How to Tell If Your Teen Needs Executive Function Coaching

Not turning in homework.Missing deadlines.Meltdowns over minor changes.Rooms that look like archaeological digs.Arguments every time you ask a question.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And more importantly—your teen isn’t broken.

They might just need executive function coaching.

What Is Executive Function, Anyway?

Executive functioning is the set of mental skills that help us manage time, plan ahead, focus attention, switch tasks, regulate emotions, and get things done.

Psychologists call these skills the “CEO of the brain.” They’re what allow a student to go from “I have an assignment” to “It’s done and submitted.”

But these skills don’t develop all at once—and for neurodivergent students (those with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, anxiety, or even just chronic stress), that development can be especially uneven.

That’s where we come in.

Signs Your Teen May Benefit from Coaching

Every student struggles sometimes. But here are some patterns that suggest executive function coaching might be helpful:

• They constantly underestimate how long things will take.("I’ll do it later" becomes "It’s midnight and I haven’t started.")

• They’re bright—but their performance doesn’t reflect it.You know they can, but they’re not doing.

• They avoid tasks that seem overwhelming.Especially ones that require multiple steps or long-term planning.

• They forget assignments or lose track of deadlines.Even when systems like calendars or reminders are in place.

• They shut down, blow up, or withdraw under pressure.Emotional dysregulation often walks hand-in-hand with executive function challenges.

• You’re doing more managing than mentoring.If you’re the one remembering due dates, emailing teachers, and keeping everything afloat—it might be time to pass the baton.

What Executive Function Coaching Can Do

At Oak & Ivy, we don’t just help students stay organized. We help them:

• Build routines and systems that work for their brains

• Develop emotional regulation and resilience when things get hard

• Learn self-advocacy skills and take ownership of their success

• Reconnect with their motivation and develop a sense of purpose

And we don’t stop with the student—we offer support for parents, too, helping families shift from daily power struggles to long-term progress.

When to Reach Out

You don’t have to wait until things fall apart.

In fact, many of our most successful students started with us during a transitional moment—entering high school or preparing for university—when new demands made their executive functioning gaps more visible.

If you’re wondering whether coaching might help, it probably will. And we’d be honored to help your family take the next step.