching confidential?
What is discussed in a session will be held in confidence and not shared with others. However, discussions are not privileged for legal purposes. The privilege of confidentiality that exists for the clergy, therapists, and attorneys is not granted to coaching professionals. That said, life coaching is a confidential process, and the client's personal information will always be protected.
What is your cancellation policy?
I request a 24-hour notice to cancel a session. Please be sure to contact me if you will not be able to make your scheduled appointment in order to avoid being charged for the session.