Question 1

I’m not sure what’s wrong, I just know something feels off. Is that enough to reach out?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral to start a conversation. Many of the people I work with come to me saying exactly that: something feels harder than it used to, and they can’t quite put their finger on why. That’s a completely valid starting point. Our first consultation is simply a conversation to help us both understand what’s going on and whether cognitive coaching might be a good fit.

Question 2

What is cognitive coaching, and how is it different from therapy?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive coaching focuses on building practical strategies for how your brain works, things like attention, memory, organization, decision-making, and managing mental energy. It’s not therapy, and it doesn’t diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Think of it this way: therapy often explores why you think and feel the way you do; cognitive coaching focuses on how to help your brain work better day to day. Many clients work with both a therapist and a cognitive coach at the same time, and the two approaches complement each other well.

Question 3

Do I need a doctor’s referral to work with you?

Accepted Answer

No referral is needed. You can book a consultation directly through the website. If you are recovering from a concussion or brain injury, it is always a good idea to keep your medical team in the loop, and I’m happy to collaborate with your doctors if that would be helpful.

Question 4

What does a typical session look like?

Accepted Answer

Sessions are conducted virtually, one-on-one, and are tailored entirely to you. We don’t follow a script. We start by understanding your specific challenges and goals, then we build a personalized set of strategies together. Sessions are practical and hands-on, and you’ll leave each one with something concrete to apply to your daily life. Most clients describe sessions as feeling like a productive, focused conversation with someone who genuinely understands how their brain works.

Question 5

My child was just diagnosed with ADHD. Where do I even start?

Accepted Answer

Take a breath. This is a lot to process, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. A diagnosis is actually a helpful starting point because it gives us a framework for understanding how your child’s brain works. From there, we can build strategies that fit their specific profile, not a generic ADHD checklist. I work with students of all ages and with parents who want to understand how to support their child at home and at school. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Question 6

My teenager is smart but completely disorganized, always forgetting assignments, losing things, missing deadlines. Could cognitive coaching help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is one of the most common things I hear from parents. What you’re describing, the forgetting, the disorganization, the missed deadlines, often points to challenges with executive function, which is the brain’s management system. It has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, many of the brightest students I work with struggle most with these exact things. Cognitive coaching gives your teenager a concrete toolkit for managing their time, organizing their work, and building habits that actually stick.

Question 7

I’m an adult who has always struggled with focus and follow-through. I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD, but I wonder if I should be. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

I can absolutely help, whether or not you have a formal diagnosis. Many adults come to me having managed their challenges for years, developing workarounds, pushing through, or simply assuming they just weren’t “wired” for certain things. A diagnosis can be clarifying, and I can refer you to professionals who do ADHD evaluations if that’s something you’d like to pursue. But we don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to start building strategies that make a real difference in your daily life.

Question 8

How long does ADHD coaching typically take?

Accepted Answer

For most adults and students, ADHD coaching involves weekly sessions for approximately three months, followed by a transition to bi-weekly sessions as strategies become more natural and independent. That said, every person’s timeline is different. Some clients reach their goals sooner; others choose to continue longer-term because they find the ongoing support valuable. We’ll check in regularly and adjust the pace based on your progress and what feels right for you.

Question 9

My child had a concussion two months ago and still isn’t back to normal. Is that typical?

Accepted Answer

It’s more common than most people realize, and it’s one of the most frustrating experiences a family can go through, especially when the visible injury is gone but the symptoms aren’t. Cognitive symptoms like brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and mental fatigue can persist well beyond the initial injury, particularly when the brain hasn’t had the right kind of support during recovery. This is exactly what I specialize in. We work on pacing, cognitive energy management, and practical strategies to help the brain recover and rebuild, without pushing too hard and setting things back.

Question 10

What does “cognitive fatigue” mean, and why does my family member get exhausted so quickly after their concussion?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive fatigue is the exhaustion that comes from thinking, concentrating, or processing information, and after a concussion, it can be severe. The injured brain has to work much harder than usual to do things that used to be automatic. It’s like trying to run a program on a computer with a depleted battery. Everything slows down, and eventually the system shuts off. One of the core things we work on in concussion recovery coaching is understanding your cognitive energy limits, learning how to pace yourself, and gradually building your capacity back up so you can return to work, school, and daily life without crashing.

Question 11

My doctor cleared me to return to work, but I’m still struggling. What can cognitive coaching do that medical treatment can’t?

Accepted Answer

Medical clearance means your brain has healed enough to safely resume activity, but it doesn’t mean your brain is performing the way it was before. Many people find that the gap between “medically cleared” and “actually functioning well” is where they need the most support. Cognitive coaching fills that gap. We work on the practical, day-to-day strategies that help you manage your workload, communicate effectively, stay organized, and rebuild your confidence, all while respecting where your brain is in its recovery.

Question 12

I’m a high-functioning professional, but I feel like I’m running on empty. My thinking isn’t as sharp as it used to be. Can cognitive coaching help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you’re not alone in this. What you’re describing is one of the most common reasons executives and professionals come to me. High performance over a long period of time, without the right recovery strategies, depletes cognitive energy. The result is exactly what you’re feeling: slower thinking, less creativity, more difficulty making decisions, and a general sense of mental fog. Cognitive coaching helps you understand your brain’s energy patterns, identify what’s draining you, and build sustainable strategies so you can perform at your best without burning out.

Question 13

How is this different from just taking a vacation or getting more sleep?

Accepted Answer

Rest is essential, and I’ll always encourage it, but rest alone doesn’t teach your brain new strategies. If you return from vacation and step back into the same patterns, the same cognitive drain will return. What cognitive coaching adds is insight and tools: a clear understanding of how your specific brain works, what depletes your mental energy, and a personalized set of strategies to manage it differently going forward. The goal isn’t just recovery. It’s building a foundation that makes you more resilient over time.

Question 14

I’m experiencing brain fog and I can’t tell if it’s stress, burnout, or something else. How do I know where to start?

Accepted Answer

That uncertainty is completely normal, and it’s actually a great reason to start with a consultation. Brain fog can come from many sources: chronic stress, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, post-concussion symptoms, ADHD, or simply an overloaded cognitive system. I’m not a diagnostician, but I have 30+ years of experience helping people understand what’s happening in their brain and what to do about it. We’ll start by mapping out your situation together, and if I think you need a medical evaluation first, I’ll tell you that directly.

Question 15

Are sessions covered by insurance?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive coaching is not typically covered by health insurance, as it is a coaching service rather than a medical or therapeutic treatment. Many clients use HSA or FSA funds for coaching services, and I’d recommend checking with your plan administrator to confirm eligibility. I’m happy to provide documentation of services if that would be helpful for your records.

Question 16

Do you only work with clients in New Jersey and Florida?

Accepted Answer

I am licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist in New Jersey and Florida, but cognitive coaching services are available virtually to clients nationwide. If you’re outside those states and have questions about whether coaching is the right fit for your situation, just reach out. I’m happy to talk it through.

Question 17

What’s the difference between working with you and using an ADHD app or an online program?

Accepted Answer

Apps and programs can be useful tools, and I often incorporate them into a coaching plan. But they can’t do what a skilled coach does: listen to your specific situation, ask the right questions, notice what you’re not saying, and adapt strategies in real time based on how you’re responding. Cognitive coaching is a relationship. The strategies we build together are built for you, not for a generalized user profile. That personalization is what makes the difference between a strategy that sounds good and one that actually changes your daily life.

Question 18

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

The first step is a consultation, a conversation where we talk about what’s going on, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping to achieve. There’s no obligation, and there’s no wrong answer. If we’re a good fit, we’ll build a plan together. If I think someone else would serve you better, I’ll tell you that too. You can book directly through the website or reach out by email at doreen@thecognitivecoach.net.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

ADHD

Concussion Recovery

Peak Performance and Stress & Burnout

Logistics and Practicalities

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