Atlanta Counseling Collective

Ever wonder what executive functioning actually is?? You’re not alone. Executive functioning is basically your brains project manager— sometimes crushing it, sometimes mysteriously on a coffee break. These “super powers” outline all the different skills that make up executive functioning, which one are you a pro at vs which one is your kryptonite??

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SUPER POWERS:
- Planning 🗓 (…when your plan is to make a plan)
- Organization 📦 (aka “strategically stacking piles”)
- Emotion regulation 😌 (deep breaths… or loudly sighing into the void)
- Working memory 🧠 (wait, what were we talking about?)
- Focus & attention 👀 (unless there’s a squirrel… or TikTok)
- Time management ⏳ (“I’ll start at 8:00… okay 8:15… okay tomorrow…”)
- Self monitoring 🪞 (“Why am I in the fridge right now?”)
- Task initiation 🚀 (the hardest part is… starting… and also finishing)

Does this sound familiar? Summer sneaks up on you or your child, there is talk about a job or internship or trips or camp but at the end of the day, nothing materializes. Each day is a battle to get them out of bed, to move their body, and in the end, summer is spent staring into a screen. If your adolescent or young adult is struggling with structure for this summer, we are excited to announce our Summer Structure Lab! A weekly group that meets to discuss structure options, create a plan for the summer and provide accountability week to week. This is a great oppourtunity for the parents to be able to step out of the role of enforcer and allow adolescents and young adults to take charge, with appropriate support for success. If your child needs help learning appropriate life skills for college, needs help brainstorming ideas, or just accountability around action steps, thats what this group is for! Check out our latest blog post on the impact of structure on mental health and to learn more about our summer lab

Any parents out there feel this? Happy Valentine’s Day from Atlanta Counseling Collective! Remember, the most loving thing we can do for our families is be emotionally regulated and consistent. Even we have to remind ourselves this at home, we all go there sometimes. Each day is a new day to reset, regulate, and create a new pattern!

Hilarious photo credit to