Executive Functioning and Psychotherapy

Executive functioning (EF) can be defined as a person’s ability to successfully navigate their physical, intellectual, and social worlds. Interest in EF is expanding within psychotherapy, but like many scientific concepts which are adapted to the consulting room, there is a great deal of confusion and misinformation surrounding EF within clinical and lay communities.

In this book, Louis Cozolino-a master of translating complex neuroscientific concepts into digestible, applicable literature for therapists and laypeople alike-is joined by experts Chloe Drulis and Carly Trissler to illuminate how our brains and minds successfully navigate the challenges of day-to-day life. The book offers a new, neurodynamic model of EF that explains the three main executive systems in the brain and the specific ways that they influence how we think, focus, and solve problems. This neurobiological framework highlights the interconnectedness of cognition, emotion, and relationships, providing readers with a deeper understanding of how humans function and strategies to improve outcomes in therapy, parenting, executive coaching, and personal development.

Author Biography

Louis Cozolino, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and maintains a clinical and consulting practice in Los Angeles, California. Chloe Drulis is an associate marriage and family therapist practicing in Santa Monica and a writer specializing in interpersonal neurobiology. Carly Trissler is a Phoenix—based writer with expertise in Interpersonal Neurobiology. She holds an MA in psychology from Pepperdine University.