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.

⛳ “I used the putter on my essay test this week."-SNWhat a way to end my weekend! That’s how one of my students, diagnos...
11/04/2025

⛳ “I used the putter on my essay test this week."-SN

What a way to end my weekend! That’s how one of my students, diagnosed with ADHD and initially resistant to using strategies, described his new approach to writing.

We have been developing his personal “golf bag” of cognitive strategies, a visual and meaningful way to make learning tools relevant and engaging. He keeps his hand-drawn golf bag in the front of his notebook for easy access.

🏌️‍♂️ His putter represents writing, because it requires him to slow down, plan his shot, and think carefully about what he wants to say.
🏌️‍♂️ His wedge represents memory strategies, the ones that help him get out of tough situations.
🏌️‍♂️ His driver is for overload strategies, when things feel big, fast, and hard to control.
🏌️‍♂️ And his 6-iron? That’s for managing his “things to do” list, a balanced, reliable tool for everyday tasks.

What made the difference wasn’t the strategies themselves; they are the strategies that have been proven over time to help students manage the academic and executive functioning demands they face. It was that they were his and presented in a way that he could understand.

I used a metaphor that clicked, and created something personally meaningful.
When strategies feel relevant, students don’t just use them; they own them.
That’s when real learning and confidence begin.
hashtag

⛳ “I used the putter on my essay test this week."-SN

What a way to end my weekend! That’s how one of my students, diagnosed with ADHD and initially resistant to using strategies, described his new approach to writing.

We have been developing his personal “golf bag” of cognitive strategies, a visual and meaningful way to make learning tools relevant and engaging. He keeps his hand-drawn golf bag in the front of his notebook for easy access.

🏌️‍♂️ His putter represents writing, because it requires him to slow down, plan his shot, and think carefully about what he wants to say.
🏌️‍♂️ His wedge represents memory strategies, the ones that help him get out of tough situations.
🏌️‍♂️ His driver is for overload strategies, when things feel big, fast, and hard to control.
🏌️‍♂️ And his 6-iron? That’s for managing his “things to do” list, a balanced, reliable tool for everyday tasks.

What made the difference wasn’t the strategies themselves; rather, it was the strategies that have been proven over time to help students manage the academic and executive functioning demands they face. It was that they were his and presented in a way that he could understand.

I used a metaphor that clicked, and created something personally meaningful.
When strategies feel relevant, students don’t just use them; they own them.
That’s when real learning and confidence begin.

11/04/2025

Midsemester Check-In: More Than Just Grades

Midterm grades can be a wake-up call, especially for students managing ADHD or post-concussion challenges.

It’s not only about effort; it’s about energy.
Cognitive fatigue, slower processing speed, attention lapses, or difficulty organizing information can all impact academic performance.

This is a great time to pause and rebuild your foundation of brain health, the pillars that sustain focus, memory, and emotional regulation:
🧠 Sleep consistency
🥗 Balanced nutrition
🚰 Hydration
💪 Movement
🧍‍♀️Social connection
🌱 New learning & purpose
🧘 Stress management

Grades reflect where your brain and body have been functioning, not where they can go.
Now is the time to strengthen the foundation before the semester’s second half demands more.

The Ping Pong Brain: What’s Really Happening When You MultitaskYour brain isn’t juggling tasks — it’s being batted aroun...
10/30/2025

The Ping Pong Brain: What’s Really Happening When You Multitask

Your brain isn’t juggling tasks — it’s being batted around like a ping pong ball. 🧠🏓

Each time you switch between tasks — an email, a text, a conversation — your brain stops, redirects, and restarts. That rapid switching burns more energy, slows processing, and increases the risk of mistakes.

Your brain isn’t built to bounce this fast. Give it room to focus, and you’ll see clarity return.

🧠 The Efficiency IllusionHabits we think boost productivity, but actually drain our brains.🚫 MultitaskingYour brain does...
10/27/2025

🧠 The Efficiency Illusion
Habits we think boost productivity, but actually drain our brains.

🚫 Multitasking
Your brain doesn’t truly multitask; it toggles between the tasks.
Each switch costs time, energy, and accuracy.

🚫 Skipping Breaks
No breaks = cognitive fatigue.
Strategic pauses restore focus and decision-making.

🚫 Overloaded To-Do Lists
Long lists trigger overwhelm.
Focus on 1–3 high-impact tasks to build momentum.

🚫 Sacrificing Sleep
Sleep isn’t optional — it’s brain maintenance.
Memory, mood, and clarity depend on it.

🚫 Always Being “On”
Constant stimulation fragments attention.
Protect deep work with boundaries and focus blocks.

What Actually Works??
✅ Brain-Aligned Efficiency
✔️ Focused work
✔️ Rest + movement
✔️ Sleep + boundaries
✔️ Purposeful prioritization

Let’s normalize smarter productivity.
Your brain will thank you, and you will experience the reward.

⛳ Choosing Your Strategy Like You Choose a Golf ClubGolf is a favorite weekend activity for many; it's also an analogy I...
10/23/2025

⛳ Choosing Your Strategy Like You Choose a Golf Club

Golf is a favorite weekend activity for many; it's also an analogy I use when teaching clients about strategy use.

In golf, every shot requires a quick assessment:
👉 What’s the terrain?
👉 How far am I from the hole?
👉 What’s the best club for the job?

Every situation is not the same. So, you don’t just grab any club; you choose intentionally. You assess each situation, identify your needs, and select the tool that gives you the best chance for success.

As golfers gain experience, they become more discerning about which clubs they carry. They know which ones work for them and which just add extra weight to the bag. They carry the clubs that bring them the most success.

💡 That’s exactly what my clients learn to do in our sessions.
They build self-awareness. They gain an understanding of their own needs, strengths, and limits. They practice choosing the right strategy for the situation rather than using the same one for every challenge.
Everyone's brain is different; let's create the bag that is the best fit for you.

Contact me at doreen@thecognitivecoach.net to discuss creating your personal bag.

💭 “I’m ashamed to admit that it takes me longer than I thought it did.”-RGI hear this statement too often.Each time, I r...
10/22/2025

💭 “I’m ashamed to admit that it takes me longer than I thought it did.”-RG

I hear this statement too often.

Each time, I remind my clients that the process of increasing self-awareness is not meant to increase shame; it's the first step in understanding what has been creating their lifelong challenges.

It takes real courage to pause, reflect, and realize something isn’t working as efficiently as you believed it was, and ask for help. That’s not weakness; that’s personal growth.

🧠 Change doesn’t happen without awareness.

When we remove shame from the equation, we make room for curiosity, problem-solving, and learning. That’s when strategies start to take hold and confidence grows.

If you’ve recently discovered that something takes you longer than you expected, or feels more complicated than you anticipated, be interested, not ashamed. That awareness is your first step forward in understanding why things don't go the way you expect. Then you can begin to set realistic expectations with accurate information.

Every brain has its own operating system.Some people thrive with structure; others need variety and novelty.Some people ...
10/18/2025

Every brain has its own operating system.

Some people thrive with structure; others need variety and novelty.
Some people respond to deadlines, while others respond more favorably to collaboration or creativity.
The key to thriving with ADHD, or any brain style, is learning what fuels focus, energy, and motivation for you.

At The Cognitive Coach, I help clients discover their personal “brain blueprint," a framework for consistency, balance, and success. It's about finding your rhythm.
When you understand how your brain works best and stop trying to make it follow someone else's plan, life stops feeling like a constant uphill climb.

The Hidden Side of ADHD: What It Really Feels LikeFor many people living with ADHD, it feels like they are in a world wh...
10/15/2025

The Hidden Side of ADHD: What It Really Feels Like

For many people living with ADHD, it feels like they are in a world where everyone else got the “how to focus” manual at birth, and they missed the class on how to use it.

ADHD doesn't have a single look. It can appear as:
Difficulty getting started, even on important tasks
A brain that jumps from idea to idea like lightning
Feeling “lazy” when in reality, you’re mentally exhausted from constant effort
ADHD is not a motivation problem; it's related to regulation.

When interest and challenge align, people with ADHD often excel. When tasks lack stimulation, the brain struggles to engage.

Recognizing this difference helps shift from frustration to strategy and allows for a discussion on how to move forward. Arranging a schedule with multiple shifts and rewards can be very effective.

ADHD Awareness Month: Gaining An UnderstandingOctober is ADHD Awareness Month; this is the time to shift from judgment t...
10/13/2025

ADHD Awareness Month: Gaining An Understanding

October is ADHD Awareness Month; this is the time to shift from judgment to understanding.

ADHD isn’t about laziness or lack of effort; I cringe each time a client tells me, "I'm lazy." ADD is about how the brain manages attention, motivation, and regulation in a world where others' brains function differently.

Children with ADHD receive up to 20,000 more negative messages by age 12 than their peers. Imagine the impact on self-esteem and identity by the time they reach the already challenging adolescent years.

It's time to change the question from “What’s wrong?” to “What’s getting in the way?”

Understanding the why behind behaviors is the first step.

Cognitive Overload is "Real”Have you ever felt like your brain can’t keep up? Too much information, too many demands, an...
10/11/2025

Cognitive Overload is "Real”

Have you ever felt like your brain can’t keep up? Too much information, too many demands, and not enough energy to manage it all?

That’s COGNITIVE OVERLOAD.

It’s not about intelligence or motivation. It’s about a brain that’s been injured or overworked and needs structure, pacing, and recovery time to function.

After a concussion or brain injury, even simple tasks, like organizing your day or following a conversation, can feel exhausting. That’s not a sign of weakness. That’s your brain signaling it’s working overtime.

In cognitive therapy, we work on restoring balance:
🧭 Identifying your cognitive “red zones”
🔋 Learning how to manage your mental energy
📅 Building strategies to make your day flow again

Awareness is the first step. The right tools make the difference. Send me a note to get started: doreen@thecognitivecoach.net

"I didn’t think this would help… and now I recommend it to many of my clients."I hear this feedback a lot.Who really und...
10/10/2025

"I didn’t think this would help… and now I recommend it to many of my clients."
I hear this feedback a lot.

Who really understands what cognitive therapy is anyway?

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, many of my clients diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome start their first session by asking:
🧠 “Why am I seeing you?”
🧠 “How can you help me?”

By the end of that session, they understand my role—helping them manage the overload they’ve been feeling, make sense of what’s happening in their brain, and begin regaining control of their day.

By the time we finish working together, they’re equipped with tools to manage their thinking energy, focus, and daily demands—and often say they wish they’d known about this sooner.

Cognitive therapy is more than “thinking exercises.” It’s about learning how to think effectively again—with awareness, strategies, and confidence.

Downshifting Without Guilt⚙️ Slowing down doesn’t mean you are falling behind.Downshifting is how your brain manages ste...
10/06/2025

Downshifting Without Guilt

⚙️ Slowing down doesn’t mean you are falling behind.

Downshifting is how your brain manages steep climbs, busy days, and unexpected challenges.

✨ Smaller tasks. Fewer distractions. More recovery.

You're not quitting; you're protecting your energy so you can keep moving forward.

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2123 SW 36th Terrace
Delray Beach, FL
33445

Opening Hours

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

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