During adolescence, the brain fundamentally rewires how teens think, feel, and interact with the world. As teens journey towards independence, they must learn how to navigate increased responsibilities, high-stakes academic demands, and complex social dynamics. Because the teen brain is still very much under construction, this stage often presents unique academic and interpersonal challenges, as well as feelings of self-doubt, anxiety and depression. Teens struggling with executive function are frequently misinterpreted as “lazy” or “unmotivated” when they are unable to demonstrate what they know, which only adds to their shame, stress and low self-esteem.

Fortunately, the teen brain is still malleable, and executive function skills are highly teachable! Executive dysfunction can put a tremendous strain on family dynamics and often requires specialized coaching approaches. My role as a coach is help students understand how their brains work and provide concrete strategies to improve their ability to prioritize, plan, organize, manage their time and initiate tasks.