The Cognitive Coach

The Cognitive Coach My name is Doreen Bridgman and I am the Cognitive Coach. I work with people to develop strategies in order to manage their daily lives.

I am a Speech Language Pathologist with 25 years of experience helping people overcome their challenges. If you have experienced a TBI/concussion, stroke, been diagnosed with ADD or are experiencing age-related memory changes, The Cognitive Coach can help. I will help you to identify your strengths and develop strategies to overcome your challenges. In-home sessions and skype are also available.

Eight hours of sleep might sound unrealistic during the holidays… but it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for st...
12/08/2025

Eight hours of sleep might sound unrealistic during the holidays… but it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for staying grounded. 🧠💤

When teens and parents get consistent rest, the brain can focus better, regulate emotions more easily, and handle the holiday rush with more confidence and calm.

Tonight, try aiming for 7–9 hours, consider it a gift to your future self.
Together we will manage the holiday season.

On the Seventh Day of December, we’re focusing on delegation…one of the most effective ways to reduce stress during the ...
12/07/2025

On the Seventh Day of December, we’re focusing on delegation…one of the most effective ways to reduce stress during the holidays.
Parents and teens both benefit when responsibilities are shared, and even small tasks can create major relief.
What can you let go of this week? 💚💙

Save this for later and follow along for Day 8.

On the Sixth Day of December, we’re keeping things simple: break big tasks into six small, doable steps.This is one of t...
12/06/2025

On the Sixth Day of December, we’re keeping things simple: break big tasks into six small, doable steps.

This is one of the most effective tools for reducing overwhelm, especially for teens, parents, or anyone with a busy brain during the holidays.
Small steps create structure, focus, and a sense of accomplishment your brain can trust.

Try choosing ONE big task today and break it into six tiny pieces.
✨ You’re doing better than you think.

Day 3 of December 🎄If the holiday season feels packed, pressured, or overstimulating: this one’s for you (and your teens...
12/06/2025

Day 3 of December 🎄

If the holiday season feels packed, pressured, or overstimulating: this one’s for you (and your teens).

Timed breaks help regulate the brain, support nervous system resets, and make overwhelm easier to manage.

Start with three today: one morning, one afternoon, one evening.
Your brain will thank you. 💚

Family Net Worth: Prioritize Sleep ✨If your brain is your family’s greatest fortune, sleep is the lock on the treasure c...
12/01/2025

Family Net Worth: Prioritize Sleep ✨

If your brain is your family’s greatest fortune, sleep is the lock on the treasure chest. 🧠💤

Quality sleep =
✔️ clearer thinking
✔️ better mood
✔️ stronger memory
✔️ more resilience

This week, try:
• Consistent bedtimes
• Calming nighttime routines
• Dim lights + quiet time
• Screen-free bedrooms

A well-rested brain is a wealthy brain.
Protect your family treasure with healthy sleep habits. 💛🛌

Emotional Awareness: The Compass on the Brain Health MapI✨ Family Net Worth: Talk About Emotions ✨Healthy brains don’t j...
11/28/2025

Emotional Awareness: The Compass on the Brain Health Map
I

✨ Family Net Worth: Talk About Emotions ✨

Healthy brains don’t just think well, they FEEL well.

Emotional check-ins help families build clarity, connection, and coping skills. 💛🧠

Try asking:
• “How’s your brain feeling today?”
• “What’s one emotion you noticed?”
• “What’s something you need?”

Emotional awareness strengthens cognitive resilience and family closeness.
This is part of your family treasure. ✨

ChatGPT said:Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving 🧡🦃Today, more than anything, I hope you’re able t...
11/27/2025

ChatGPT said:

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving 🧡🦃

Today, more than anything, I hope you’re able to:
1. Put the to-do list down
2. Step away from the constant scrolling
3. Lean into real moments with the people around you

Thanksgiving isn’t just about the food on the table — it’s about the conversations, the laughter, the stories, and the quiet moments of simply being together.

Give your brain a gift today, too:
✨ Be present.
✨ Notice the little things.
✨ Savor each connection.

From my heart to yours, Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family, and your friends. May today be filled with warmth, gratitude, and meaningful moments. 🧠💛🧡


Nutrition is a Cognitive InvestmentIf brain health is the new family net worth, nutrition is one of the most direct ways...
11/26/2025

Nutrition is a Cognitive Investment

If brain health is the new family net worth, nutrition is one of the most direct ways to build it.

Brain-supportive foods regulate inflammation, support memory, stabilize mood, and improve energy. This creates the foundation for better decision-making, communication, and learning.

Here are some family-friendly ideas to try:
• “Color challenge” — Build meals with as many colors as possible
• Schedule water check-ins throughout the day
• Create "Brain-boost snack stations" (berries, nuts, seeds, cut veggies)
• Cook one new recipe from the MIND diet together each week
• Let children choose one brain-healthy food for the grocery list

Families that nourish their brains together strengthen their ability to focus, adapt, and grow. These are
the real ingredients of a thriving family legacy.

11/25/2025

✨ The First Treasure on the Map: Move Together ✨

Do you want to boost your family’s brain health net worth?
Start with movement. 🧠➡️🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️💃

Physical activity lights up the brain by improving focus, memory, mood, and stress regulation.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:
• Family walks
• Dance-offs in the kitchen
• Bike rides
• Active games after dinner

Every step you take together deposits clarity, energy, and resilience into your family’s treasure chest.

Movement isn’t just fitness,
it’s brain wealth. 🧠💛

✨ Introducing: The Holiday Family Net Worth Series, Powered by Brain Health ✨This season, let's redefine net worth.Not t...
11/24/2025

✨ Introducing: The Holiday Family Net Worth Series, Powered by Brain Health ✨
This season, let's redefine net worth.
Not the financial kind…but the kind that shapes every moment, memory, and milestone your family shares. Curious?

It's Your Family’s Brain Health Net Worth. 🧠💛
In the coming posts, we’ll explore how strengthening your brain and building healthier habits together creates the most meaningful family fortune.

Every decision, relationship, challenge, and opportunity begins in the brain.
Healthy brains build resilient, emotionally rich families.

This year, let’s go beyond gift-giving and follow a simple Brain Health Map to unlock your family’s greatest treasure:
✨ clarity
✨ calm
✨ confidence
✨ creativity
✨ connection

We’ll break down simple ways to:
• Build brain wealth as a family
• Boost resilience through daily habits
• Create generational impact through small shifts
• Use movement, sleep, emotions, food, learning & unplugging to grow true net worth
Let’s build a net worth that lasts far beyond the holidays; one that strengthens minds, deepens relationships, and shapes your family legacy.
Your Brain Health Treasure Map starts now. 🗺️✨

Turning the Energy Chart Into a Weekly PlanAnother helpful variation to the Cognitive Energy Rating Scale is using the c...
11/20/2025

Turning the Energy Chart Into a Weekly Plan

Another helpful variation to the Cognitive Energy Rating Scale is using the colors to identify the levels of cognitive energy students typically experience throughout their day.

Once a student can identify their Green, Yellow, and Red zones, the next step is transforming that data into a workable plan.

Here’s how one student uses the chart:
🟢 Green times-She has the most cognitive energy and uses it to complete:
• Tests
• Writing-heavy tasks
• New learning
• Social demands that require focus

🟡 Yellow times-She has a fair amount of cognitive energy and uses it to complete:
• Review activities
• Light homework
• Short, structured tasks
• Low-stress conversations

🔴 Red times-Sha has very little cognitive energy and uses it for:
• Recovery breaks
• Reduced screen time
• Quiet sensory environments
• Cognitive rest

This is an example of executive functioning, where self-awareness is used to make intentional choices.
It empowers students to manage demands before they become overwhelming.

The “Hidden Costs” of Pushing ThroughOne of the most common patterns I see in students recovering from a concussion is t...
11/19/2025

The “Hidden Costs” of Pushing Through

One of the most common patterns I see in students recovering from a concussion is the urge to power through symptoms. They try to keep pace with their peers, maintain good grades, and keep life “normal.”

But here’s the truth:

⚠️ Pushing through overload doesn’t increase productivity.
It increases recovery time.

Cognitive energy is limited during recovery. When symptoms appear, the brain is already signaling distress.

Tracking cognitive energy helps students recognize:

• The early warning signs
• When prolonged effort will backfire
• When a strategic break prevents a setback

This isn’t teaching avoidance.
This is teaching brain-based decision making.

The goal:
✨ Do more when the brain is capable and protect it when it’s not.

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2123 SW 36th Terrace
Delray Beach, FL
33445

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Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm

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