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Executive functioning is one of the most important yet often misunderstood areas of adolescent brain development. These skills shape how teens plan, organize, remember, prioritize, and follow through on tasks. When executive functioning develops unevenly, it can show up as missed assignments, self-sabotage, conflict at home, or difficulty with accountability. For many parents, teachers, and clinicians, the challenge lies in knowing whether a teen’s struggles come from lack of motivation or simply from a brain that is still building the skills it needs to succeed.

Kevin Zundl speaks with clinical expert Jared Sartell, LCSW about how executive functioning unfolds during adolescence and why this stage of life requires both patience and intentional support. Jared explains the 15 executive functioning skills that every adult relies on, including working memory, impulse control, initiation, and organization. Learn why these skills do not fully mature until the mid-twenties and why middle school is often the point where academic and behavioral challenges become more visible. Parents may suddenly feel their child “should” be able to handle responsibilities, when in reality the brain is not yet fully equipped to manage them.

By assessing executive function deficits, providing direct coaching, and creating structured opportunities for growth, clinicians can help teens develop healthy compensations and strategies that reduce risky behavior and improve academic performance. Jared shares examples of how executive functioning deficits can affect everything from turning in homework to managing emotions, and why targeted interventions make such a difference in treatment.

Parents, educators, and professionals will gain practical insights into questions such as:

• Why do some teens appear capable one day and unmotivated the next?
• How do hormones, social identity, and cognitive maturity interact with executive functioning?
• What strategies can parents use to maintain accountability without sliding into conflict?
• How can treatment programs provide concentrated, daily support that accelerates growth in executive functioning skills?

Recommended Podcasts

Healing from Trauma as a Teen in Residential Treatment · How emotional growth begins when safety and trust are restored.

From Power Struggles to Partnership: A Parenting Mindset Shift · How a shift in approach helps families reconnect through empathy and understanding.

Helping Teens Build Emotional IQ: Awareness, Regulation and Self-Confidence · Supporting teens in building insight and self-regulation that lasts beyond treatment.

Recommended Reading

Give Them Enough Time · Why patience and consistency are key to long-term change.

How to Guide Your Children When They Make Mistakes · Turning difficult moments into opportunities for growth.

The Turning Winds Difference · A closer look at the structure, philosophy, and environment that make progress possible.

For more teen parenting tips and treatment information | turningwinds.com | 800-845-1380.