Category: Executive Function Coaching
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Identity Formation and Neurodivergence
We often talk about identity like it’s something you’re supposed to just know. As if, one day, it simply arrives—clear, consistent, fully formed. You’re expected to be able to answer questions like:“Who are you?”“What do you believe in?”“What do you want in life?”And answer them with confidence, stability, and certainty. But for many neurodivergent people,…
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How to Highlight Past Strengths in the Midst of an Identity Spiral
You’re standing in the kitchen, or staring at your screen, and suddenly it hits you: “I don’t know who I am anymore.” Your accomplishments feel like someone else’s.Your confidence has gone quiet.Your mind spirals into shame, whispering, “Was I ever really capable?”“Have I just been pretending this whole time?” If this sounds familiar, you’re not…
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How to Reframe Negative Self-Talk: A Neurodivergent-Friendly Guide to Inner Compassion
“I can’t believe I messed that up again.”“I should be better at this by now.”“What’s wrong with me?” These aren’t just passing thoughts. For many of us—especially neurodivergent folks—these become part of our inner soundtrack.They sneak in quietly, echo old wounds, and repeat often enough that they start to sound like truth. Negative self-talk is…
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“Who Am I?”: Identity Spirals and the Neurodivergent Search for Self
“I keep thinking I’ve figured myself out… but then something happens, and I’m right back at zero.” If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Who am I, really?”—not once, but over and over—you’re not broken.You’re just navigating a question that doesn’t have a single, final answer. For many neurodivergent people, identity isn’t something we find once…
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Body Doubling: Why Having Someone Nearby Can Help You Get Things Done
Have you ever noticed that it’s easier to do the dishes when someone else is in the kitchen with you? Or that tasks you’ve been putting off suddenly feel doable when a friend is quietly working nearby? That’s not a coincidence. It’s called body doubling—and for many neurodivergent people, it’s a powerful way to overcome…
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What Is Interoception? Understanding the Sense That Helps You Feel Your Body’s Signals
Have you ever realized you were hungry only after snapping at someone? Or felt suddenly overwhelmed without knowing why—until you noticed your heart racing or your breath stuck in your chest? These are moments when your interoception was trying to speak up. Interoception is your body’s way of telling you what’s going on inside. It’s…
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What Is Emotional Flooding?
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed you couldn’t think straight? Maybe you were in the middle of a tough conversation, running late to something important, or simply trying to get through your day when suddenly, your heart started racing, your mind went blank, and your emotions surged like a tidal wave. You couldn’t explain what…
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A Beginner-Friendly Glossary for Understanding Neurodivergence and Executive Function
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in Accountability, Blog, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Neurobiology, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryWhen you first start learning about executive function or neurodivergence, it can feel like stepping into a conversation mid-sentence. Words are used like everyone already knows what they mean. Concepts like task initiation, masking, or emotional regulation are mentioned without explanation. And terms like neurodivergent, working memory, or identity spiral might sound familiar—but foggy. That’s…
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The Neurotype: Your Brain Has a Pattern—And That Pattern Has a Name
Have you ever wondered why certain environments feel overwhelming… while others spark your creativity? Why some tasks take all your energy to begin, while others light you up instantly? Or why your emotional world seems deeper—or more chaotic—than those around you? These patterns aren’t random. They’re part of your neurotype. A neurotype is your brain’s…
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The Double Empathy Problem: Why Communication Breaks Down Between Neurotypes
The Double Empathy Problem is a term coined by autistic scholar Dr. Damian Milton in 2012. It challenges the long-held belief that autistic people inherently lack empathy or social skills. Instead, it proposes that communication struggles between autistic and non-autistic individuals are mutual. This means that when people with different ways of experiencing and interpreting…