What is “executive functioning”?
Executive functioning is like your internal secretary, without one, things can feel chaotic and difficult to manage. Executive functioning skills are essential for our every day, and difficulties using or applying executive functioning skills can have consequences to our mental and physical health.
So what all is included in executive functioning?
Attention: Controlling our focus, including holding it and shifting when needed
Working memory: Remembering and using information
Organization: Keeping track of items, dates, and important information
Planning: Setting goals and outlining the activities needed to make them happen
Problem-solving: Finding solutions to overcome roadblocks and live into our goals
Emotional regulation: Managing emotions and impulses
Self-control: Inhibiting inappropriate responses
How we can help:
Our therapists are uniquely positioned to help you improve your executive functioning through the use of therapeutic skills and tools, as well as integrating therapeutic principles to help you respond flexibly to different situations. Our therapists help you integrate executive functioning skills into your unique coping style, using techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT).
In therapy for executive functioning, your therapist will also help you improve your executive functioning, in addition to skills such as:
Communication and advocacy
Hearing and evaluating feedback
Managing the feelings of pride, guilt, shame and embarrassment that may come up around executive functioning
Mindfully resting
Coping and motivating yourself when a problem feels “hopeless” or “unsolvable”