Executive Function Coach In Des Moines, IA

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Our Executive Functioning Coaching Program

Discover top-tier executive function coaching with The Ladder Method and unlock your potential. If you're searching for the best executive function coach in Des Moines, IA, our comprehensive program is designed to support you every step of the way.

 

Initial Intake & Comprehensive Assessment

The process starts with a personalized phone consultation with one of our knowledgeable client services enrollment specialists. During this initial conversation, we gain a clear understanding of the family’s specific needs and goals. Following this, a dedicated assessment coach is assigned to meet with both the student and the family. In this session, we dive deeper into the student’s strengths and areas that need improvement, providing a foundation for the next steps in the coaching journey.

Strategic Implementation

Once the assessment results are thoroughly reviewed, our assessment team, in partnership with the Student Success department, designs a customized strategy tailored to the student’s needs. This individualized plan is then put into action through regular, structured weekly sessions. The frequency and duration of these sessions are carefully determined based on insights from the assessment to ensure the best possible outcome.

Continuous Monitoring & Skill Enhancement

To support consistent progress, the assigned coach works closely with the Student Success team to conduct ongoing evaluations. These regular check-ins help identify opportunities to introduce new strategies or refine existing ones, allowing the client to continuously develop and strengthen their executive functioning skills in a way that meets their unique needs.

What Sets The Ladder Method Apart?

How is learning Executive Functioning through The Ladder Method different from traditional approaches?

 

Our Unique Approach

At The Ladder Method, we stand apart because of our exclusive approach and curriculum, which was specifically designed by our founder.

We realized that in order to truly deliver results, we had to replicate Candice’s successful method. This isn’t just about maintaining quality control; it's how we ensure that we are offering a program that works for every individual. As an executive function coach in Des Moines, IA, we pride ourselves on a method that is tailored to achieve measurable success.

Proven Success Rates

Our program’s effectiveness is backed by statistical models and data, which we use to track and measure the progress of every student.

We believe in results—your success is our success, and we don’t rest until you or your child achieves the goals we set together.

Collaborative Support

Rather than working with just one educator or therapist, we take a team-based approach to deliver the best outcomes.

Your child will not only have an individual educator but will benefit from the collective expertise of our entire team, ensuring they stay on track and continue to make progress.

Meet Noah Donner Klein

Noah first joined us in the Spring of 2019. Hear his inspiring story of transformation, as he used our toolbox and proprietary methods to master executive functioning skills.

Today, Noah has not only graduated with his degree from USC but is also thriving in his new career, securing a job just one month after completing his college education.

Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Functioning

What is Executive Functioning?

Executive functioning encompasses a range of vital skills, typically between 8 and 12, that individuals use to organize, plan, and complete various tasks. These skills help with both basic tasks, such as setting the table, and more complicated ones, like completing homework, participating in sports, and submitting assignments on time.

The following are the specific executive function skills we focus on:

 

Organization

This skill involves the ability to establish and maintain systems to keep things in order, ensuring everything is stored where it can be easily found.

What it looks like in practice: If your child’s homework is often stuffed carelessly into a backpack with no clear organization, or if they frequently lose track of assignments or keys, it may indicate a need for better organizational skills.

Time Management

Time management is the skill of accurately predicting how long tasks will take and planning accordingly to ensure they are completed on time.

What it looks like in practice: Struggling to understand why a task wasn’t completed on time, consistently procrastinating, or failing to finish necessary steps before a deadline can point to issues with time management.

Working Memory

Working memory is the ability to retain and manipulate information temporarily, keeping it in mind until it’s needed.

What it looks like in practice: Someone with weak working memory may have difficulty recalling directions, even after they’ve been explained multiple times, or they may struggle with memorization without frequent repetition. This can sometimes be seen as forgetfulness or absent-mindedness.

Self-Monitoring

Self-monitoring involves the ability to evaluate one’s own performance and recognize how they are doing on a particular task.

What it looks like in practice: If a person cannot understand why they did poorly on an assignment or project, or if they seem unaware of how to improve their performance, they may need guidance in self-monitoring.

Planning

Planning is the skill of organizing and prioritizing tasks in order to execute a series of actions effectively.

What it looks like in practice: Someone who cannot plan how to approach a project or presentation, or struggles to organize their homework into manageable parts, may face difficulties with planning.

Focus/ Attention

This skill refers to the ability to stay focused on a task or person for an extended period, and to transition between activities when necessary.

What it looks like in practice: If a person cannot maintain attention during a task, constantly interrupts others with off-topic thoughts, or disrupts a class with irrelevant comments, they may have challenges with focus and attention.

Task Initiation

Task initiation is the ability to start a task without external prompts or someone else’s involvement.

What it looks like in practice: If a person struggles to begin a task independently, or finds it hard to move forward with the next step in a sequence of tasks, they may need help in developing this skill.

Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation is the capacity to respond appropriately to both positive and negative feedback or instructions.

What it looks like in practice: When emotional regulation is lacking, children or adults might overreact to minor issues, demonstrating difficulty in managing feelings and impulses.

Task Management

Task management involves breaking down a larger project into smaller, manageable steps and allocating the right amount of time and resources to each one. This is closely related to planning.

What it looks like in practice: Difficulty with task management might show up as an inability to recognize the smaller steps needed to complete a project, prioritize them correctly, or understand the timing and order of tasks.

Meta-Cognition

Meta-cognition is the ability to recognize how one learns best and applying that knowledge to improve learning efficiency.

What it looks like in practice: A person who struggles to study effectively for exams or doesn’t know what learning strategies work best for them might have challenges with meta-cognition.

Goal-Directed Perseverance

This skill is about sticking to a task and pushing through challenges without giving up when things get tough.

What it looks like in practice: If someone consistently abandons projects or switches tasks when faced with obstacles, it may indicate a lack of perseverance and focus on goals.

Flexibility

Flexibility refers to the ability to adjust to changes, whether it’s a shift in a project’s due date or unexpected changes in expectations.

What it looks like in practice: A person lacking flexibility might have difficulty adjusting to new circumstances, leading to outbursts or impulsive actions when expectations shift.

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