Discover the power of Executive Function Coaching with Shane McLaughlin
Executive Coaching Sessions
Our program is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student, providing one-on-one guidance and support.
Group Coaching Sessions
The program brings together students with similar challenges and provides a supportive personal and professional development environment.
Video Coaching Sessions
Our experienced coaches conduct one-on-one sessions via video conferencing, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience.
Building Lifelong Skills Through Executive Function Coaching
Executive function coaching can significantly benefit student’s by helping them develop essential life skills like time management, organization, and self-regulation, which are crucial for academic success and future independence. As they navigate increasing responsibilities, from managing schoolwork and extracurricular activities to preparing for the next stages of life, coaching provides structured strategies to improve focus, break down complex tasks, and build resilience when facing challenges. By learning how to set goals, prioritize tasks, and stay motivated, they gain confidence in their abilities and reduce stress. These skills not only enhance their academic performance but also prepare them for adulthood, making them more capable of handling real-world responsibilities, from managing deadlines to making informed decisions about their future.
What I work on.
Organization
The ability to create methods and systems to stay tidy and have things put away where they can be found easily.
What this looks like in practice: You regularly find your child’s homework or papers thrown into a backpack without organization. This student or adult may regularly misplace keys or assignments.
Time Management
An ability to understand accurately how long something will take to properly plan and execute.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to understand why something was not completed on time, procrastination or a failure to complete most of the steps before having to turn something in.
Working Memory
The ability to keep pieces of information in one’s head for the duration of when it is needed.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to remember directions even after having had them explained numerous times. An inability to memorize without regular repetition. It may look like absentmindedness.
Self-Monitoring
The ability of a person to understand how they are doing at a task.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to understand why they didn’t do well on an assignment or a project.
Planning Skills
The ability to understand how to plan out the execution of a set of tasks and prioritize between tasks.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to set out a plan to execute a project, presentation or set of homework.
Focus/ Attention
An ability to maintain sustained focus on a person or project and shifting to the next project when needed.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to maintain focus for the duration of something, interrupting an adult with an unrelated topic, interrupting in class with an unrelated topic.
Task Initiation
The ability to initiate a task that is assigned without coaxing or another adult present.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to get started or to understand and get started on the next step in an order of tasks.
Emotional Regulation
The ability of a person to react appropriately to positive or negative feedback or instructions.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to restrain an emotional feeling. Children or Adults that lack emotional regulation overreact to an issue.
Task Management
An ability to understanding the micro-steps and timing of a bigger project and how to manage those steps in an order. See also planning.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to task manage might look a weakness to understand what the micro-steps of a project are, how to prioritize them, how to allocate time for them and what steps go in what order.
Meta-Cognition
The ability to understand how one learns best to apply it to acquire more information.
What this looks like in practice: An inability or struggle to study for tests or understand what processes work best for the learner.
Goal Directed Perseverance
The ability to stick to the task at hand and not give up when faced with a challenge.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to stick to the task at hand and switch when faced with challenges. Several projects go incomplete.
Flexibility
The ability to adapt when something changes or shifts either in terms of due date or expectation.
What this looks like in practice: An inability to cope with the shift and either an outburst or impulsivity ensues.
Get inspired
Foster Independence with Support
Start with more help and gradually step back as they gain confidence.
Encourage self-monitoring (setting goals, tracking progress).
Normalize mistakes and teach problem-solving strategies to build resilience.
Make It Relevant and Fun
Use visuals like checklists, timers, and color-coded planners.
Turn tasks into challenges or games to keep motivation high.
Build Confidence with Small Wins
Praise effort over results to encourage persistence.B
Break big tasks into smaller steps so they feel achievable.
Shane McLaughlin Executive Function Coaching 