Frequently Asked Questions

We work with adults of all ages and students as young as 10 years old. We also commonly work directly with parents/guardians to provide them with tools to help their children.

We specialize in overcoming executive function challenges for folks with ADHD, autism, anxiety, dyslexia, blindness or low vision, braining injuries, learning disabilities, PTSD, chronic illness, and mental health conditions.

No. We focus on the barriers you're facing and helping you develop skills and leverage your strengths to overcome those barriers. In fact, many neurotypical folks can also benefit from executive function coaching. You are of course welcome to share your diagnosis with your coach, but it is up to you and your level of comfort in sharing that information.

Coaching is generally available from 9am–8pm Eastern time on weekdays and is offered virtually via Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or Zoom. We work to be flexible to accommodate your schedule and find a time that works best for you!

We have coaches across every time zone in the United States, and we also commonly work with international clients. Providing our services virtually allows coaching to be accessible anywhere in the world.

Most of our clients meet with their coach once per week. This cadence allows for time between sessions to experiment with new tools and strategies before meeting to discuss what was effective and where we need to make adjustments.

We also have some clients who meet with their coach multiple times per week and others who only meet biweekly. The right frequency depends on client needs and goals, and we will make a recommendation after our initial consultation.

Each coaching session is 50 minutes, and we recommend clients commit to coaching for at least 15 weeks. It takes time for new behaviors to become sustainable habits. Based on research and our experience in coaching thousands of clients, we've found that 15 weeks is the sweet spot for most clients.

We have clients who accomplish their goals in less time, and we also have clients who have continued to work with us well beyond 15 weeks. We understand each person is unique, and we will work with you to create a custom plan that works for you.

All of our coaches are former educators with master's or doctorate degrees and backgrounds in fields specializing in neurodiversity and disability. Each coach undergoes an intensive onboarding program during their first six months at The How Skills to learn our methodology and approach to coaching, as well as gain experience co-coaching with a senior coach. We continue to invest in the development of all coaches through weekly training and professional development.

One of the biggest differences between The How Skills and other coaching providers is that all of our coaches are full-time employees. This ensures all of our coaches meet our rigorous coaching standards and allows us to provide a consistent client experience. The vast majority of other providers send clients to coaches who are contractors, so they're not able to enforce a consistent methodology and approach to coaching. This creates a disparity in the quality of coaching received across different clients, leading to sub-optimal outcomes for many.

Check out our blog article for more on what to look for when selecting a coach!

We consider a number of factors when pairing a new client with a coach, and we recruit a diverse group of coaches who represent the clients we serve. We'll ask you questions about your needs, challenges, and goals to help inform which coach is the best fit. For instance, a client with ADHD and anxiety looking to overcome barriers related to task initiation and navigating ambiguity would be paired with a coach who has specialized strengths in those areas.

If there is anything you want us to consider in matching you with a coach, please just let us know. In the rare case that your coach isn't a great fit, you also have the option to switch coaches at any point and we're more than happy to accommodate!

We survey clients during and after coaching to measure the effectiveness of our coaching program and to collect feedback on how we can improve. We ask questions related to the impact, quality, and overall satisfaction with coaching. Ensuring successful outcomes is at the heart of everything we do, and our survey results reflect our strong commitment to our clients.

Check out our testimonials to hear directly from our past clients!

Yes, many clients are able to use their HSA, FSA, or HRA!

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), you may be able to use those funds to pay for The How Skills. Please confirm with your plan provider, as requirements can vary and some administrators may ask for a Letter of Medical Necessity from a licensed provider.

You can typically pay with your account card directly. If you forget to use the card, you can also submit our invoices for potential reimbursement through your provider.

Executive Function (EF) is a term for a set of cognitive skills that help you manage your behavior and achieve goals. These skills include things like:

• Planning and organizing: Making a plan to reach a goal and figuring out the steps you need to take.

• Flexible thinking: Adjusting to new situations or changing your approach when something isn’t working.

• Self-control: Managing impulses, emotions, and behaviors so you can stay focused and act appropriately.

Basically, executive function is like the brain’s “management system.” It’s what allows you to think ahead, focus, solve problems, and regulate emotions — all the things that help you get things done efficiently and effectively.

When people have trouble with executive function, they might struggle with things like starting tasks, keeping track of time, remembering what they were supposed to do, or staying calm under pressure.

Check out our page about executive function to learn more!