Focus and Thrive: Executive Functioning Strategies for Teens: Tools to Get Organized, Plan Ahead, and Achieve Your Goals

Biographical Note:
Laurie Chaikind McNulty, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker with more than a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She applies her expertise in education, research, graduate-level training, and clinical practice to supporting teens and young adults in enhancing their executive functioning. She lives in Brookeville, Maryland, with her husband and two dogs

Review Quotes:
"Of all the books on executive functioning I have read, this one is by far the most clear and practical, offering concrete tips and ideas for both teens and parents that are understandable and manageable. Laurie's skill and experience as a therapist for teens and families are reflected in her warm, conversational style and compassionate approach, making the book highly accessible--and the first resource I will suggest to families who have teens struggling with executive functioning!" --Jonah Green, LCSW, Owner and Clinical Director, Jonah Green and Associates, LLC, Kensington, Maryland

Review Quotes:
"This book is a perfect road map for any teen who wants to work smarter, not harder, and any parent or clinician who wants to help along the way. Laurie expertly lays out an easily accessible path to success for teens who struggle with executive functioning skills. During these unprecedented times, executive functioning skills are even more important, and this book is an incredible resource!" --Erin Futrovsky Gates, MSW, LCSW-C

Review Quotes:
" Focus and Thrive makes executive functioning make sense. Within its pages, teens will find tools that help them feel--and be--more in control of their productivity, their emotions, their friendships, their lives. From the start, the reader is able to begin developing executive functioning (EF) muscles and build success upon success. Underlying the wealth of practical ideas and suggestions is the understanding, supportive voice of Ms. McNulty, the reader's own personal EF advisor and coach. In this time of global stress, teens and their families are having to deal with radical changes in their daily lives and uncertainty about how their world will look in the future. Now more than ever, the skills, strategies, and mindset taught in Focus and Thrive are critically important." --Annie Scheiner, LCMFT, Certified Parenting Educator, Family Therapist

Publisher Marketing:

Conceive, believe, achieve--strategies to help teens ages 13 to 17 build executive functioning skills

Executive functioning is the way we manage our daily lives, including organization, planning ahead, and getting started on important tasks. These abilities may be easier for some and more challenging for others to master. Focus and Thrive is full of practical tools to help teens uncover strengths and develop executive functioning skills like staying focused, getting organized, making plans, and managing time.

From creating a checklist to maintaining a daily routine, this supportive executive functioning guide can help you feel more confident in finishing everyday tasks at school, at home, at work, and beyond. Ultimately, this straightforward approach to building executive function skills will put you on the path to achieving your goals with focus and determination.

This executive functioning book for teens features:

• Step-by-step solutions--Discover simple strategies to tackle difficult situations you face everyday.
• Easy "life hacks"--Learn how you can overcome challenges like forgetting your belongings, communicating your needs, and more.
• Powerful tools--Find a system that works for you with graphic organizers and sample checklists you can copy and reuse.

Develop better organization and time-management skills with this executive functioning resource for teens.

Contributor Bio:McNulty, Laurie Chaikind

Laurie Chaikind McNulty, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker with more than a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She applies her expertise in education, research, graduate-level training, and clinical practice to supporting teens and young adults in enhancing their executive functioning. She lives in Brookeville, Maryland, with her husband and two dogs.