Mental Health Disorders>Neuroscience

Adult ADHD & Executive Functioning: The 12 Brain-Based Skills for Clinical Intervention (RV)

Overview:

Adults with ADHD often know what they need to do — but can’t seem to make it happen. The issue isn’t motivation or intelligence. It’s executive functioning: the brain-based skills that govern planning, organization, time management, emotional regulation, and task completion. Understanding how these skills develop, how ADHD disrupts them, and why adults with ADHD struggle particularly with tasks that lack interest, challenge, novelty, or urgency is essential for effective treatment.

This 6-hour training introduces the Smart but Scattered model of executive functioning, which identifies 12 brain-based executive skills. Learn how these skills develop across the lifespan, how they are affected by ADHD, and why traditional approaches often fall short. Explore practical, evidence-based strategies for strengthening each executive skill, from mindfulness practice and self-monitoring to environmental modifications and accountability systems. The second half focuses on a coaching model for working with ADHD adults, covering goal-setting principles, SMART goals, and three key intervention strategies: environmental modifications, short-term incentives, and skill enhancement. Cognitive strategies such as mental contrasting, implementation intentions, and process visualization are also introduced as tools for supporting sustained behavior change.

Through interactive exercises, case examples, and real-world clinical application, you’ll gain practical tools you can use immediately in your practice.

Objectives:

 

  1. Define the 12 executive skills in the Smart but Scattered model and explain how they relate to the symptoms of ADHD in adults.
  2. Describe the neurological basis of executive skill development, including the role of myelination and frontal lobe maturation across the lifespan.
  3. Identify at least two evidence-based strategies for strengthening each of the 12 executive skills in adult clients.
  4. Apply a coaching model for working with ADHD adults.
  5. Implement three key intervention approaches — environmental modifications, short-term incentives, and skill enhancement — to support executive skill development and goal attainment in clinical practice.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure

This 6-hour continuing education course provides an introduction to executive functioning within the context of adult ADHD, including the 12-skill Smart but Scattered model, evidence-based intervention strategies, and a coaching framework for clinical application. The content is intended for licensed or license-eligible mental health and education professionals and is designed to supplement, not replace, supervision, specialized training, or consultation when working with complex, high-risk, or co-occurring presentations. Participants are responsible for applying course content within their individual scope of practice and in accordance with applicable ethical and professional standards. Completion of this training does not confer an independent credential; participants who meet all requirements will receive a certificate of completion issued by the training provider.

Commercial Support Disclosure

Dr. Peg Dawson has authored several books related to the course content, including Smart but Scattered, Smart but Scattered Teens, The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success, and Coaching Students with Executive Skills Challenges, which may be referenced during the training. No purchase of these or any other materials is required to complete this course or obtain a certificate of completion. No other financial relationships or sources of commercial support exist for this training.

Course materials are only available to enrolled students.

 

 

 

  • Card image cap
    Margaret Dawson

    Peg Dawson, Ed.D., is a school psychologist by training with an expertise in the assessment of learning and attention disorders, and she has over 40 years of clinical experience working with both children and adults with executive skill challenges. Along with her colleague, Dr. Richard Guare, she has written numerous books on this topic for educators, mental health professionals, and parents, among them Smart but Scattered, Smart but Scattered Teens, The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success, and Coaching Students with Executive Skills Challenges. Peg is also a past president of the National Association of School Psychologists, and the International School Psychology Association, and is a recipient of NASP’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

National Approvals

eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.

Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2026 – 06-03-2029

CE Broker

CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)

Notice: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with CE Broker that will cause a delay in reporting CE credits for Ohio-Licensed Social Workers (OH CSWMFT). We are actively working to resolve this and will notify you once credits reporting is available

State Approvals

States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut
Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois
Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland
Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska
Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Ohio
Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee
Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
Wyoming            

States that Accepts NBCC Approved Courses: 

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut
Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Indiana
Iowa Maine Maryland Massachusetts Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey
New Mexico Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota
Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin  

Notes:

  • Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
  • North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
  • Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
  • Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
  • Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s  accept ASWB approved training
  • Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s  accept ASWB approved training
  • Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training

States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Delaware Hawaii Indiana
Kentucky Maine Massachusetts Minnesota Montana Nevada New Jersey
New Jersey New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Oregon Rhode Island Tennessee
Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wisconsin Wyoming

States that Accept APA Approved Providers

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Delaware District Of Columbia
Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska New Jersey New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma
Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia
Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming      

Note: Please note that Individual Board Rules are subject to potential changes. The approval and acceptance details we furnish are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of documentation.

Should you have any inquiries or uncertainties not addressed by the provided information, it’s advisable to consult your State Regulatory Board. Ultimately, the decision of whether your license renewal credit hours are accepted or denied rests with you.

Georgia Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (ADACBGA) #19-12-17-1212.

Florida Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Florida Certification Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (FCB) #5387-A.

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling: The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.

Oklahoma Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (OBLADC) #20220136.

Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure: E Care BHI is an approved CE provider for LPC & LMFT

Ohio Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (OCDP)#50-29024.
Note: eCare’s OCDP-approved courses are for renewal continuing education only and do not fulfill initial CDCA Preliminary or CDCA certification requirements.

The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
Note: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with CE Broker that will cause a delay in reporting CE credits for Ohio-Licensed Social Workers (OH CSWMFT). We are actively working to resolve this and will notify you once credits reporting is available.

VA Mental Health Employee: E Care BHI VA COMMERCIAL VENDOR # 81-3353387-01

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP): E Care BHI is recognized by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-22-344-0526

Connecticut Certification Board CCB Approved): E Care BHI is recognized & approved by the Connecticut Certification Board.

Texas Certification Board (TCB): E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Texas Certification Board as an approved education provider. Number 2041-19

South Carolina E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board as an approved education provider Provider #4628

New York (MHC) E Care Behavioral Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0277

New York (SW) E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0745 LA-ADRA – E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by Louisiana The Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority as an approved educational provider AEP #E122

Who This Training is For:

This program is intended for mental health professionals such as Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Addiction Counselors, & MFT’s. Psychologists are encouraged to verify if this specific course meets their board’s approval requirements.

Got a team of 5 or more?

Save with a group discount!

CE Guarantee

If you no longer wish to take the course, we’re happy to offer a credit transfer to another course of equal CE value

Unlimited Access

Enjoy unlimited replays to the video lesson that you can always review later for your own resource

Anytime, Anywhere

Take this course at your own time & pace on any device. Whether you're at the office or from the comfort of home!

If you're from Florida, Ohio, or South Carolina, we'll report your CEs to the CE broker

How It Works

Sign Up & Watch The Training

Pass Quiz & Complete Evaluation

Receive Certificate Immediately

Testimonials

Trusted By Thousands of Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are approved Continuing Education providers by ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, APA & many other state boards.

Programs that do not qualify for ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, & APA are clearly identified. eCare Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

To view all of our board approvals, click here

1) After watching the video lesson, you’ll be prompted to complete a short course evaluation

2) Pass the quiz

3) Receive your certificate immediately

80% or above with 3 attempts.

No. Our courses are not “book to buy” and do not require any other materials in advance.

Yes. (If you’re from Florida, Ohio, & South Carolina). We report CEs to the CE broker daily for courses completed the day before. For both live and recorded webinars.

Recorded Webinar CE Courses:

  • Refunds are only eligible if the course was purchased within 30 days or less.
  • If the customer doesn’t want the course anymore, or was unsatisfied from it – We can transfer credits to another course of their choice (with same CE credit amount).
  • CE Credits 6
  • Format
  • Quizzes 1
  • Level Intermediate

Unlimited CEs for $297/year

Save more with access to all 500+ courses today

×

Board Approvals

                 

Spend $200.00 more to get free Ethics Course

Scroll to Top