01: Executive Functioning with Lesley PsyD

10/03/22 • 52 min

4 Listeners

Today, we are diving into executive functioning, which is a popular term being bounced around in mental health communities. I want to take a closer look at what it means and how it shows up in people’s lives. Join me to learn more from today’s guest!

Dr. Lesley Cook is a psychologist who does a lot of work with ADHD and other neurodivergencies. Born and raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Virginia and works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lesley and I met on TikTok, and I’m happy to have her here today!

Show Highlights:

A common-language definition and explanation of executive functioning
How executive function deficits show up in someone’s life
How shame, guilt, and inconsistent performance are clues to executive function problems
The difference between motivation and task initiation
Why the underlying issue with lack of motivation is more about what a person values
How a person’s sense of self is affected when they believe their authentic self is “bad”
Why external supports are necessary when an internal system is down
Why rhythm is better than routine for those with executive function disorder
How neurotypical people experience interruptions with executive functioning on a regular basis because of overload and anxiety
How blips in executive function occur in neurotypical people with predictability and response to intervention—as opposed to someone with a diagnosis
How someone with ADHD can have incredible deficits in executive function on days when everything is going their way–and won’t respond reliably to normal interventions
How to build into each day differing levels of acceptable outcomes–and give yourself permission to choose what fits your needs at that moment
Lesley’s advice to those who think they have executive functioning issues

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Lesley: TikTok and Instagram

Connect with KC: TikTok and Instagram

Get KC's Book, How to Keep House While Drowning

Find great resources about executive functioning:

www.understood.org, www.psychologytoday.com, and www.chaad.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Highlights:

A common-language definition and explanation of executive functioning
How executive function deficits show up in someone’s life
How shame, guilt, and inconsistent performance are clues to executive function problems
The difference between motivation and task initiation
Why the underlying issue with lack of motivation is more about what a person values
How a person’s sense of self is affected when they believe their authentic self is “bad”
Why external supports are necessary when an internal system is down
Why rhythm is better than routine for those with executive function disorder
How neurotypical people experience interruptions with executive functioning on a regular basis because of overload and anxiety
How blips in executive function occur in neurotypical people with predictability and response to intervention—as opposed to someone with a diagnosis
How someone with ADHD can have incredible deficits in executive function on days when everything is going their way–and won’t respond reliably to normal interventions
How to build into each day differing levels of acceptable outcomes–and give yourself permission to choose what fits your needs at that moment
Lesley’s advice to those who think they have executive functioning issues

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Lesley: TikTok and Instagram

Connect with KC: TikTok and Instagram

Get KC's Book, How to Keep House While Drowning

Find great resources about executive functioning:

www.understood.org, www.psychologytoday.com, and www.chaad.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous Episode

Welcome to Struggle Care

Meet KC Davis! Struggle Care is a podcast about self-care by a host that hates the term self-care. Therapist KC Davis, author of the book How to Keep House While Drowning talks about mental health, care tasks, and more!

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Next Episode

04: Q&A: A Housekeeper and an Organizer Walk Into a Bar…

Today, we start with my take on a question that I get asked almost every day about how to keep from losing motivation to complete tasks, especially those simple ones like cleaning a room. If you’ve beaten yourself up over this struggle, then join me for a fresh perspective on cleaning your space!

Show Highlights:

Why losing motivation to clean a room comes down to not realizing that tidying, organizing, and cleaning are three different projects
What is required to “tidy a room”: a five-step method
How organizing differs from tidying and cleaning
What the cleaning process entails
Why there’s nothing wrong with being a neat or messy person, but a functional level of organization is essential
How the tasks of tidying, organizing, and cleaning bring emotional barriers, especially for those with executive function disorders
Why we need to remember that these care tasks are morally neutral–and the only reason to do them is so we can function better

Resources:

Connect with KC: TikTok and Instagram

Get KC's Book, How to Keep House While Drowning

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices