What if school refusal is not defiance, but a signal? In this episode, we look beneath the surface at the real reasons kids resist school—from executive function challenges and shame, to sensory overload and fear. Learn how to respond with curiosity instead of control, and how to work with your child to build solutions together. Tune in to solve school battles and restore your kid’s confidence for learning.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why school refusal is often about overwhelm, not laziness
• The emotional layers of shame, anxiety, and perfectionism
• Social stress, bullying, and peer rejection as hidden drivers
• Why safety and nervous system regulation matter for learning
• How to use the ACE tool to open productive conversations

Related Links:

• 3 Step Method to ACE Communication with Complex Kids & Teens
  https://impactparents.com/blog/complex-kids/3-steps-to-ace-communication-with-complex-kids-teens/
• EP114: Curiosity & the Coach-Approach Transformed the Tone of Her Home
  https://impactparents.com/the-coach-approach-to-parenting/
• EP138: How Do I Get My Kids to Talk To Me? 4 Communication Tools
  https://impactparents.com/child-communication-tools/
• EP207: Rebuilding Trust with Teens: Cleaning the Slate Conversations
  https://impactparents.com/rebuilding-trust-with-teens-cleaning-the-slate-conversations/
• EP253: Get Curious, Not Furious: A Better Way to Parent Complex Kids
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep253-get-curious-not-furious-a-better-way-to/id1565976964?i=1000749220683
  
  

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

When follow-through keeps breaking down, the answer isn't planning harder. In this episode with ADHD coach Jeff Copper, we unpack why executive function struggles come from ambiguity, not lack of effort, and why direct conversation is a powerful accommodation. Press play to learn what actually helps kids and adults with ADHD move from planning to action.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why people with ADHD struggle to execute plans even when the goal is clear
• How ambiguity, not laziness, disrupts follow-through and problem-solving
• What executive functions really are and how they operate as cognitive tools
• The power of direct conversation for improving clarity, focus, and emotional regulation
• ADHD accommodations that are practical and often hide in plain sight
  
  

About Jeff Copper
Jeff Copper, cognitive engineer and ADHD coach, is founder of DIG Coaching Practice and host of Attention Talk Radio and Video. He developed Cognitive Ergonomics From the Inside Out™, a new ADHD intervention using an engineering approach to address executive function challenges. Jeff holds an MBA from the University of Tampa and credentials from ICF, PAAC, ADDCA, and CTI. A member of ADDA, ACO, CHADD, PAAC, and ICF, he received ACO’s 2022 Professional Excellence Award. His work continues to innovate and redefine ADHD coaching through practical insights and a focus on how minds truly work.

Connect with Jeff

• Website: DIG Coaching Practice
• Instagram: @dig.coaching
• Facebook: DIG Coaching Practice
• X: @digcoaching
  

Related Links:

• EP92: Pushing the Reset Button to Solve Problems Collaboratively
  https://impactparents.com/solve-problems-collaboratively/
• EP138: How Do I Get My Kids to Talk To Me? 4 Communication Tools
  https://impactparents.com/child-communication-tools/
• EP172: Parenting Paradox: Avoid ‘Fix-It Mode’ for Better Problem-Solving
  https://impactparents.com/avoid-fix-it-mode-parenting/
• EP207: Rebuilding Trust with Teens: Cleaning the Slate Conversations
  https://impactparents.com/rebuilding-trust-with-teens-cleaning-the-slate-conversations/

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents
  
  

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

ADHD doesn’t look the same for every kid—especially as children grow into teens and young adults. In this episode, Dr. Janina Maschke explains how gender, stigma, and internalized behaviors can shape diagnosis, coping mechanisms, and self-esteem. Press play to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and how parents can offer the support their kid really needs.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why is ADHD often missed or diagnosed late in girls and women
• How internalized behaviors mask hyperactivity and executive function struggles
• The connection between undiagnosed ADHD, anxiety, and low self-esteem
• Why unhealthy coping mechanisms often emerge without proper support
• What parents can do to support teens and young adults without pushing them away
  
  

About Dr. Janina Maschke
Dr. Janina is a cognitive psychologist, ADHD and executive functioning coach, and subject matter expert focused on ADHD across the lifespan. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, conducts research on ADHD and women with George Washington University, and is the author of A Feminist’s Guide to ADHD. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, she helps neurodivergent individuals understand their brains, build confidence, and thrive.

Connect with Dr. Janina

• Website: ADHD Empowerment Coaching
• Instagram: @adhd_empowerment_coaching

Related Links:

• EP28: Gender & Queer Kids with Neurodiversity
  https://impactparents.com/queer-kids-with-neurodiversity/
• EP43: Autism & Anxiety In Girls
  https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-043-autism-anxiety-in-girls/
• EP56: Missed Diagnosis: Autism In Girls
  https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-056-missed-diagnosis-autism-in-girls
• EP82: Gender Confusion: A Primer for Parents
  https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ep-082-gender-confusion-a-primer-for-parents/
• EP225: The Connection Between Complex Kids, Gender & Sensory Issues
  https://impactparents.com/the-connection-between-complex-kids-gender-sensory-issues/

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com