South Africa psychologists: Understand executive functions development and identify practical strategies for supporting clients' skill-building in these areas.
Executive functioning skills are central to success in learning, behaviour regulation, and emotional development. This engaging professional development session provides a deep dive into the key components of executive functioning—such as planning, organisation, inhibition, attention, and working memory—and how they develop across the lifespan.
Presenter Maude Le Roux draws on the work of leading experts including Dr. Russell Barkley, Pam Dawson, and Dr. Richard Guare, to explore diverse perspectives on executive function. The session also examines how delays or disruptions in executive function manifest in daily life, and what clinicians, educators, and allied professionals can do to support skill-building in these areas.
Designed to foster an interdisciplinary approach, this talk supports practitioners in understanding the unique executive function profiles of their clients and in identifying tailored, developmentally sensitive interventions.
YouTube links:
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Define the core components of executive functioning and how they interact.
Describe the typical developmental trajectory of executive functions in children and adolescents.
Identify how executive functioning difficulties may present across different client profiles.
Apply strategies and frameworks for assessment and intervention, informed by research and expert opinion.
Enhance interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting clients with executive functioning challenges.