Carina Taylor discusses executive functioning and it’s intentional use during therapy. William Stixrud, Ph.D. a clinical neuropshycologist at George Washington School of Medicine considered working memory and executive functioning a greater predictor of academic success and life success than IQ. Dr. Susan Fralick-Ball, Psyd.Msn. defines executive functioning as as HOW YOU SHOW YOUR IQ. The core theory of executive functioning is discussed and case studies are used to highlight practical strategies to add to your therapy toolkit.

The following concepts will be discussed in terms of theory and intervention strategies:

Thinking skills

• Planning
• Organisation
• Time-management
• Working memory
• Metacognition

Skills to guide behaviour

• Response inhibition
• Emotional control
• Sustained attention
• Task initiation
• Flexibility in thinking
• Goal directed persistance