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.

“Try harder” only works when effort is the barrier.For many students, especially those managing ADHD, executive function...
01/28/2026

“Try harder” only works when effort is the barrier.
For many students, especially those managing ADHD, executive functioning demands, concussion history, or high academic load, effort isn’t what’s missing.

The real challenge is how the brain manages planning, initiation, sustained attention, emotional regulation, and cognitive energy under stress.
Stress makes those systems work harder, not better.
This is why students can be working incredibly hard and still feel stuck.
Support doesn’t lower expectations, it makes success possible by aligning with how the brain actually functions when demands are high.

👇 What part of academic load drains energy the fastest for you or your student?

If you or your student is starting the week on academic probation, this post is for you. Academic probation intimidates...
01/25/2026

If you or your student is starting the week on academic probation, this post is for you. Academic probation intimidates students into thinking the issue is ability, when in reality it’s often about strategy, structure, and executive functioning under stress.
When stress rises, the brain’s planning, working memory, and emotional regulation systems struggle and pushing harder rarely solves that.
Supporting the brain is what turns things around.
👇 For those who’ve been through it, what helped most?

One of the most supportive things we can teach students with executive functioning challenges isn’t how to organize, it’...
01/21/2026

One of the most supportive things we can teach students with executive functioning challenges isn’t how to organize, it’s how to notice early signs of rising cognitive load.
When students recognize yellow flags and respond early (by adjusting workload, clarifying directions, or adding structure), they prevent overwhelm before it builds.
Awareness protects performance.
👇 Which yellow flags show up first in your world?

If your student struggles with follow-through, it might not be a motivation issue…it might be a cognitive energy issue.E...
01/21/2026

If your student struggles with follow-through, it might not be a motivation issue…it might be a cognitive energy issue.
Executive functioning relies on energy, stamina, and recovery. When students plan their semester around time alone (“I’ll study at 7”) they often miss their brain’s natural rhythms.
Instead, ask:
☀️ When is their brain strongest?
🌤️ When do they get overwhelmed fastest?
🌙 When does their brain shut down?
There is no “right” answer, only patterns to notice.
Helping students identify their cognitive energy makes them far more likely to succeed without burning out.
If you’d like the worksheet I made for this, email me through TheCognitiveCoach.net and I’ll send it to you.

We love to call every semester a “fresh start.”But for many students, especially those with EF or ADHD-related needs, th...
01/19/2026

We love to call every semester a “fresh start.”
But for many students, especially those with EF or ADHD-related needs, that mindset increases pressure instead of progress.
A smart reset builds from data, awareness, and lived experience — not perfection.
Reflection → Alignment → Better Follow‑Through
What kind of reset is happening in your house or classroom this month? 👇.

A new semester isn’t just a fresh start, it’s a spike in cognitive load for students with ADHD, executive functioning ch...
01/18/2026

A new semester isn’t just a fresh start, it’s a spike in cognitive load for students with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, concussion history, or probation pressure.
The Cognitive Reset Worksheet helps students reflect on last semester, plan for this one, and support their brains before overwhelm sets in.
🧠 Available to you for free when you reach out on TheCognitiveCoach.net and fill out the Contact Us form!
A brain‑smart semester is one that honors how the brain actually works.

January can expose a lot of executive function load for students, especially those with ADHD or EF challenges.Yellow fla...
01/14/2026

January can expose a lot of executive function load for students, especially those with ADHD or EF challenges.
Yellow flags are early cues that the brain is working hard.
Red flags signal that it’s reached capacity.
When we learn to identify the difference, we stop interpreting behavior as defiance or lack of effort, and start supporting the brain underneath.
👇 What flags are showing up in your world right now?

Academic performance isn’t just about time management, it’s about cognitive energy management, especially for ADHD stude...
01/13/2026

Academic performance isn’t just about time management, it’s about cognitive energy management, especially for ADHD students.
Studying for two hours doesn’t cost the same amount of brain energy for every student.
If a teen burns most of their executive function during the school day, after-school homework becomes a load problem, not a motivation problem.
The new semester works better when we schedule around energy peaks, not just available hours.
👇 Where does your student’s energy tank during the week?

Is the pace I’m setting supportive of my brain or working against it?Before we talk productivity or motivation, it’s wor...
01/10/2026

Is the pace I’m setting supportive of my brain or working against it?
Before we talk productivity or motivation, it’s worth asking your brain first:
• Is this pace sustainable for my attention, energy, and recovery needs?
• Does it allow space for rest, learning, and emotional regulation?
• Is it truly productive or just cognitively exhausting?
• What happens to my thinking, patience, and decision‑making when life speeds up?
The truth is: effective action planning isn’t about doing more.
It’s about protecting the brain that does the doing.
Strong plans consider things like:
✔ cognitive load
✔ stress recovery
✔ realistic timelines
✔ habits that support sleep, movement, and mental clarity
When brain health is part of the building process, goals don’t just look good on paper, they hold up in real life.
This season doesn’t require a complete overhaul.
It calls for a reset that respects how your brain actually works.

This first full week back is one of the most demanding weeks for ADHD teens, not because they lack motivation, but becau...
01/08/2026

This first full week back is one of the most demanding weeks for ADHD teens, not because they lack motivation, but because their cognitive load just spiked.
MindfulProductivity MentalClarity NewYearReset

Personal Inventory > New Year’s Resolutions 🧠Save this to revisit later➡️Before setting new goals, pause to take a brain...
01/07/2026

Personal Inventory > New Year’s Resolutions 🧠
Save this to revisit later➡️
Before setting new goals, pause to take a brain‑based personal inventory. Reflection supports brain health, realistic pacing, and sustainable habit change.
You don’t need to rush this season.
You need alignment.
MindfulProductivity MentalClarity NewYearReset

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Delray Beach, FL
33445

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Tuesday 8am - 6pm
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