Outline

There are principles of executive function.

• Attention and sustained focus
• Engagement and initiation
• Optimization and monitoring
• Efficiency and sequencing
• Memory storage and retrieval
• Inquiry and analyzing
• Solution and organization
• Holarchical Model of EF

There are levels of the whole person.

• Physical – movement, posture and anatomy
• Breath and physiological systems
• Intellect – cognition, self-expression and sensory
• Personality – preferences, values and behaviors
• Emotional tone and the subjective
• Brain development & autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• Pruning and the use it or lose it principle
• Vagus nerve’s relation to physical and emotional effects

There are effects of stress on EF.

• The effect on neural networks
• Cortisol and fight/flight effect on the brain
• The differences between fear and anxiety
• Getting to the basis of anger and frustration

The brain of the Gut.

• Enteric nervous system: the “second brain”
• Neurotransmitters in the gut that affect mood
• The ADHD-gut connection
• Enhance mood and memory through nutrition

Sensory processing.

• 3 developmental levels of regulation
• Swings effect on the Reticular Activating System
• Adjustments in sensory input to create balance
• Calm the sympathetic nervous system thru sensory input

There are strategies to develop healthy habits.

• Using your mind to change your brain
• The power of thought and visualization
• Routines and steps to build habits
• Method of enhancing neurogenesis and neuroplasticity

The principles of yoga and meditation.

• Mind-body-breath connection
• Yoga poses for self-regulation
• Interoception to build deeper self-awareness
• The power of the pause

Breath and Regulation techniques are used.

• Using breath to affect arousal levels
• Increasing and decreasing heart rate and blood pressure
• Supports movement and posture
• Techniques for focus, delayed gratification and processing in the pause

Sensory processing

• Using the sensory systems to promote self-regulation and calm the sympathetic nervous system
• A look at rhythmicity and touch as factors in enhancing EF

There is a connection between attention and memory.

• Learning requirements for memory
• Emotion-motivation connection
• Intrinsic motivation to enhance processing
• The driving force of optimism and hope
• How multi-tasking is counter-productive
• Strategies that support focus and recall

There is a pause on Impulsivity.

• Marshmallows: the importance of learning to wait
• Anti-rush therapy to promote waiting
• Do-overs to teach healthy alternatives

Both self- generation and self- determination.

• Promote delayed gratification, self-monitoring, task initiation, emotional control
• Supporting persistence to stick with dull and challenging activities
• Allowing time for processing, planning and self-correction

There are strategies for healthy social connections.

• Using the whole self as a therapeutic tool: emotion, modeling and positioning
• The power of relationship in therapeutic effectiveness
• Cuing and facilitation to promote participation, engagement and increased independence
• Teaching tolerance and other awareness

There are treatment strategies for challenging emotions.

• Decreasing stress to facilitate EF
• Understanding fear, as the basis for many challenging emotions
• Using the teachable-moment “failures”