Step 1
Read the foundations first so terms like inhibition, activation, and time blindness are clear.
Open Module 1Become a Certified Executive Function Coach
The Curriculum Is Free. The Certification Is Earned.
A rigorous, science-based certification grounded in the work of Barkley, Brown, and Dawson & Guare. Train to become the "external frontal lobe" your clients need.
6
Comprehensive Modules
3
Foundational Models
12
Executive Skills Covered
Guided Route
Start in Order, Not by Guessing
Follow this route to avoid circular navigation and move from free learning to informed enrollment in a straight line.
Step 2
Map strengths and deficits with ESQ-R, then review intervention examples by domain.
Take ESQ-RStep 3
Validate standards before purchase: see the grading rubric and competency crosswalk.
Review StandardsStep 4
Enroll only when the scope, grading model, and delivery format match your goals.
View Certification Services
Why This Matters
Executive Function Deficits Are Disorders of Doing, Not Knowing
EF coaching addresses the neurological "how" of performance. Your clients don't lack knowledge — they need a scaffold to bridge the gap between intention and action.
Not Tutoring
Tutoring teaches content. EF coaching teaches the processes of learning — planning, initiating, organizing, and self-monitoring.
Not Therapy
Therapy addresses emotional healing. Coaching addresses action. We teach you to recognize the boundary and when to refer.
Science-Based
Every intervention is grounded in peer-reviewed neuropsychology from Barkley, Brown, Dawson & Guare, and the Harvard Center on the Developing Child.
Point of Performance
Following Barkley's guidance, interventions happen where and when the breakdown occurs — at the point of performance, not in delayed instruction.
Theoretical Foundation
Three Foundational Models, One Integrated Framework
Our curriculum synthesizes the three dominant models of executive function into a cohesive coaching philosophy.
The Barkley Model
Inhibition as the Keystone
Core Concept
EF is a unified system of self-regulation. Response Inhibition is the foundational prerequisite for all other executive capacities.
Key Components
- Response Inhibition (the "pause")
- Nonverbal Working Memory (Mind's Eye)
- Verbal Working Memory (Mind's Voice)
- Emotional Self-Regulation (Mind's Heart)
- Reconstitution (Mind's Playground)
The Brown Model
Six Clusters of Cognitive Management
Core Concept
EF functions operate like a symphony orchestra — integrated clusters that explain the "situational variability" of deficits (focus on games but not homework).
The Six Clusters
- Activation — Organizing and getting started
- Focus — Sustaining and shifting attention
- Effort — Alertness and processing speed
- Emotion — Managing frustration
- Memory — Working memory and recall
- Action — Self-monitoring and regulation
The Dawson & Guare Model
12 Skills: Thinking & Doing
Core Concept
The most practical framework for coaching. 12 discrete skills separated into cognitive ("Thinking") and behavioral ("Doing") domains.
Thinking & Doing Skills
- Working Memory & Response Inhibition
- Planning & Emotional Control
- Organization & Sustained Attention
- Time Management & Task Initiation
- Metacognition & Goal-Directed Persistence
- Flexibility & Stress Tolerance
The Curriculum
Six Modules from Theory to Practice
Each module integrates theoretical depth with practical application, moving you from neuroscience foundations to a fully operational coaching practice.
1
Neuropsychology of Self-Regulation
Master the neuroanatomy of the prefrontal cortex, Barkley's inhibition hierarchy, Brown's six clusters, and the evolutionary basis of executive function.
- The "Air Traffic Control" system
- PFC development timeline
- "Time Blindness" and temporal horizons
2
Assessment & Intake Strategy
Learn to administer the ESQ-R, interpret BRIEF-2 and Brown Scales, and conduct intakes that build collaborative alliances with clients.
- Executive Skills Questionnaire (ESQ-R)
- Discrepancy analysis
- The Intake Simulation
3
The Coaching Framework
Operationalize the Dawson & Guare intervention model: environmental modification first, then explicit skill teaching through the coaching cycle.
- Two-Tiered Intervention Logic
- SMART goals for EF
- Motivational Interviewing
4
Applied Methodologies
Deploy concrete tools including Sarah Ward's "360 Thinking" model, temporal management with analog tools, and cognitive offloading strategies.
- "Get Ready, Do, Done" planning
- Analog clocks and Time Timers
- Cognitive offloading techniques
5
Special Populations & Transitions
Adapt strategies for ADHD, ASD, and the critical transition to college or the workforce when scaffolding is abruptly removed.
- ADHD & ASD nuances
- Pathological Demand Avoidance
- College transition coaching
6
Professional Ethics & Practice
Build your coaching business with ICF/NBEFC alignment, scope of practice training, and a complete Launch Kit for independent practice.
- ICF & NBEFC ethics standards
- Business setup and pricing
- The Launch Kit
Your Path
How Certification Works
A structured path from theory to professional practice.
Learn the Theory
Complete 6 asynchronous modules integrating Barkley, Brown, and Dawson & Guare with readings, assignments, and unit tests.
Practice the Skills
Complete case studies, conduct an intake simulation, and practice with real assessment tools like the ESQ-R.
Pass the Capstone
Submit a three-part practicum: intake analysis, case study intervention plan, and an original coaching tool.
Launch Your Practice
Receive your Starter Kit with 21+ templates, assessment tools, and business resources to start coaching.
Open Source
Built on Open Knowledge, for Everyone
The Executive Functioning Institute is committed to making high-quality EF coaching education accessible. Our curriculum is built entirely on publicly available, peer-reviewed research and free resources.
- All reading packets from free, open-source PDFs and asynchronous briefs
- Based on peer-reviewed neuroscience research
- Assessment tools available without proprietary licensing
- Community-driven curriculum improvement
"Executive function deficits are rarely deficits of knowing; they are deficits of doing." Dr. Russell Barkley
Graduate Voices
What Our Graduates Are Saying
Hear from professionals who completed the CEFC program and now use it in real client work.
The science-based approach set this apart from every other coaching program I researched. Understanding Barkley's inhibition model completely changed how I work with my students who struggle with self-regulation.
Module 4's applied methodologies gave me concrete tools I could use with clients immediately. The "Get Ready, Do, Done" framework is now the backbone of every coaching session I run.
As a parent of a child with ADHD, this program gave me a practical framework for support, not just behavior management. I now coach other families using the same process.
Ready to Build Real Coaching Skill?
Train in a structured, evidence-based process you can apply with clients right away.