What is Executive Functioning and How Can Therapy for Teens Help?

Fall usually feels like a fresh start for your child, almost like the beginning of a

new year! It could be that the school year is finally coming to fruition, or there’s a

new class schedule, or even a new routine. Along with these fresh starts, it is

imperative to freshen up the strategies and tools along with therapy for teens to help them become their most productive selves.

Understanding Executive Functioning

Executive function refers to the skills and mental processes that enable us to

successfully plan, focus our attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple

tasks. It is imperative for our brains to be able to filter out distractions, prioritize tasks,

set/achieve goals, and control impulses.

Therapy for Teens: ADHD and Executive Function

As a Certified Clinical ADHD Service Provider (ADHD—CCSP), the executive

function works hand in hand with ADHD-specific therapy. However, your teen does

not have to struggle with ADHD to benefit from executive function coaching.

Executive function is important for everyone to work on, as it can help people

improve their critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, planning, and task

execution.

Effective Goal Setting

One of my biggest tips when it comes to executive function coaching is

learning to choose our words carefully when it comes to goal setting. Often when we

set goals for ourselves, they are large and vague. For example, “work on ___ project”

or “get good grades.” While these goals are a great start, they can leave us feeling

more overwhelmed and unmotivated than we were before, causing us to keep

bumping those goals back onto our calendar. My best suggestion when it comes to

goal setting is to make your goals specific, time-oriented, and attainable.

Specific and Attainable Goals

For example, you could change your goal from “Finish my science project” to

“Read a chapter of my textbook every day and then create 1-2 PowerPoint slides on

the information learned. Have my project completed in 2 weeks.”

The difference between these two goals is huge! It is so important to put effort

into being specific and intentional with your goals because it will help guide your

teen on how to achieve them.

Recognizing Executive Function Challenges

If your teen experiences difficulties in finishing tasks, keeping track of

assignments, frequently losing or misplacing things, or has difficulty managing time,

he or she may struggle with executive functioning skills. Therapy for teens at Liz Morrison Therapy is instrumental in aiding ADHD and executive functioning skills.

Support Systems For Struggling Learners

If your teen is a struggling learner, it will help them to know that they have

trusted and supportive adults on their side in school, at home, and outside of school as

well. Academics are more challenging for children with ADHD and executive

functioning difficulties. Strong therapeutic relationships in therapy for teens help to keep your child accountable outside of school in achieving their goals but also help your child to feel safe, respected, and valued. Once this foundation is established, true learning and progress can happen.

Interested in learning more about executive functioning skills and how they can benefit you? Feel free to get in touch with Rachel for a free 15-minute phone consultation. She can answer any questions you have, see whether you and she are a good fit, and start working toward a better future today.

Embrace Your Executive Functioning Skills With Therapy for Teens in Manhattan, New York City, Brooklyn, or anywhere else in New York!

If your teen is struggling with executive functioning skills, don't wait to get the support they need. Contact us at Liz Morrison Therapy to learn how our specialized therapy for teens can help them develop essential skills for success. Let's work together to empower your child to achieve their full potential. Follow these three simple steps to get started:

1. Contact us to schedule an appointment for Therapy for Teens

2. Begin meeting with a skilled teen therapist

3. Achieve your full potential!

Other Services Offered at Liz Morrison Therapy

At Liz Morrison Therapy, we offer services for the whole family. So in addition to supporting your teen cope with their mental health issues in therapy for teens, our services also include Parenting Support for those looking to create healthy relationships with their children to help them live their best lives, Young Adult Therapy for individuals looking for support, guidance, and real-world strategies to help them deal with their struggles, and Anxiety Therapy for those wanting to cope with their anxiety in healthy ways. For more about us check out our Blogs and FAQs.