When I first started working with Charlie (18), his primary concerns in life revolved around how long he could binge-watch Sponge Bob on a given day, and whether or not he could successfully hide his food discards in his room. Though he liked the peer interactions of his group therapy sessions, he wasn’t particularly eager to improve relations with his family or to transition into adulthood.

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Charlie’s Challenges

Charlie was referred to our service for help with organization, reasoning, memory, impulsivity, and emotional regulation. His diagnoses at the time of referral included MDD with unspecified psychosis. Of particular concern was that “he does not respond well to traditional therapy.” Charlie’s initial cognitive function profile suggested that he had prior experience with depressed mood and childhood trauma. More significantly, though, it was also suggestive that he could be on the ASD spectrum.

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The Solution: Consistent Cognitive Function Development

After about 7 months of work, Charlie’s cognitive function assessment profile was significantly improved–his profile was no longer suggestive of depression, trauma, or ASD.

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The Result: Fewer Impediments, Social Engagement, and New Interest in the Future

I reduced the frequency of sessions but did not end abruptly because he so enjoyed coming. When I saw him after about a month of absence, he shared how much fun he was having getting into extracurricular activities for the first time, how he was eagerly making plans to attend vo-tech school in the Fall, and his intent to start a welding business with a friend.

Charlie’s story is fun to tell, but it’s not particularly unusual. Changing client trajectories is what Cognitive Function Development is all about.

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