What exactly does Bright Brains do?

Bright Brains Executive Function Coaching provides one-to-one coaching services for clients in upper elementary grades through college (and beyond!). Other Bright Brains services include Teacher Workshops and IEP Consulting.

What are executive function skills, and how do they relate to academic success?

Executive function skills refer to a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to plan, organize, prioritize, initiate, monitor, and self-regulate their behavior to achieve a goal. These skills are critical for academic success, as they facilitate goal-directed behavior, decision-making, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility. They are consistently shown to be positively associated with academic achievement, particularly in reading, math and writing.

Research has shown that children and adolescents who demonstrate strong executive function skills tend to perform better academically than those who exhibit weak executive function skills. For instance, a meta-analysis of 213 studies found a positive association between executive function and academic achievement, particularly in the domains of reading, math, and writing (Best et al., 2011).

Moreover, executive function skills have been found to be particularly important for academic success in specific domains, such as science and technology. For instance, a study by Diamond and colleagues (2012) found that children who received executive function training showed significant improvements in science and math performance compared to those who did not receive the training.

I'm no longer a student. Would I still benefit from EF Coaching?

Absolutely! Executive function coaching is not just for students; it's for anyone who wants to enhance their cognitive abilities and achieve their goals. Whether you are a working professional, an entrepreneur, or someone who wants to improve their personal life, executive function coaching can help you develop the skills you need to succeed.

As an adult, you may face unique challenges that require strong executive function skills, such as managing complex projects, multitasking, prioritizing tasks, and regulating your emotions. Executive function coaching can help you develop the strategies and habits you need to succeed in these areas and achieve your goals.

Our executive function coaching business works with clients of all ages and backgrounds to help them develop and strengthen their executive function skills. Our coaches use evidence-based strategies and individualized plans to help clients improve their attention, organization, time management, planning, problem-solving, and emotional regulation skills.

Is EF Coaching only for students with ADHD?

Nope! Several diagnoses may exhibit executive function dysfunction in school-aged children. Some of the most common diagnoses that are associated with executive function deficits include: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning disabilities (LD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Anxiety disorders. It's important to note that not all children with these diagnoses will experience executive function difficulties, and not all children with executive function difficulties will have a diagnosed condition.

Therefore, while these conditions may impact executive function, research suggests that everyone can benefit from executive function coaching to enhance their cognitive abilities and achieve their goals. In fact, many household and daily living skills require significant executive functioning skills such as meal planning, budgeting, laundry and keeping plants & pets alive (just to name a few!).

Does Bright Brains accept insurance?

At this time, we do not partner with insurance companies or provide billing codes.

How does coaching differ from tutoring?

Content specific tutoring focuses on teaching specific subject matter, such as math, science, or English. Tutors work with students to develop a deep understanding of the content, improve their skills in the subject area, and provide individualized support to help them overcome specific challenges.

Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on developing long term, underlying cognitive behaviors. These behaviors include working memory, sustained attention, studying skills, task initiation, time management, organizing and planning.

For example, math content tutoring might prepare a student for an exam by delivering content and reteaching. The goal is mastery of a specific content. Coaching focuses on behaviors and processes that lead to long term success through transferrable skills. So if math is a client's least favorite subject, coaching would offer tools, strategies and guidance to support sustained attention and task avoidance.

It's worth noting that executive function coaching and content-specific tutoring are not mutually exclusive, and individuals may benefit from both approaches. For example, a student who is struggling with math may benefit from both math tutoring and executive function coaching to improve their overall academic performance.

How much do coaching sessions cost?

The Initial Coaching Phase is comprised of 12 - 50 minute sessions at $75/each, totaling $900. Afterwards, clients can transition to our Monthly Membership Program which is one 50 minute session per week at the cost of $60/session. Please note that the amount due monthly varies due to how many weeks are in a month.

Additionally, There is a one time $250 Data Collection Fee that allows us to administer the BRIEF assessment, interpret the scores and provide a detailed report. This information is necessary to create an individualized coaching program.

How long does coaching take?

Our ultimate goal is build independence in our clients and provide a gradual release of support. We look forward to the day our clients no longer need us. That said, our clients usually stay in our program around 6-8 months. The duration can vary depending on individual needs and factors that may impact progress. Changing long-standing habits and patterns of behavior can take time and consistent effort. It may take several months for an individual to fully internalize and implement new strategies for improving their executive functioning skills.

Consistent effort in two areas of behavior are integral to the efficacy of our program - mindset and habits. Mindset can be developed through effort and persistence. Executive function coaching encourages the development of a growth mindset by teaching individuals that their executive function skills can be improved through practice and the use of effective strategies. With regard to habits, research suggests that there are several stages involved in creating lasting behavioral change. These include the pre-contemplation stage (when the individual is not yet considering change), contemplation (when the individual is considering change), preparation (when the individual is actively preparing to make a change), action (when the individual begins to implement the change), and maintenance (when the individual works to sustain the change over time).

Ultimately, executive function coaching takes time because it involves changing established habits and behaviors, developing a growth mindset, and going through the stages of building a new habit. While the process may require effort and patience, the benefits of improved executive function skills can be significant and long-lasting.

How do you measure progress?

Measuring progress in executive function coaching involves establishing benchmarks and assessing mastery of targeted skills through comprehensive assessments. Results are tracked over time to evaluate progress and identify areas that require further attention. Assessments can include various measures such as self-reported questionnaires, performance-based tests, and feedback from individuals in the client's environment. By utilizing a variety of assessment tools and tracking progress over time, coaches can measure progress in specific areas of executive function and adjust coaching strategies as needed to help clients achieve their goals.

Where does coaching take place?

One-to-one coaching provides greater flexibility for clients, especially those with busy schedules. Clients can participate in coaching sessions from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection. Additionally, virtual sessions allow for greater accountability from the comforts of a client's own home.

What is your refund policy?

At Bright Brains, we take pride in providing high-quality coaching services to our clients. We work hard to create personalized programs that meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. However, we understand that circumstances can arise that may require you to cancel or reschedule your coaching sessions. To ensure that we can continue to provide the best service possible, we have established the following refund policy: 1. All coaching services are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Once you have purchased a coaching package, you are committed to the program and its associated fees. We do not provide refunds or allow transfers of your package to another individual; 2. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please provide us with at least 24 hours' notice. If you cancel or reschedule a session less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, you will forfeit that session, and it will not be rescheduled; 3.  If you provide us with at least 24 hours' notice of your cancellation, we will work with you to reschedule the missed session. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request, as our schedule may be fully booked. Rescheduling missed sessions is at the sole discretion of the coach based on their schedule; 4. If you and the coach agree to reschedule a missed session, you must agree on a mutually convenient date and time for the rescheduled session. If you do not agree on a date and time within one week of the missed session, the session will be forfeited, and no refund will be issued. We understand that these policies may seem strict, but they are necessary to ensure that we can continue to provide the highest quality coaching services possible.