Welcome to the Executive Functioning Course! We’re thrilled to share the culmination of years of research, hands-on experience in education, and the innovative principles of Gestalt Play Therapy. This course was born out of a desire to help learners who face growing challenges as academic and life demands increase.

At The K&M Center, founders Karen and Melissa worked with countless students who initially thrived in early grades but began to struggle as tasks requiring independent work and long-term planning became more frequent. A common scenario they noticed involved students procrastinating on assignments, waiting until the last moment to start. This led to unnecessary stress and work that didn’t reflect their potential. These observations sparked a deep dive into executive functioning.

By exploring these concepts, Karen and Melissa developed strategies to help students manage their time, organize materials, and plan effectively. These strategies evolved into resources like their first book on executive functioning, a guide for adults, and, most recently, the Executive Functioning Workbook: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together. This new edition integrates Gestalt Play Therapy principles to address executive functioning holistically—linking EF skills with self-regulation and social-emotional development.

What Makes This Course Unique?

This course stands out by combining emotional awareness, creative expression, and practical executive functioning (EF) strategies into one cohesive program. Drawing inspiration from Gestalt Play Therapy, it uses open-ended, student-led activities to foster self-discovery, emotional growth, and problem-solving skills.

Unlike traditional EF programs, this course doesn’t just teach students how to plan and organize—it also helps them understand their emotions and build meaningful connections with others. This holistic approach equips learners with the self-regulation, social-emotional, and EF skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and personally.

How the Workbook is Structured

The workbook is divided into three main parts:

1.  Introduction

• Explains the theory and components of executive functioning, self-regulation, and social-emotional skills.
• Previews strategies to teach these skills in an engaging and practical way.

2.  Core Activities

• Creative Activities: Tools like Scribble Drawing, Infinity Drawing, and storytelling exercises encourage flexible thinking and build EF skills in a playful way.
• Emotional Awareness Exercises: Activities such as the Feeling Wheel and Feelings Pyramid promote self-reflection and emotional literacy.
• Mindfulness Practices: Exercises like Clear Your Mind teach focus and stress management.
• Time Management Demonstrations: These activities show how to apply creative techniques to real-world EF challenges.

3.  Practical Tools

• Checklists, schedules, and planning templates to build organization and structure.
• Metacognitive prompts woven into activities to encourage students to reflect on their learning process.
• Lessons like the Procrastinator Activity that provide actionable strategies to overcome common obstacles.

Whether you’re a teacher, therapist, or parent, this course offers tools and techniques to support students of all ages in becoming more independent, resilient, and confident. Designed to engage learners in fun and meaningful ways, it promotes emotional literacy and executive functioning for success in every area of life.