By Jasmine Badamo, MA
Educational Counselor; Executive Function Coach
Last week I wrote a blog about the complementary nature of executive function coaching and therapy. I discussed the ways in which each service is distinct, as well as where there are overlaps. Today I’d like to share examples of how each service can support the other. If you find the examples helpful, feel free to download the pdf version from our Resources page!
How executive function coaching can support your therapy work:
An executive function coach can…
- Serve as another person to reinforce the concepts you’re learning in therapy and help you make note of everyday and/or academic situations that connect to your therapy goals.
- Serve as a source of motivation and accountability to help you implement the recommendations made in therapy, such as improving your sleep hygiene, widening your social circle, or increasing your positive self-talk.
- Consult with your therapist to provide examples of your everyday struggles and mindset towards them.
- Provide a safe space for metacognitive and self-reflection discussions, which can serve as a stepping stone if you are not yet ready to embark on therapy or are questioning your current style of therapy. These discussions can promote a new openness to trying therapy or exploring new therapy modalities/approaches.
How therapy can support your executive function work:
A therapist can…
- Address anxiety, depression, perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, or negative self-talk/narratives, all of which can present a significant barrier to coaching because they reduce your motivation and openness to trying new problem-solving strategies.
- Provide a big picture, comprehensive understanding of the mental and emotional barriers facing you and guide you (and your executive function coach) in choosing motivation and routine-building strategies that would work best.
- Help you to build coping strategies for managing daily life and novel tasks, freeing up energy for taking on new goals and challenges.
Every service provider brings something important to the table, and therapy and executive function coaching are an extra-special support combination that has truly benefited many of our clients at NESCA. It often takes a team to support an individual through challenging aspects of their life, and NESCA’s coaches are happy to be a part of that team!
NESCA offers executive function coaching for students from elementary school through adulthood who are looking to bolster their organization, scheduling, time management, goal setting, and routine building skills. Students work 1-on-1 with occupational therapists and education specialists to identify specific skills that will help them be more organized and in control of their academic and general life tasks. If you have concerns about your child or student’s executive function challenges and want to try our 1-on-1 coaching, please complete our online Intake Form.
About the Author
Jasmine Badamo, MA, is a licensed special educator and seasoned executive function coach. She
supports a wide range of clients, ranging from age 7 to adulthood, to develop executive function and independence skills necessary for success with school (including college and graduate school) and in life. She is also uniquely qualified to coach parents and train educators to support EF skill development across settings.
To book executive function coaching with an EF or Real-life Skills Coach at NESCA, complete NESCA’s online intake form.
NESCA is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton, Plainville, and Hingham, Massachusetts; Londonderry, New Hampshire; and the greater Burlington, Vermont region, serving clients from infancy through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.
