Unlocking Your Child’s Potential: A Guide to Executive Functioning Coaching 

As a parent, you know your child is smart, creative, and full of potential. But sometimes, you see a frustrating disconnect between their potential and their daily reality. They might struggle to start homework, forget their soccer cleats, have a meltdown when plans change, or seem completely overwhelmed by a simple list of chores. 

If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with challenges related to executive functioning. 

When people hear that term, they often think, “Well, of course, my child functions.” And they’re right. The issue isn’t about an inability to function, but rather how they function in order to achieve their goals. 

At PM Mental Health, we’re thrilled to launch our Executive Functioning Coaching service, a program designed to support children, teens, young adults, and their families. This guide will demystify executive functioning and show you how targeted coaching can build skills that last a lifetime. 

What is Executive Functioning? 

Think of executive functioning as the management system of the brain. It’s a set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, manage our time, and achieve our goals. It’s the “air traffic control” of our mind, directing all the incoming and outgoing information. 

Let’s use a common adult example: You get home from a long day. You know you need to do the dishes, but you also desperately want to crash on the couch and watch a show. Your brain weighs these two options. Strong executive functioning helps you decide, “I’ll knock out the dishes now, and then I can relax without that task hanging over my head.” 

A person with executive functioning challenges might sit on the couch for a “quick break,” only to find it nearly impossible to get back up. The dishes never get done, leading to more stress later. This isn’t laziness or defiance—it’s a breakdown in the brain’s management system. 

The core components of executive functioning include: 

• Working Memory: The ability to hold information in your mind and use it. 

• Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to adapt to new situations or changing plans. 

• Inhibitory Control: The ability to resist impulses and stay focused on a task. 

Common Signs of Executive Functioning Struggles 

Challenges with these skills can show up in many ways, and they often become more apparent during times of transition, like starting a new school or heading off to college. 

You might notice your child or teen: 

• Has trouble starting or completing tasks, from homework to chores. 

• Is consistently disorganized, losing belongings, or forgetting assignments. 

• Struggles to manage their time and often underestimates how long tasks will take. 

• Has difficulty following multi-step directions. 

• Reacts with intense frustration or meltdowns when routines change. 

• Acts impulsively without thinking through the consequences. 

It’s important to know that you don’t need an ADHD diagnosis to have these struggles. While those diagnosed with ADHD may have executive functioning challenges, many children, teens, and adults without a diagnosis also find these skills difficult. For someone with anxiety, the worry about getting something wrong can cause them to avoid a task entirely. For someone with ADHD, it might manifest as “ADHD paralysis”—a state where they know exactly what they need to do but feel mentally stuck, overwhelmed by the steps required to even begin. 

How Coaching Helps: Building a Custom Toolkit for Your Family 

This is where Executive Functioning Coaching comes in. It’s not about a one-size-fits-all checklist. It’s a collaborative process that starts with understanding your family’s unique rhythm. 

Our first session is all about discovery. We’ll ask: What does your household structure look like? What is your child’s daily schedule? What are the specific friction points? We need to understand your reality before we can help you improve it. 

From there, the coaching focuses on building practical, sustainable systems. This isn’t about giving you a list of things to do. It’s about empowering your family with tools and strategies. For example, we might explore: 

• Creating Predictable Cues: For one family, a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown might be the perfect cue to transition away from the TV. For another, it might be a simple phrase or a visual timer. We find what works for your family’s culture. 

• Externalizing a Plan: We might use tools like T-charts to help a child visualize their choices. On one side: “What made you feel like you needed to do X?” On the other: “What could you have done differently?” This helps build self-awareness without shame. 

• Practicing Flexibility: Life doesn’t always go to plan, so we coach families in practicing flexibility. By guiding parents to model adaptive responses to mistakes and changes, we help teach children that they have the resilience to handle whatever comes their way.  

A Tailored Approach for Every Age 

For Families with Children & Teens (Ages 7-18): 

A key insight for parents is that coaching is as much for you as it is for your child. For a 7-year-old, the work is almost entirely with the parents, helping you create the structure and consistency they need to thrive. 

For parents of teens, the temptation is to think, “They’re 16; they should know how to do this.” They should, but that doesn’t mean they do. They still need scaffolding and support. Our coaching helps you turn tense moments into learning moments to shift the dynamic from criticism to collaboration. 

For Young Adults (Ages 18+): 

The transition to college and early adulthood is a massive test of executive functioning. For the first time, young adults are solely responsible for managing academics, a job, finances, a social life, and household needs. The structure they once relied on is gone. Coaching for this age group focuses on building independent systems for time management, goal setting, and balancing competing priorities, setting them up for a successful and less stressful entry into adult life. 

Why a Therapist-Led Program Makes a Difference 

You might see other “executive functioning coaches,” but having a licensed therapist lead this program provides a crucial advantage. A therapist looks beyond the surface-level problem and can refer families for an initial therapy assessment if needed. 

• We see the whole picture. Is the difficulty with homework truly about organization, or is it rooted in anxiety about failure? Is the resistance to chores a sign of defiance, or is it connected to underlying family dynamics? 

• We assess for co-occurring challenges. We can identify related issues like anxiety, depression, or social-emotional struggles that are often intertwined with executive functioning deficits. 

• We focus on emotional regulation. Our approach isn’t just about fixing a problem; it’s about nurturing your child’s emotional well-being and strengthening your family’s connection. 

A parent’s willingness to be part of the change is the secret ingredient. We work with you, the parent, to assist your child with executive functioning and home adjustments and ensure you have the tools your family needs to thrive. 
 

If you’re ready to stop the daily battles and start building your child’s confidence and independence, we’re here to help.

Complete this form to learn more about our Executive Functioning Coaching program.