Into the Great Wide Open: Building Executive Function Skills for the Transition to Adulthood with Carrie Visintainer, MS

Guest: Carrie Visintainer, MS, Certified Executive Function CoachCarrie helps teens and young adults (ages 15–24) build the self-management skills — planning, prioritizing, time management, and self-advocacy — that carry them through the transition from high school into college or the workforce.In this episode, Dr. Courtney and Carrie unpack what executive functioning actually is, why the "great wide open" of early adulthood exposes gaps parents didn't know were there, and what families can start doing when kids are still young to build these skills early.What You'll Learn:What executive functioning really means (hint: think "self-management," not just organization)Why the transition out of high school is often the first real test of these skillsThe top three EF skills that tend to get exposed hardest: prioritizing, time management, and self-advocacyHow to tell the difference between a kid who's "lazy" and a kid with an executive function gapSimple strategies for task initiation, including the 5-minute timer trickWhy doing a task with your child beats doing it for themAge-appropriate habits to start as early as elementary and middle school — chore checklists, family calendars, and packing a lunchHow to let natural consequences do some of the teaching, even when it's hard to watchOne small shift any parent can make this week, no matter their child's ageResources & Links:Carrie Visintainer, MS: Light My Way CoachingIntegrated Behavioral Health: https://www.integratedbhs.com/Book a consult with our teamSign up for our newsletterLegal Disclaimer: While this podcast may provide information that is educational in nature, it is not intended to be a health care service, psychotherapy, or the practice of psychology. This podcast’s main purpose is to provide educational insights for all stages of child and family development. We will not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations for your family. At no point is a therapeutic relationship established by way of your unilateral participation by listening to these episodes, and we cannot provide advice or privileges associated with a therapeutic relationship. We recommend that anyone who is seeking a therapeutic relationship reach out to Integrated Behavioral Health at [email protected] to begin the interview process of becoming a client or receiving a referral. If at any point in your listening or engaging with the content of this podcast, you experience an emergency, please immediately call 911 or go to your local emergency room.