What is Executive Function (EF) Coaching?
Executive Function (EF) Coaching helps children, teens, and young adults build the self-management skills they need to handle school, home, and daily life with greater independence and confidence. Executive functions are like the brain’s ‘control center.’ They help us plan, organize, remember, start, and finish tasks, while also managing time, emotions, and attention — the tools we all use to get things done.
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At The Neurodevelopmental Collective (NDC), we may recommend EF coaching when an evaluation shows that a child’s main challenges are related to organization, planning, and follow-through rather than subject-specific academic skills. EF coaching focuses on how to manage learning and responsibilities — the strategies, not just the subject matter.
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What EF Coaching Can Help With
An EF coach supports skills that can apply to every part of life — not just academics. This may include:
Planning and Prioritizing
Deciding what needs to be done first and creating step-by-step action plans
Time Management
Estimating how long tasks will take, breaking work into manageable chunks, and meeting deadlines
Organization
Keeping track of materials, assignments, and personal belongings
Task Initiation
Getting started, even when the task feels overwhelming or uninteresting
Working Memory
Remembering instructions and using information in real time
Flexibility
Adjusting to changes and unexpected challenges
Self-Monitoring
Checking progress and noticing when adjustments are needed
Emotional Regulation
Managing frustration, anxiety, or overwhelm during challenging tasks
Daily Life Skills (ADLs or Activities of Daily Living)
Planning for personal routines such as getting ready for school, preparing for activities, or organizing home responsibilities
EF coaching can help neurodivergent learners, as well as any child or teen who needs extra support with organization, independence, and managing life’s moving parts.
How EF Coaching Differs From Tutoring
Think of tutoring as subject-specific, while EF coaching teaches the skills your child needs to succeed across all subjects and daily routines.
Tutoring
Improves understanding of a specific subject (e.g., math, reading)
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Example: A tutor might help your child solve a long division problem.
EF Coaching
Improves thinking strategies, routines, and systems for success in school and daily life
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Example: An EF coach might help your child plan when to do their math homework, how to break it into steps, and how to remember to turn it in.
When to Consider EF Coaching
You might consider EF coaching if your child:
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Often forgets to turn in assignments or loses important items
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Struggles to plan and complete long-term projects
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Has difficulty starting tasks, even when they understand the work
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Is bright and capable, but their grades or daily performance don’t reflect what they know
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Seems constantly rushed, distracted, or ‘one step behind’ despite effort.
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Becomes overwhelmed by multiple assignments or competing priorities
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Needs help breaking big tasks into smaller, doable steps
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Is neurodivergent and benefits from structured routines and strategies
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Is transitioning to middle school, high school, or college and needs stronger independent skills
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At NDC, we screen for executive functioning in younger children and complete a more detailed assessment for older students as part of a comprehensive evaluation. This helps us determine whether EF coaching is the best next step on its own, or whether other supports (like counseling, occupational therapy, or speech therapy) might also be helpful.
Questions to Ask an EF Coach
When choosing an EF coach, you might ask:
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What ages and types of learners do you typically work with?
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Do you focus only on academics, or do you also address daily life skills (like time management, getting ready for activities, organizing personal spaces)?
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How do you set goals and measure progress?
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Do you collaborate with parents, teachers, or therapists?
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How do you keep students engaged and motivated?
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Do you offer strategies and tools for home use?
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How long do students usually work with you?
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Do you provide feedback to caregivers about what’s working and what needs adjustment?
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How do you adapt strategies when something isn’t working?